Charge Nurse - Emergency Department (Departmental Promotional Only)

At San Mateo Medical Center, we are always seeking ways to enhance the already impressive services we offer. This dedication to excellence is reflected in the exceptional care we provide and the extraordinary professionals who provide it. Here, you'll have the chance to develop your talents with a skilled team of people who actively support and encourage each other's success. If you're ready to open new doors for your career, join us today!

We are currently seeking a skilled Charge Nurse with proven Emergency Department experience. Under the direct supervision of the Nurse Manager, the successful hire will supervise and perform nursing assessment, planning, implementation, evaluation and documentation of patient care on the unit. In addition, the experienced Charge Nurse will document nursing activities and intervention plan as well as medication administered.
 
Our Emergency Department is dedicated to providing quality, responsive care 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The department provides emergency care to a primarily underserved and underinsured population.  

The ideal candidate will possess the following:

• At least two years of direct, proven experience in an emergency room and/or Critical Care settings

• At least one year of supervisory experience in Critical Care setting
• Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) and Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS)
• Experience caring for patients with multiple co-morbidities
• Experience working with diverse, underserved populations

The current position is a full-time, day shift position.
 

Note: The eligible list generated from this recruitment may be used to fill future extra-help, term, unclassified, and regular classified vacancies.

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

• Assess, evaluate and direct nursing activities on an assigned shift to provide quality care to patients in compliance with prescribed standards and in conjunction with nursing management.

• Supervise and perform nursing assessment, planning, implementation, evaluation and documentation of patient care on the unit.
• Work in conjunction with nursing management to coordinate adequate unit staffing for the assigned shift.
• Participate with unit or clinic nursing management in interviewing, hiring, completing evaluations and performing disciplinary counseling of staff.
• Supervise the work of professional and paraprofessional nursing staff.
• Work with nursing management to identify staff development needs and to implement continuing education programs.
• Assist nursing management in planning unit or clinic budget.
• Interpret policies and procedures to nursing staff.
• Participate in staff meetings.
• Coordinate with ancillary support departments to coordinate total patient care.
• Maintain and evaluate records.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

License/Certification:

• Possession of a California license as a Registered Nurse is required.
• Possession and maintenance of current Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)
• Possession and maintenance of current Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS)
• Possession and maintenance of Crisis Prevention Intervention (CPI) certification within three months of hire.

Knowledge of:

• Nurse Practice Act and professional and governmental standards or regulations pertaining to nursing.
• Nursing theories, principles, methods and practices.
• Safety and infection control principles.
• Clinical systems, supplies and equipment.
• Principles of staff development.
• Supervisory principles.

Skill/Ability to:

• Perform and evaluate the performance of nursing procedures required for the assigned shift and clinical setting.
• Plan, organize, supervise and evaluate the work of nursing staff.
• Comprehend, interpret, and implement nursing policies and procedures.
• Instruct and train professional and paraprofessional employees.
• Communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
• Maintain professional nurse-patient and nurse-physician relationships.
• Prepare reports and maintain accurate records.

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

Departmental Promotional Only. Only current County of San Mateo employees in San Mateo County Health with at least six months (1040 hours) of continuous service in a classified regular, probationary, or extra-help/limited term position prior to the final filing date may 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.

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 County's website, you may click the "Apply" button. If you are not on the County's website, please go to https://jobs.smcgov.org/ to apply. Online applications must be received by the Human Resources Department before midnight on the final filing date.

Tentative Recruitment Timeline
 Final Filing Date: Friday, November 6, 2026, at 11:59 PM PST
 Application Screening: Week of November 9, 2026
 Panel Interviews: November 12 and/or November 13, 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. The County seeks to hire, support, and retain employees who reflect our diverse community. 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 committed to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion at all levels.