Location: Bakersfield, California

Start Date: 03-02-2026

Contract Type: Travel Contract

Shift Type: Day shifts, 10-hour days (exact start/end times vary by unit), guaranteed 40 hours/week, call required, every-other-weekend (EOW); day shift coverage with occasional float to other units as needed

Hours per Week: 40

Candidate Pay Rate: $133.48 - $99.4 per hour

About United Health Care Staffing

At United Health Care Staffing (UHC Staffing), we believe healthcare staffing should be more than just finding a job. We are here to connect amazing professionals with opportunities that make their careers exciting, rewarding, and meaningful. With us, you're not just signing up for a contract you are joining a team that's got your back, answers your calls, and maybe even cracks a joke or two to brighten your day. Think of us as the travel buddy who handles the logistics while you focus on what you do best helping people heal.

Roles & Responsibilities

• Assist surgeons as a competent first assistant in a busy operating room, performing high-impact, hands-on surgical support
• Provide excellent perioperative patient care, anticipating needs and ensuring patient safety during procedures
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary OR teams — from anesthesia to surgical techs — to keep cases running smoothly
• Chart accurately in Cerner and maintain meticulous documentation throughout the perioperative process
• Float to other units as needed and step into different surgical specialties when the unit requires it
• Participate in call rotation and respond professionally when coverage is needed

Qualifications

• Active RN licensure (able to submit license) — California license preferred
• RNFA certification / demonstrated first-assist experience
• Minimum 2 years of relevant OR RN / RNFA experience
• BLS and ACLS certifications required
• Proven experience in ortho and robotics (robotics experience is a deal-breaker if not present)
• Experience with neuro and GYN surgical cases preferred (common case mix at this facility)
• Cerner charting experience required
• Previous travel assignment experience — no first-time travelers accepted

Education

• Nursing degree (ADN or BSN accepted); BSN not required

Knowledge & Skills

• Strong perioperative and sterile-technique knowledge
• Surgical anatomy familiarity across ortho, neuro, GYN, urology and general surgery
• Robotics and DaVinci system experience
• Excellent intraoperative communication and teamwork skills
• Comfortable with a variety of case types: total joints, scopes, TSAs, spine, cranial, robotics, vascular and more
• Ability to manage call situations and adapt to forced-call rotation when necessary

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical, dental & vision plans to keep you healthy and smiling
• Generous housing stipend and travel reimbursement for contract nurses
• 401(k) retirement savings options to help you plan ahead
• Licensure assistance & reimbursement so paperwork is one less thing to worry about
• Paid time off to recharge between assignments
• Orientation support (12 hours) and a structured onboarding experience
• Referral bonus program — bring a friend and celebrate together
• A supportive surgical team that values your voice and skills

Travel Perks: Explore Bakersfield, California

Explore Bakersfield’s unique blend of culture and outdoors on your off days. Catch live country music or grab a bite at Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace, dive into local history at the Kern County Museum, or get outdoors along the Kern River Parkway for walking, biking or birdwatching. Weekend road trips are easy — head to Sequoia National Park for giant trees and trails, Lake Isabella for boating and fishing, or drive down to Los Angeles for museums and nightlife. Local farmers’ markets, nearby wineries and seasonal festivals mean there’s always something new to try.

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#ORRNFAJobs #BakersfieldCAJobs #TravelNurse #HealthcareJobs #UHCCareers #OperatingRoom #RNFA #SurgicalNurse #CernerClinicians #NursingJobs