Clinical Nurse Jobs in Palo Alto, CA
Clinical Nurse jobs in Palo Alto are concentrated in the Stanford Research Park, Downtown Palo Alto, and the Midtown corridor, across acute care, oncology, and outpatient specialty settings. Employers actively hiring include Stanford Health Care, Stanford Medicine Children's Health, and Packard Children’s Health Alliance. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Day - 12 Hour (United States of America) Why Join our J2 ICU Team?
J2 ICU is a Cardiothoracic Intensive Care Unit of Stanford Health Care. This is a 24-bed state of the art patient and family centric unit. It serves a diverse group of critically ill patients with complex clinical problems. Nurses on this unit are trained to care for a variety of medical and surgical conditions utilizing a broad range of specialized skills, procedures and devices in a dynamic environment of an innovative world class teaching institution. The commonly seen devices in the unit are CRRT, IABP, LVAD, RVAD, Impella, and ECMO. A collaborative team approach (i.e. surgeons, physicians, anesthesiologists, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nurses, perfusionists, respiratory therapists, rehabilitation therapists and ancillary staff) is used in providing the best care to achieve optimal patient outcomes.
Stanford Nurses are recognized as bold leaders, compassionate healers, educators, and mentors, providing the highest standards of excellence in care while generating long-term impressions that continue to set SHC apart as the best place to work and thrive. Stanford Nursing offers a wide array of career advancement opportunities, access to the latest technologies and health care innovations, and boasts a workplace culture that encourages personal growth and work-life balance, while honoring its commitment to delivering evidence-based and patient-centered care.
ANCC Magnet Designation: The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) Magnet Model provides a framework for clinical, operational, and leadership practice, serving as a roadmap for Stanford Nursing's ongoing pursuit toward nursing excellence.
Watson Caring Science: Beginning in 2007, SHC embraced Jean Watson's transformative "Caring Science" theory of human caring and love. This intertwining of "Caring Science" with nursing practice translates into increased intentionality and a deepening of authentic presence; thereby renewing nurse relationships through universal, ethical, and person-centered care.
A Brief Overview
The Clinical Nurse (CN) is an RN who provides hands-on care to patients, practicing in an evidence-based manner, within the Scope of Practice of the California Nursing Practice Act, regulatory requirements, standards of care, and hospital policies. Within that role, the CN performs all steps of the nursing process, including assessing patients; interpreting data; planning, implementing, and evaluating care; coordinating care with other providers; and teaching the patient and family the knowledge and skills needed to manage their care and prevent complications. The CN partners with the patient's family wherever possible, considering all aspects of care, to deliver family centered care. As a professional, monitors the quality of nursing care provided. The Clinical Nurse is responsible for his/her own professional development, including licensure, Basic Life Support (BLS) certification, and maintaining current knowledge regarding the assigned patient population. As a member of the nursing profession, the Clinical Nurse contributes to the profession of nursing through such activities as teaching others, sharing expertise In unit or hospital.
Please note: A Nurse who voluntarily agrees to work in a "weekends only" position is not eligible for premium pay under Section 17.2.
Our Clinical Nurse (RN) job classification is represented by the Committee for Recognition of Nursing Achievement (CRONA). CRONA is an independent union for Registered Nurses at Stanford Health Care and Lucile Packard Children's Health Stanford. For more information, please visit the CRONA website at https://www.crona.org/.
NOTE: Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) certification may be required by the cost center in which the position resides. Please check AskHR for a complete listing of those cost centers requiring the ACLS certification.
What you will do
- The Helping Role Establishes Therapeutic Relationships: Creates and maintains a climate conducive to healing through being present to the patient and family, identifying and managing discomforts; providing emotional support and information; guiding the patient and family through phases of illness and recovery/passage to death and in accordance with the patient's goals and culture. Mobilizes the patient's strengths and abilities towards participation in recovery and control over plan of care.
- Diagnostic and Monitoring Functions: Obtains accurate and relevant assessment data and interprets the data as normal vs abnormal. Determines nursing diagnosis. Monitors and evaluates data as frequently as needed based on stability.
- Plans and Implements Therapeutic Interventions: Collaborates with the patient, family and members of health care team to develop an individualized plan of care. Implements nursing and medical interventions safely. Evaluates effectiveness of interventions and monitors patient for adverse responses and side effects.
- Teaching and Coaching, Patient and Staff Teaching: Assesses a patient's and family's learning needs and readiness to learn. Teaches needed information for self-care and illness prevention. Adjusts information and expectations based on responses from patient, developmental levels, physiological and psychological condition, and cultural variations. Teaches other staff members both incidentally and/or through formal roles such as preceptor or super-user.
- Effective Management of Rapidly Changing Situations: Ability to rapidly grasp problem situations and respond quickly and appropriately. Identifies the need for and activates emergency protocols.
- Monitors and Ensures Quality Healthcare Practices: Monitors own practices and assists in monitoring others for practices related to patient and employee safety and compliance to standards and policies. Looks for opportunities for continual improvement in patient care and the work environment.
- Organization and Work Role Functions: Integrates multiple requests and work expectations by setting priorities, delegating tasks appropriately, and seeking assistance as needed.
- Priorities: Contributes to team building through participation in unit programs and meetings; contributes to positive morale, using constructive and effective conflict resolution skills.
