Critical Care Nurse-Emergency Department (Open & Promotional)

Critical Care Nurse-Emergency Department (Open & Promotional)

Salary

$157,081.60 - $185,619.20 Annually

Location

County of San Mateo, CA

Job Type

Various

Job Number

F022Y

Department

San Mateo Medical Center

Opening Date

09/30/2026

Closing Date

10/14/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

Bargaining Unit

25

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

Description

At San Mateo Medical Center (SMMC), our Emergency Department nurses provide skilled, compassionate care in a fast-paced environment where sound judgment, adaptability, and teamwork are essential. Serving a diverse community, including many underserved and underinsured patients, our Emergency Department operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week and cares for patients with a wide range of urgent and complex medical needs.

We are currently seeking one full-time, one part-time, and one Relief Registered Nurse to join our Emergency Department on evening/night shifts.

This opportunity is well suited for nurses who bring a strong foundation in emergency or critical care nursing and are ready to continue developing their skills in a supportive, team-oriented environment. We recognize that relevant experience can be gained through professional nursing practice as well as substantive emergency or critical care clinical rotations. Successful candidates will demonstrate the clinical foundation, critical-thinking skills, judgment, and willingness to learn needed to grow successfully in the Emergency Department.

The Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate will be a collaborative and adaptable nurse who can assess changing patient needs, think critically, communicate effectively, and remain composed in a busy emergency care environment. Candidates should be prepared to clearly demonstrate their knowledge and experience during the selection process.

Highly desirable qualifications include:

• At least one year of direct Emergency Department and/or Critical Care nursing experience or a minimum of 300 clinical rotation hours in an Emergency Department and/or Critical Care setting.
• A strong foundational understanding of emergency nursing, including patient assessment, triage, prioritization, workflow, and response to changing patient conditions.
• Demonstrated critical-thinking and clinical decision-making skills.
• Experience caring for patients with multiple co-morbidities and complex care needs.
• Experience working with diverse and underserved populations.
• Knowledge of current regulatory requirements.
• A willingness to learn, receive feedback, and develop emergency nursing skills within a reasonable orientation and training period.

Critical Care Nurse Salary

$75.52 - $89.24 Hourly

$6,041.60 - $7,139.20 Biweekly

$13,090.13 - $15,468.27 Monthly

$157,081.60 - $185,619.20 Annually

Relief Nurse Salary

$74.98 - $93.71 Hourly

$5,998.40 - $7,496.80 Biweekly

$12,996.53 - $16,243.07 Monthly

$155,958.40 - $194,916.80 Annually

NOTE: The eligible list created from this recruitment may be used to fill current and future permanent, extra help and/or temporary vacancies.

Examples Of Duties

Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Complete patient assessments and triage; record patient histories, symptoms, and observations.
• Establish, implement, and evaluate individualized nursing care plans.
• Administer treatments and medications and operate medical equipment.
• Assess and monitor patient progress, reactions, symptoms, and changes in condition.
• Determine medical or psychiatric emergency needs and provide appropriate intervention.
• Monitor life-support equipment and patients requiring restraint or seclusion while maintaining patient safety.
• Participate in patient case conferences and rounds.
• Serve as a team leader by organizing and assigning work and assisting with the orientation and training of nursing staff and students.
• Provide nursing care in accordance with established policies, protocols, and procedures.
• Identify patient care or quality concerns, assist with data gathering, propose solutions, and participate in quality assurance activities.
• Educate patients and families and coordinate referrals, resources, and discharge planning to support continuity of care.
• Maintain required records and prepare reports.
• Participate in educational programs and other activities to maintain clinical expertise.
• Participate in non-clinical assignments, including special projects and committees, as needed.
• Perform related duties as assigned and as required by the work setting.

Qualifications

Licensure/Certification:

• Possession of a California license as a Registered Nurse is required.
• Possession of current Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) and Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) certificates are all required to be employed in the Emergency Room. Crisis Prevention Intervention (CPI) certification within three months of hire.

