Graduate Nurse Jobs in California
Graduate Nurse jobs in California are among the most active in the country, concentrated in hospital systems, academic medical centers, and large integrated health networks serving one of the most densely populated states in the nation. The heaviest hiring is in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego, where employers such as Kaiser Permanente, Dignity Health, and UCSF Health maintain large graduate nurse pipelines across acute care, med-surg, and critical care units. New graduate residency programs and transition-to-practice pathways are widely available at major California systems, giving entry-level candidates a structured route into clinical roles. See the openings below and apply to the ones that match your experience.
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Showing 5 of 6+ Graduate Nurse jobs
Hourly Pay: $28-$35
Maxim Healthcare is seeking a Novice Nurse - Registered Nurse or Licensed Vocational Nurse (< 12 months of experience)
The Novice Nurse Training Program at Maxim Healthcare Services is designed to provide a unique training opportunity for new grads, and those with less than one year of experience. You'll partner with an experienced Maxim nurse who will provide real-time feedback, training opportunities, and mentorship.
Within this program, you will be gaining hands-on experience by working 1-on-1 with a patient within the home setting. You will have the opportunity to learn direct patient care, care management, vent/trach/g-tube management, and critical thinking skills with the 24/7 support of the clinical supervising team.
Rewards:
- Competitive Pay & Weekly Paychecks
- Health, Dental, Vision, HSA and Life Insurance
- Paid Time Off
- 401(k) Savings Plan
- Maxcares Awards Program
Responsibilities:
- Utilizes the nursing process to plan, implement, and evaluate patient/client care and/or contracted services
- Administers medications and treatments as prescribed, as well as, monitors and documents effectiveness of intervention and progress toward established goals
- Intervenes as applicable to changes in condition and reports such changes to appropriate supervisor and/or physician
- Documents all physician collaboration/coordination of care in the medical record and communicates this information as needed
- Monitors the safety and effectiveness of the environment and equipment including universal precautions
Requirements:
- Graduate of an accredited school of nursing
- Active RN License
- Current CPR
- PPD or chest X ray if applicable
Health and Wellness
Medical/Prescription, Dental, Vision, Health Advocacy (company paid if enrolled Medical) and Health Advocate Employee Assistance Program
Retirement and Financial Security:
Health Savings Account, 401(k), Short Term Disability, Voluntary Group Life Insurance and Supplemental Accidental Insurance, Hospital Expense Protection Plan, Critical Illness Insurance, Home and Auto Insurance discounts, Pet Insurance and Legal Benefits
Lifestyle Benefits:
Paid Time Off, Employee Discount Program, Transportation Benefits and College Partnership Program
- Benefit eligibility is dependent on employment status.
Hourly Pay: $28-$35
Maxim Healthcare is seeking a Novice Nurse - Registered Nurse or Licensed Vocational Nurse (< 12 months of experience)
The Novice Nurse Training Program at Maxim Healthcare Services is designed to provide a unique training opportunity for new grads, and those with less than one year of experience. You'll partner with an experienced Maxim nurse who will provide real-time feedback, training opportunities, and mentorship.
Within this program, you will be gaining hands-on experience by working 1-on-1 with a patient within the home setting. You will have the opportunity to learn direct patient care, care management, vent/trach/g-tube management, and critical thinking skills with the 24/7 support of the clinical supervising team.
Rewards:
- Competitive Pay & Weekly Paychecks
- Health, Dental, Vision, HSA and Life Insurance
- Paid Time Off
- 401(k) Savings Plan
- Maxcares Awards Program
Responsibilities:
- Utilizes the nursing process to plan, implement, and evaluate patient/client care and/or contracted services
- Administers medications and treatments as prescribed, as well as, monitors and documents effectiveness of intervention and progress toward established goals
- Intervenes as applicable to changes in condition and reports such changes to appropriate supervisor and/or physician
- Documents all physician collaboration/coordination of care in the medical record and communicates this information as needed
- Monitors the safety and effectiveness of the environment and equipment including universal precautions
Requirements:
- Graduate of an accredited school of nursing
- Active RN License
- Current CPR
- PPD or chest X ray if applicable
Health and Wellness
Medical/Prescription, Dental, Vision, Health Advocacy (company paid if enrolled Medical) and Health Advocate Employee Assistance Program
Retirement and Financial Security:
Health Savings Account, 401(k), Short Term Disability, Voluntary Group Life Insurance and Supplemental Accidental Insurance, Hospital Expense Protection Plan, Critical Illness Insurance, Home and Auto Insurance discounts, Pet Insurance and Legal Benefits
Lifestyle Benefits:
Paid Time Off, Employee Discount Program, Transportation Benefits and College Partnership Program
- Benefit eligibility is dependent on employment status.
See All 6 Graduate Nurse Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Graduate Nurse JobsGraduate Nurse Jobs by City in California
Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Graduate Nurse Job Market in California
A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Healthcare & Medical Services
- Education
- Non-Profit & Social Services
What California Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in graduate nurse jobs across California.
- Active California Registered Nurse license issued by the California Board of Registered Nursing
- Completion of an accredited associate or bachelor of science in nursing program
- Current BLS certification from the American Heart Association
- ACLS certification required or expected within a defined period of hire
- Demonstrated clinical experience through nursing school rotations in an acute care setting
- Strong written and verbal communication skills for interdisciplinary care team collaboration
Graduate Nurse Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a graduate nurse in California?
To become a graduate nurse in California, you must complete an accredited nursing program, either an associate degree in nursing or a bachelor of science in nursing, then pass the NCLEX-RN examination and apply for licensure through the California Board of Registered Nursing. The BRN issues your California RN license, which is required before you can practice. Many California hospital systems hire candidates who have applied for licensure but are awaiting results under a temporary license arrangement.
Which companies hire graduate nurses in California?
Employers hiring graduate nurses in California right now include Kaiser Permanente, Maxim Healthcare, and Loma Linda University Health, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. California's large integrated health systems and academic medical centers run structured new-graduate residency programs that recruit year-round, making them consistent sources of entry-level RN openings.
Which California cities have the most graduate nurse jobs?
Anaheim, Carlsbad, and Loma Linda have the most graduate nurse openings in California. Los Angeles anchors the list because of its concentration of major hospital systems, trauma centers, and county health facilities, while San Francisco draws strong demand from academic medical centers and specialty hospitals, and San Diego's military medical infrastructure and large regional health networks add consistent volume in the south.
How can I get hired as a graduate nurse in California with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is applying directly to new-graduate nurse residency programs, which large California employers such as Kaiser Permanente, Dignity Health, and Sutter Health run as structured cohort programs specifically designed for nurses with no post-licensure experience. These programs last roughly one year and place residents in acute care, med-surg, or critical care units. Candidates who hold an active California BRN license, have completed clinical rotations at a recognized California hospital, and can document ACLS certification stand out in competitive residency application cycles.
Where can I find and apply to graduate nurse jobs in California?
You can find and apply to graduate nurse jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings updated regularly. Search the listings, find roles that match your clinical background and preferred location, and apply directly to the ones that fit. No sign-up is needed to see the openings.
See All 6 Graduate Nurse Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Graduate Nurse Jobs