Contract Nurse RN Jobs in California
Contract Nurse RN jobs in California are among the most active in the country, with strong demand across major hospital systems, travel nursing agencies, and outpatient networks serving every seniority level from new graduate through senior and lead RN. The largest hiring concentrations are in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego, where employers like Kaiser Permanente, Dignity Health, and UCSF Health maintain extensive clinical operations. Specialties seeing the most consistent contract openings include critical care, emergency department, and med-surg. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
Find Contract Nurse RN JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 27+ Contract Nurse RN jobs
Grow Your Career with HealthTrust & Scion Health
Looking to expand your nursing career in a new location? HealthTrust Workforce Solutions has partnered with Scion Health to provide travel nurse opportunities through a nationwide network of caring, compassionate, and inclusive facilities focused on making our communities healthier.
As an integrated network, Scion Health facilities have the ability and resources to develop opportunities for professional growth and advancement to accomplish your career goals, backed by pride in personalized patient care that supports a culture of safety for both employees and patients.
Combined with HWS’s commitment to the improvement of human life and experience as an industry leader for over 25 years, our Scion Health partnership gives you the opportunity to be at the heart of your community and care for your neighbors.
This community hospital is seeking a highly skilled nurse to join their team for an 8, 10, or 13 week assignment based on the facility need.
What You’ll Do:
- Perform plan of care intervention, including medication administration, specimen collection, clinical treatments, and other medical care, documenting care given
- Monitor, records, and communicate patient condition as appropriate to care team, physician, patient, and family
- Collaborate as needed across disciplines to coordinate patient care, including patient transfer, discharge, referral, and spiritual/psychosocial support needs
- Evaluate learning needs of patient and/or family and provide patient/family education appropriate to age, culture, condition, and circumstances
- Work as an advocate for the physical and emotional well-being of the patient
What We Require from You:
- Minimum of one (1) year acute care experience in a hospital setting
- Current state nursing license
- Appropriate certifications as required for specific position
- Degree from an accredited school
- Demonstrate code of conduct and compliance policies
- Ability to communicate clearly with the ability to read, write, speak, and understand English
Why You Will Love Working for HealthTrust:
- Weekly direct deposit pay options
- Guaranteed hours
- 401K with company match
- Ability to earn up to $750 for each referral
- Free private furnished housing or tax-free subsidy
- Career development for your lifestyle and location preference through a wide network of facilities
We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.
Location:
ID:
Location: Kindred Hospital - San Francisco Bay Area - 2800 BENEDICT DR SAN LEANDRO, CA 94577-6840
ID: 1042275
Job Board: EV
IND_2
ReqID: 1042275
Category: Travel
Position Type: Travel
HWS Exclusives: Yes
Min Pay Rate: $75.00
Max Pay Rate: $78.00
Grow Your Career with HealthTrust & Scion Health
Looking to expand your nursing career in a new location? HealthTrust Workforce Solutions has partnered with Scion Health to provide travel nurse opportunities through a nationwide network of caring, compassionate, and inclusive facilities focused on making our communities healthier.
As an integrated network, Scion Health facilities have the ability and resources to develop opportunities for professional growth and advancement to accomplish your career goals, backed by pride in personalized patient care that supports a culture of safety for both employees and patients.
Combined with HWS’s commitment to the improvement of human life and experience as an industry leader for over 25 years, our Scion Health partnership gives you the opportunity to be at the heart of your community and care for your neighbors.
This community hospital is seeking a highly skilled nurse to join their team for an 8, 10, or 13 week assignment based on the facility need.
