Clinical Nurse Specialist Jobs in California
Clinical Nurse Specialist jobs in California are among the most active in the country, concentrated in acute care hospital systems, integrated health networks, and specialty outpatient centers, with openings at every level from new-graduate CNS candidates through senior clinical leads. The largest hiring activity is in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego, where major employers including UCSF Health, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, and Kaiser Permanente maintain deep CNS rosters across their facilities. The most in-demand specialties are adult-gerontology acute care, oncology, and psychiatric-mental health. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Company Description
We are proud to inform you that this position is eligible for our Student Loan Assistance Program. You may receive up to $9,600 which will be applied directly to your student loan account*.
- This benefit is for eligible positions as outlined in our program guidelines.
At Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford, we know world-renowned care begins with world-class caring. That's why we combine advanced technologies and breakthrough discoveries with family-centered care. It's why we provide our caregivers with continuing education and state-of-the-art facilities, like the newly remodeled Lucile Packard Children's Hospital Stanford. And it's why we need caring, committed people on our team - like you. Join us on our mission to heal humanity, one child and family at a time.
Job ID: LP_00022029-2657169
JOB SUMMARY
This paragraph summarizes the general nature, level and purpose of the job.
Clinical Nurse Specialists are Master's Degree prepared advanced practice Registered Nurses in roles characterized by the following responsibilities:
- Provide care for patients with multiple or complex health needs within a specific clinical area;
- Use advanced clinical skills in the assessment, diagnosis, treatment and evaluation of patients;
- Use theoretical and clinical expertise to assist health care providers and patients in promoting or achieving optimal health;
- Develop and implement standards of nursing practice;
- Serve as a consultant or expert resource person for other health providers;
- Facilitate an interdisciplinary and collaborative approach to meeting the needs of patients;
- Seek consultations and make referrals as needed; and
- Promote research to improve clinical nursing practice.
Clinical Nurse Specialists assess, plan, provide and evaluate specialized nursing care of patients by advancing the quality and scope of nursing practice through clinical practice, education, research, consultation, and administrative roles in the area of clinical expertise (e.g., diabetes, cardiology, respiratory, pediatrics, etc.) for a specified patient population.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
The essential functions listed are typical examples of work performed by positions in this job classification. They are not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, tasks, and responsibilities. Employees may also perform other duties as assigned.
Employees must abide by all Joint Commission Requirements including but not limited to sensitivity to cultural diversity, patient care, patient rights and ethical treatment, safety and security of physical environments, emergency management, teamwork, respect for others, participation in ongoing education and training, communication and adherence to safety and quality programs, sustaining compliance with National Patient Safety Goals, and licensure and health screenings.
Must perform all duties and responsibilities in accordance with the hospital's policies and procedures, including its Service Standards and its Code of Conduct.
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Analyzes unit patient care plans currently for evidence of documentation of standards of practice, shares findings with staff, and collaborates in developing a variety of valid and reliable assessment tools to assist staff with documentation records.
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Demonstrates expertise in the execution of daily patient care, providing collaboration, direction, and instruction to the staff in the application and utilization of the nursing process.
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Elects, implements, and evaluates comforting, therapeutic, restorative, and preventative nursing measures for selected patients; expertise in the planning and delivery of special patient care problems.
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In collaboration with nursing managers and other researchers, performs, assists with, and initiates, evaluates and revises nursing plans of care that reflect a multidisciplinary approach to patient care; coordinates the nursing plan of care with the medical plan of care.
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Maintains and teaches others the specialized knowledge and skill necessary to perform techniques and routines in the specialty service area.
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Offers consultative services within nursing services and to other disciplines to provide or participates in planning, development, execution and evaluation of clinical research.
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Participates in the hospital's quality improvement program; collaborates in setting unit standards of care and monitors indicators of quality projects.
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Provides direct patient care using consistency in assessing current patient care situations, priorities, and needs.
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Provides safety, comfort care, and treatment of patients according to established legal, ethical, and institutional standards.
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Serves as a consultant to patients, families, and staff.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge, skills and abilities as well as possession of any required licenses or certifications is qualifying.
Education: Master's degree in a work-related discipline/field from an accredited college or university.
Experience: Three (3) years of progressively responsible and directly related work experience.
License/Certification:
- Registered Nurse by California Board of Registered Nursing
- Clinical Nurse Specialist by California Board of Registered Nursing
- Basic Life Support by American Heart Association (AHA)
- or
- RQI Healthcare Provider Basic Life Support
KNOWLEDGE
These are the observable and measurable attributes and skills required to perform successfully the essential functions of the job and are generally demonstrated through qualifying experience, education or licensure/certification.
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Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
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Ability to conduct research, document results, draw conclusions and make recommendations.
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Ability to develop and perform patient assessment and plan of care.
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Ability to identify competency-based education needs of and implement educational programs for staff.
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Ability to perform patient assessment and triage.
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Ability to provide consultation to physicians, nurses and other health care providers in meeting care needs of patients.
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Ability to provide direct evaluation and consultation to patients.
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Knowledge of advanced clinical practice education, consultation, research, and administration.
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Knowledge of clinical operations, workflow and procedures.
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Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services including customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
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Knowledge of the principles, practices and objectives as well as issues and developments in the field of nursing, especially as applied to the area of nursing specialty.
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Skill: Advanced nursing skills in area of specialty.
Physical Requirements
The Physical Requirements and Working Conditions in which the job is typically performed are available from the Occupational Health Department. Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.
Additional Information
Pay Range
Compensation is based on the level and requirements of the role.
Salary within our ranges may also be determined by your education, experience, knowledge, skills, location, and abilities, as required by the role, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data.
Typically, new team members join at the minimum to mid salary range.
Minimum to Midpoint Range (Hourly): $87.14 to $108.92
Stanford Medicine Children's Health (SMCH) 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, SMCH does not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity, 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, and where applicable, in compliance with the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance.
See All 21 Clinical Nurse Specialist Jobs in California
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Find JobsClinical Nurse Specialist Jobs by City in California
Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Clinical Nurse Specialist Job Market in California
A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- Sharp HealthCare4

