Location: Bakersfield, CA

Start Date: 03-16-2026

End Date: 06-15-2026

Contract Type: Travel Contract

Shift Type: Nights, 12-hour shifts (exact clock-in/clock-out times not specified), every-other-week (EOW) rotation, weekends Fri/Sat for nights with 4 weekend shifts in a 4-week schedule; self-scheduling (manager finalizes), first-to-float, on-call/standby must report within 30 minutes; guaranteed 36 hours/week

Hours per Week: 36

Candidate Pay Rate: $81 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

• Lead and manage the ED shift as the Nurse Shift Manager, stepping in as Charge RN when required
• Provide direct patient care including triage of ambulance arrivals, IV starts, and medication administration
• Coordinate patient assignments and maintain safe nurse-to-patient ratios (typical 1:4; 1:2 for ICU-level patients)
• Serve as a resource nurse and mentor to ED techs and other staff, fostering teamwork and strong communication
• Ensure accurate documentation using Cerner and collaborate with pharmacy, RT, and inpatient teams for smooth patient flow
• Support stroke and trauma processes as part of a Primary Stroke Center and trauma-capable ED
• Participate in orientation for new staff and help maintain unit standards, including adherence to scrub color and professional policies
• Respond to on-call/standby notifications and float assignments in a timely manner when required

Qualifications

• Current, active Registered Nurse (RN) license (able to practice in California)
• Minimum 3 years of relevant RN experience, with strong Charge RN or management/leadership experience
• Required certifications: BLS, ACLS, PALS, and NIHSS
• Comfortable working 12-hour night shifts and meeting weekend/holiday requirements
• Proven ED experience (fast-paced triage, IV insertion, med administration) and trauma/Stroke Center exposure preferred
• Familiarity with Cerner charting system
• Ability to float between two facilities when scheduled and to report within 30 minutes if called in

Education

• Active RN license required (California)
• Associate Degree in Nursing or BSN accepted; BSN preferred but not required
• Required certifications: BLS, ACLS, PALS, NIHSS

Knowledge & Skills

• Emergency Department nursing best practices and triage workflow
• IV insertion and medication administration under ED protocols
• Charge nurse and shift management skills including staff coordination and patient assignment
• Cerner electronic medical record proficiency
• Telemetry monitoring (Philips) and basic ventilator/vent management collaboration with RT
• Omnicell medication system familiarity and pharmacy collaboration
• Stroke assessment and protocols (NIHSS) and trauma/ED patient management
• Strong teamwork, leadership, communication, and adaptability in high-volume ED settings

Benefits

• Supportive travel assignment designed to fit your life while you make a real impact
• Comprehensive onboarding with floor-specific orientation (2 shifts primary campus, 1 shift other campus) so you hit the ground running
• Opportunity to lead as a Nurse Shift Manager while still providing hands-on patient care — great for nurses who love both clinical work and leadership
• Full access to 24/7 respiratory therapy and pharmacy support, and a robust ED team environment
• Professional growth: lead-charge experience, exposure to stroke center and trauma workflows, and collaboration with hospitalists/intensivists
• Flexible self-scheduling with predictable 4-week blocks (manager finalizes schedule)
• A team that values teamwork and will welcome your leadership and clinical skills
• Licensure assistance guidance and help navigating facility credentialing (common on travel assignments)

Travel Perks: Explore Bakersfield, CA

Explore Bakersfield during your assignment: enjoy the Kern County Museum and the California Living Museum (CALM), catch live music and country vibes at Buck Owens' Crystal Palace, and sample famous Basque and local eats downtown. Outdoorsy types can hit Hart Park, Lake Ming, or take a day trip toward the Kern River Canyon and nearby Sequoia National Forest for hiking and scenic drives. With a short drive you can reach Lake Isabella or head into the Sierras for weekend adventures — plenty to do between shifts.

Hashtags

#RegisteredNurseJobs #BakersfieldJobs #EmergencyNursing #TravelNurse #NurseShiftManager #HealthcareJobs #UHCCareers #CernerNursing #StrokeCenterJobs #ChargeNurse