Nurse Residency Program 2026 - New Grad

Kern Medical has been a community cornerstone since its founding in 1867. Today, we are an acute care teaching center with 222 beds, offering the only advanced trauma care between Fresno and Los Angeles. Kern Medical offers a range of primary, specialty, and multi-specialty services including high-risk pregnancy care, inpatient psychiatric services integrated with county mental health programs, and a growing network of outpatient clinics providing personalized patient-centered wellness care. Kern Medical cares for 15,500 inpatients and 125,000 clinic patients a year.

Career Opportunities within Kern Medical include many benefits such as:

• New Hire Premium : +6% of base rate of pay, matched up to 6% if contributed to Deferred Compensation Plan.
• Shift Differential Pay : P.M. shift (7:00 PM - 7:30 AM) = 10% of base pay.
• A Comprehensive Benefits Package : includes Holidays, Paid Time Off, Retirement, Medical, Dental, Vision and Life Insurance.

Position : Hospital Staff Nurse – Pre-Licensed

Compensation

The estimated pay for this position is $35.2064 . The rate shown include a 6% premium pay (base= $-$ plus 6%). This reflects only a portion of the total compensation package for this position. Additional compensation may be available for this role through differentials, incentives, and bonuses. In addition, this position may be eligible for participation and company contributions into the Kern County Employees’ Retirement Plan.

Job Description

Under close supervision, learns the nursing process through assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of safe, therapeutic care.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS:

The Hospital Staff Nurse - Pre-Licensed is the trainee-level classification in the Hospital Staff Nurse flexible classification series. This classification is for inexperienced nursing candidates participating in ongoing education and orientation in preparation for successful graduation and completion of an accredited nursing program and licensure examination. Work is performed in accordance with the scope of a pre-licensed nurse according to the Board of Registered Nursing. All nursing clinical practice shall be evaluated and governed through the Chief Nursing Officer and/or their Registered Nurse designee. Continued employment is dependent upon the employee’s ability to successfully meet the California Licensure requirements within six months of initial employment or be terminated. Promotion to Hospital Staff Nurse will be considered upon completion of State licensure requirements, licensure has been obtained and the candidate is meeting performance expectations, subject to recommendation of the Kern Medical Chief Executive Officer and approval of the Director of Personnel. Eligibility to participate in Nursing orientation is predicated upon obtaining an interim permit or licensure.

Essential Functions:

In a learning capacity, observes:

• Collection and documentation of data about patients commonly seen on the unit according to prescribed methods.
• Interpretation of assessment data in the determination of whether a patient has physiological and/or psycho social risk factors; observes documentation process of recording and reporting assessment data.
• Development and observation of a plan of nursing action based on existing and potential patient problems and observable patient responses and the medical plan of care.
• Establishment of nursing diagnoses and initiates appropriate interventions; uses appropriate resources to formulate a written plan of care; evaluation of the effectiveness of nursing intervention and revises patient care plans as necessary.
• Implementation of and therapeutic care for patients responding to the needs due to multi-system disease or complications of treatment; learns the collaborative process between nursing and physician staff in setting priorities for care of patients.
• Performs tasks described in the unit specific components of nursing attendant practice for the unit to which assigned.
• Observes and learns the stressful situations experienced by patients/families and learns techniques in dealing with illness and hospitalization.
• Performs basic levels of quality assurance monitoring.
• Completes all competencies, mandatory classes and educational coursework as required by the hospital.

Other Functions:

Performs other job-related duties as assigned

Employment Standards:

Pre-licensed:

Current enrollment in their final semester and/or quarter of an accredited nursing program, in good standing, and obtain a license to practice as a Registered Nurse within six months of employment.

OR

Possess and maintain an Interim Permit to practice as a Registered Nurse issued by the State of California and obtain a license to practice as a Registered Nurse within six months of employment.

OR

Graduation from an accredited nursing program within last ninety days, in good standing, and obtain a license to practice as a Registered Nurse within six months of employment.

Employees must maintain all health requirements designated by Kern Medical.

Possess a current American Heart Association Healthcare Provider Basic Life Support (BLS) card at time of hire. As a continued condition of employment, employee must maintain RQI Provider certification and competency.

Knowledge of :

Basic theory, techniques and practices of nursing; knowledge of medical terminology, instruments and equipment; the uses and effects of medicines and narcotics.

Skill in :

Continuous learning and demonstration of the practical and theoretical knowledge of nursing care; meet content and performance criteria in the nursing process, leadership/professional development, and unit operation; follow oral and written instruction; communicate both orally and in writing sufficient to exchange or convey information and to receive work direction; continuous learning and demonstration of standard techniques of record maintenance and report writing; using computers and related software applications; keyboarding and using standard office equipment; establish and maintain effective working relationships with staff, other hospital employees, patients and their families, dependent upon area of practice or department assignments; demonstrates clinical knowledge and skill in the care of populations served by Kern Medical facilities.

Supplemental:

A background check may be required for this classification.

All Kern Medical employees are designated “Disaster Service Workers”. In the event of a disaster or civil disorder, all Kern Medical employees are to remain at work or to report to work in a safe and practicable manner.

If position responsibilities require driving a personal vehicle, then possession of a current valid California Driver’s License and adherence to the Kern County Hospital Authority Vehicle Use and Driving Standard Policy (ENG-EC-119) is required.

If position responsibilities require driving a vehicle owned, leased or rented by Kern Medical, then possession of a current valid California Driver’s license, a signed authorization for Release of Drivers Record Information and adherence to the Kern County Hospital Authority Vehicle Use and Driving Standard Policy (ENG-EC-119) is required.