- Stanford Medicine Children's Health3

- AHMC Healthcare2

- CommonSpirit Health2

- University of California - San Francisco2

Top Industries Hiring
- Healthcare & Medical Services16
- Education2
- Insurance1
What California Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in clinical nurse specialist jobs across California.
- Active California RN license in good standing with the California Board of Registered Nursing
- Master of Science in Nursing or Doctor of Nursing Practice with a clinical nurse specialist concentration
- National CNS certification from AACN, ANCC, or a specialty-specific certifying body
- Minimum two years of direct clinical nursing experience in the target specialty area
- Demonstrated ability to lead quality improvement and evidence-based practice initiatives
- Strong collaborative skills working with interdisciplinary care teams in complex hospital environments
Clinical Nurse Specialist Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a clinical nurse specialist in California?
You become a clinical nurse specialist in California by earning a master's or doctoral degree in nursing with a CNS population focus, then obtaining national certification in your specialty from a recognized certifying body such as AACN or ANCC. California does not issue a separate state CNS license, but the California Board of Registered Nursing requires an active RN license to practice, and most California employers require national CNS certification before extending an offer.
How much do clinical nurse specialists make in California?
Clinical nurse specialists in California earn a median of about $140,270 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $101,260 for the lowest 10% to over $213,320 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire clinical nurse specialists in California?
Employers hiring clinical nurse specialists in California right now include Sharp HealthCare, Stanford Medicine Children's Health, and AHMC Healthcare, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of June 2026. California's large integrated health systems tend to hire CNS professionals across multiple facilities, so checking the career portals of major systems often surfaces openings across several California regions at once.
Which California cities have the most clinical nurse specialist jobs?
Palo Alto, Riverside, and San Diego have the most clinical nurse specialist openings in California. Los Angeles and San Francisco lead because of the concentration of major academic medical centers and large integrated health systems headquartered there, while San Diego's strong presence of research hospitals and military health facilities drives consistent demand in the third-largest metro.
Are there remote clinical nurse specialist jobs in California?
Yes, but they're rare. Clinical nurse specialist work is heavily patient-facing and tied to specific care settings, so most roles require on-site presence in hospitals or clinics. About 0% of clinical nurse specialist openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of June 2026, and those positions tend to concentrate in telephonic care management, utilization review, or population health consulting rather than direct bedside care.
How can I get hired as a clinical nurse specialist in California with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is completing a CNS-focused graduate program and applying directly into a new-graduate CNS residency or transition-to-practice program. Kaiser Permanente and UCSF Health both run structured programs that onboard new CNS graduates with mentored clinical placements. Nurses currently working in a specialty such as critical care, oncology, or pediatrics can also move laterally into CNS roles by presenting their bedside experience as direct clinical evidence. Holding national certification before applying gives candidates a measurable edge in California's competitive applicant pools.
Where can I find and apply to clinical nurse specialist jobs in California?
You can find and apply to clinical nurse specialist jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings updated regularly. Search the available roles, identify the ones that match your specialty and experience level, and apply directly to the positions that fit.
See All 21 Clinical Nurse Specialist Jobs in California
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