- Management and Delegation: Learns and utilizes the available technology for communication, documentation, and locating information regarding unusual clinical situations, diagnosis, and treatments.
- Contributes to the knowledge and skill of other members of the nursing staff through one or more activities such as formal or informal teaching, participation on Shared Governance groups, professional publications and/or presentations.
- Education: Attains knowledge and competence that reflects current nursing practice. Demonstrates commitment to lifelong learning.
- Communication: Communicates effectively in a variety of formats in all areas of practice.
- Leadership: Demonstrates leadership in the professional practice setting and the profession.
- Professional Practice Evaluation: Evaluates own nursing practice in relation to professional practice standards and guidelines, relevant statutes, rules and regulations.
Education Qualifications
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from an accredited college or university preferred.
Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- Able to communicate effectively in English.
- Two (2) years of Cardiovascular ICU experience
Licenses and Certifications
- American Heart Association Certification for Basic Life Support (BLS)
- American Heart Association Certification for Advanced Life Support (ACLS)
- California Registered Nurse (RN) license
Physical Demands and Work Conditions
Physical Demands
-
Frequent (please list each item under Comments). The work involves considerable exertion such as frequent lifting of
patients and equipment, bending and stooping, and walking. The work environment involves moderate risks or
discomforts which require special safety precautions, e.g. working with risk of exposure of contagious disease,
radiation or infection, working with emotionally disturbed patients. Precautions are routine for nearly all
situations. The employee might be required to use protective clothing or gear.
Blood Borne Pathogens
- Category I - Tasks that involve exposure to blood, body fluids, or tissues
These principles apply to ALL employees:
SHC Commitment to Providing an Exceptional Patient & Family Experience
Stanford Health Care sets a high standard for delivering value and an exceptional experience for our patients and families. Candidates for employment and existing employees must adopt and execute C-I-CARE standards for all of patients, families and towards each other. C-I-CARE is the foundation of Stanford’s patient-experience and represents a framework for patient-centered interactions. Simply put, we do what it takes to enable and empower patients and families to focus on health, healing and recovery.
You will do this by executing against our three experience pillars, from the patient and family’s perspective:
- Know Me: Anticipate my needs and status to deliver effective care
- Show Me the Way: Guide and prompt my actions to arrive at better outcomes and better health
- Coordinate for Me: Own the complexity of my care through coordination
#LI-BS1
Equal Opportunity Employer Stanford Health Care (SHC) strongly values diversity and is committed to equal opportunity and non-discrimination in all of its policies and practices, including the area of employment. Accordingly, SHC does not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity and/or expression, religion, age, national or ethnic origin, political beliefs, marital status, medical condition, genetic information, veteran status, or disability, or the perception of any of the above. People of all genders, members of all racial and ethnic groups, people with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply. Qualified applicants with criminal convictions will be considered after an individualized assessment of the conviction and the job requirements.
Base Pay Scale: Generally starting at $96.35 - $111.14 per hourThe salary of the finalist selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to, internal equity, experience, education, specialty and training. This pay scale is not a promise of a particular wage.
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Find Clinical Nurse JobsClinical Nurse Job Market in Palo Alto
Who's Hiring
- Stanford Health Care200

- Stanford Medicine Children's Health59

- Packard Children’s Health Alliance59P
Top Industries Hiring
- Healthcare & Medical Services
Clinical Nurse Jobs in Palo Alto: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a clinical nurse job in Palo Alto?
The strongest path into Palo Alto clinical nurse roles is targeting the city's large academic medical systems, outpatient specialty clinics, and life sciences-adjacent care facilities concentrated near the Stanford Research Park and El Camino Real corridor. Candidates with experience in oncology, cardiovascular care, or perioperative nursing have a clear edge here. Tailoring your application to the specific patient population and unit type of each employer, rather than submitting a generic resume, consistently separates competitive applicants in this market.
Which companies hire clinical nurses in Palo Alto?
Palo Alto clinical nurse roles are posted by Stanford Health Care, Stanford Medicine Children's Health, and Packard Children’s Health Alliance and others right now, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. The local employer mix leans heavily toward academic medical centers, specialty outpatient practices, and health systems serving the broader Peninsula.
Are there remote clinical nurse jobs in Palo Alto?
Yes, but with significant limits, since clinical nursing is predominantly a hands-on, bedside role that requires physical presence. About 14% of clinical nurse openings tied to Palo Alto are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, and those listings tend to involve care coordination, utilization review, or telehealth triage rather than direct patient care. Palo Alto's concentration of health-tech and payer organizations creates more remote-eligible nursing roles than you'd find in a typical market.
How can I get a clinical nurse job in Palo Alto with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry point in Palo Alto is applying to new graduate nurse residency programs at the large health systems anchoring the area, which are specifically structured to onboard nurses without prior acute care experience. Lateral roles like patient care technician, medical assistant, or care coordinator at local outpatient clinics and specialty practices build the unit-specific familiarity that Palo Alto employers prioritize. Completing clinical rotations or preceptorships at a Palo Alto-area facility, if possible, creates a direct hiring advantage over candidates without local exposure.
Which industries hire the most clinical nurses in Palo Alto?
Palo Alto clinical nurse roles concentrate in Healthcare & Medical Services, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. The city's identity as a hub for academic medicine and health innovation means hiring in these sectors reflects both high patient volume and a steady pipeline of research-driven care programs that require specialized nursing support.
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