Education and Experience:

• Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge, skills and abilities is qualifying.

Knowledge of:

• Nurse Practice Act.
• Current nursing and related medical theory and skills necessary to administer nursing care within assigned clinical settings.
• Safety and infection control practices.
• Clinical systems, supplies and equipment.

Skill/Ability to:

• Nurse Practice Act.
• Perform nursing procedures required for assigned clinical setting.
• Comply with clinical procedures and policies.
• Maintain professional nurse-patient relationships.
• Communicate with and educate patients, families, and the public who come from a diverse background.
• Work harmoniously with other personnel.
• Follow safety practices.
• Assist in the instruction of other nursing and paraprofessional personnel.
• Bend, kneel and squat as needed.
• Occasionally use upper extremities to exert force to push and pull patients/objects weighing up to 50 pounds or more.
• Work in a busy environment.

Application/Examination

Open & Promotional. Anyone may apply. Current County of San Mateo and County of San Mateo Superior Court of California employees with at least six months (1040 hours) of continuous service in a classified regular, probationary, extra-help/limited term positions prior to the final filing date will receive five points added to their final passing score on this examination.

The examination process will consist of an application screening (weight: pass/fail) based on the candidates application and responses to the supplemental questions. Candidates who pass the application screening will be invited to a panel interview (weight: 100%). Depending on the number of applicants, an application appraisal of education and experience may be used in place of other examinations or further evaluation of work experience may be conducted to group applicants by level of qualification. All applicants who meet the minimum qualifications are not guaranteed advancement through any subsequent phase of the examination. All examinations will be given in the County of San Mateo, California and applicants must participate at their own expense.

IMPORTANT: Applications for this position will only be accepted online. If you are currently on the Countys website, you may click the "Apply" button above or below. If you are not on the Countys website, please go to https://jobs.smcgov.org/ to apply. Responses to the supplemental questions must be submitted in addition to our regular employment application form. A resume will not be accepted as a substitute for the required employment application and supplemental questionnaire. Online applications must be received by the Human Resources Department before midnight on the final filing date.

TENTATIVE RECRUITMENT TIMELINE

Final Filing Date: Wednesday, October 14, 2026, at 11:59 PM PST

Application Screening: Week of October 19, 2026

Panel Interviews: Week of November 2, 2026

About the County

San Mateo County is centrally located between San Francisco, San Jose, and the East Bay. With over 750,000 residents, San Mateo is one of the largest and most diverse counties in California and serves a multitude of culturally, ethnically, and linguistically diverse communities.

The County of San Mateo, as an employer, is committed to advancing equity to ensure that all employees are welcomed in a safe and inclusive environment. We seek to hire, support, and retain employees who reflect our diverse community, and we encourage applicants with diverse backgrounds and lived experiences to apply. Eighty percent of employees surveyed stated that they would recommend the County as a great place to work.

The County of San Mateo is an equal opportunity employer.

Analyst: Priscilla Bermudez (09302026) (Critical Care Nurse - F022)

We invite you to explore our Benefits-at-a-Glance page for a snapshot of the comprehensive and competitive benefits available to eligible employees of the County of San Mateo. From health and wellness to financial security, our benefits are designed to support you at every stage of your career. (Please note that benefits are subject to change.)

In addition to core benefits, the County is proud to offer a variety of wellness and professional development programs to help you grow both personally and professionally. Most of these enriching opportunities are available during work hours and come at no cost to you.

As a County employee, you'll also be covered by the federal Social Security system, earning valuable retirement benefits based on your salary and years of service.

01

IMPORTANT NOTE: Applicants must submit responses to the supplemental questions below. These responses are a critical part of the evaluation process and will be carefully reviewed by subject matter experts. Responses should be clear, detailed, and concise, describing your relevant work experience, training, and education as they relate to this position. Please address all parts of each question and provide specific examples that reflect your individual experience and expertise. Strong responses are authentic, well-organized, and demonstrate attention to detail, clarity of expression, and the ability to follow instructions. A resume will not be accepted in place of the required responses.