What You’ll Do:
- Perform plan of care intervention, including medication administration, specimen collection, clinical treatments, and other medical care, documenting care given
- Monitor, records, and communicate patient condition as appropriate to care team, physician, patient, and family
- Collaborate as needed across disciplines to coordinate patient care, including patient transfer, discharge, referral, and spiritual/psychosocial support needs
- Evaluate learning needs of patient and/or family and provide patient/family education appropriate to age, culture, condition, and circumstances
- Work as an advocate for the physical and emotional well-being of the patient
What We Require from You:
- Minimum of one (1) year acute care experience in a hospital setting
- Current state nursing license
- Appropriate certifications as required for specific position
- Degree from an accredited school
- Demonstrate code of conduct and compliance policies
- Ability to communicate clearly with the ability to read, write, speak, and understand English
Why You Will Love Working for HealthTrust:
- Weekly direct deposit pay options
- Guaranteed hours
- 401K with company match
- Ability to earn up to $750 for each referral
- Free private furnished housing or tax-free subsidy
- Career development for your lifestyle and location preference through a wide network of facilities
We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.
Location:
ID:
Location: Kindred Hospital - San Francisco Bay Area - 2800 BENEDICT DR SAN LEANDRO, CA 94577-6840
ID: 1042275
Job Board: EV
IND_2
ReqID: 1042275
Category: Travel
Position Type: Travel
HWS Exclusives: Yes
Min Pay Rate: $75.00
Max Pay Rate: $78.00
See All 27 Contract Nurse RN Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Contract Nurse RN JobsContract Nurse RN Jobs by City in California
Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Contract Nurse RN Job Market in California
A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- HealthTrust Workforce Solutions12
- DiningRD8
- The Helper Bees2
- Anthony McGilveary2A
- Valor Healthcare1
What California Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in contract nurse RN jobs across California.
- Active California Registered Nurse license issued by the California Board of Registered Nursing
- Current BLS certification and ACLS certification for acute care or critical care settings
- Minimum one to two years of acute care clinical experience in a hospital environment
- Proficiency with electronic health record systems such as Epic or Cerner
- Ability to meet California nurse-to-patient ratio requirements under state staffing law
- Current CPR certification and compliance with California health screening and immunization requirements
Contract Nurse RN Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a contract nurse rn in California?
To become a contract nurse rn in California, you must first hold an active Registered Nurse license issued by the California Board of Registered Nursing, which requires completing an accredited ADN or BSN program and passing the NCLEX-RN exam. Once licensed, most California contract agencies require at least one year of recent clinical experience in the specialty you want to contract in before placing you on assignment.
How much do contract nurse RNs make in California?
Contract nurse RNs 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 contract nurse rns in California?
Employers hiring contract nurse rns in California right now include HealthTrust Workforce Solutions, DiningRD, and The Helper Bees, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of October 2026. California's density of large integrated health systems and travel nursing agencies means contract positions turn over frequently across both urban medical centers and rural critical access hospitals throughout the state.
Which California cities have the most contract nurse rn jobs?
The cities with the most contract nurse rn openings in California are Riverside, Sacramento, and San Jose. This distribution reflects the concentration of large academic medical centers, regional hospital networks, and high patient volume in California's major metropolitan areas, while smaller cities on the list are typically anchored by a dominant regional health system or county hospital driving consistent contract demand.
Are there remote contract nurse rn jobs in California?
Yes, but they're rare. Registered nursing is a hands-on clinical profession, and the vast majority of contract nurse rn positions require on-site patient care. About 0% of contract nurse rn openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of October 2026, and those positions are largely limited to telephonic triage, utilization review, or case management roles that do not involve direct bedside care.
How can I get hired as a contract nurse rn in California with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is completing a new graduate residency program before transitioning to contract work, since most California contract agencies require at least one year of clinical experience before placement. Large California health systems like Kaiser Permanente, Dignity Health, and Sutter Health run structured nurse residency programs designed for new BSN and ADN graduates. Building that foundation in a med-surg or telemetry unit first makes you competitive for contract assignments in higher-acuity specialties like critical care or emergency.
Where can I find and apply to contract nurse rn jobs in California?
You can find and apply to contract nurse rn jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings across hospitals, health systems, and contract agencies. Find the roles that fit your specialty, experience level, and preferred location, then apply directly to the ones that match.
See All 27 Contract Nurse RN Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Contract Nurse RN Jobs