• Proceed to supplemental questions.

02

Possession of a current California license as a Registered Nurse is required to qualify for this recruitment. Do you possess a current California license as a Registered Nurse? (Please include your license number on the Certificates & Licenses section of the application. A "No" answer will disqualify you from this recruitment.)

• Yes
• No

03

Possession of each of the following life support certificates is required to be employed in the Emergency Department: Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) and Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS). Which of these certificates do you currently possess? (Please include information on the Certificates & Licenses section of the application. Any answer less than all three certificates will disqualify you from this recruitment.)

• Basic Life Support (BLS)
• Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)
• Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS)
• None of the above

04

Which of the following best describes your recent Emergency Room and/or Critical Care nursing experience? Select the option that best applies.

• I have at least one year of recent paid nursing experience in an Emergency Room and/or Critical Care setting.
• I have at least 300 clinical rotation hours providing direct patient care in an Emergency Room and/or Critical Care setting.
• I have both of the above.
• I do not have either of the above.

05

Describe your education, training, and hands-on experience that prepares you to work as a Critical Care Nurse in an Emergency Department. Include: • Your Emergency Department and/or Critical Care RN experience, including employer/setting, role, and length of experience; and/or • If your experience was obtained through a nursing school clinical rotation, preceptorship, or capstone, identify the setting, approximate number of hours completed, and the types of patients and clinical activities you were exposed to. • Relevant certifications or specialized Emergency/Critical Care training. Clearly distinguish between experience obtained as a licensed RN and experience obtained as a nursing student. Be specific about your individual responsibilities and level of involvement. A resume will not be accepted in lieu of a response.

06

Describe how you would approach the initial assessment and prioritization of patients presenting to an Emergency Department. What clinical information and patient factors would you consider when determining who requires the most immediate intervention? Provide one specific example in which you applied these principles in an Emergency Department or Critical Care setting. Your example may be from paid RN experience, a preceptorship, capstone, or clinical rotation. Describe the situation, your role, the factors you considered, and the actions you took.

07

Critical Care Nurses may be required to work various shifts and hours. Please check your availability from the options below. (Check all that apply.)

• Full-time
• Part-time
• Day Shift (6 a.m.-2 p.m.)
• Evening Shift (2 p.m.-10 p.m.)
• Night Shift (10 p.m.-6 a.m.)
• Weekends

08

San Mateo County departments sometimes need extra-help workers in addition to permanent employees. Extra Help positions offer temporary part-time or temporary full-time employment for 1040 hours (which equates to working full-time for approximately six months). However, employment might end sooner depending on the needs of the hiring departments. Extra-help positions are paid on an hourly rate basis and do not provide employee benefits. Extra-help workers are not guaranteed permanent status at the end of the extra-help assignment. Are you interested in extra-help employment? (A "No" answer to this question will not affect your application for permanent employment.)

• Yes
• No

09

How did you learn about this position?

• County of San Mateo Website
• County of San Mateo Job Interest Card Notification
• County Hosted Virtual Event
• County Hosted Job Fair
• CalOpps.org
• College/University Career Center
• Community-based Organization Posting
• Facebook/Instagram
• Friend or Relative
• GovernmentJobs.com
• Indeed
• Job Fair
• LinkedIn
• Professional Publication/Website (Please specify in next question)
• X (formerly called Twitter)
• Zip Recruiter
• Other (Please specify in next question)

10

If you answered, "Professional Publication/Website" or "Other" to the above question, please indicate below how you learned about this position. Your response to this question will help us in better marketing County jobs. Type NA if not applicable.

Required Question

Employer County of San Mateo

Address County of San Mateo Human Resources Department

500 County Center, 4th Floor

Redwood City, California, 94063-1663

Phone (650) 363-4343

Website https://jobs.smcgov.org