Nursing Officer Jobs in California
Nursing Officer jobs in California represent one of the most active markets in the country, with consistent demand across large acute-care hospital systems, public health agencies, and integrated health networks serving entry-level through senior leadership roles. Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego anchor most of the hiring, with major systems like Kaiser Permanente, Dignity Health, and UC Health operating across these regions. The most in-demand specialties in California include intensive care, surgical services, and public and community health nursing. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Chief Nursing Officer, Behavioral Health (CNO)
- Sets the vision for nursing practice in the delivery of safe, timely, efficient, equitable and patient centered care.
- Collaborate with interdisciplinary treatment teams, other departments and administration to ensure that all residents’ physical, biopsychosocial, age, developmental and cultural needs are met and when they are not met, acknowledges and works to resolve customer complaints.
- Direct, supervise and evaluate work activities of all nursing personnel.
- Provide clinical leadership, strategic and long-term goals for the nursing staff.
- Anticipates and effectively manage changes in census and acuity and allocates nursing resources based on measurement of patient acuity/care needed.
- Role model expectations related to customer service and demonstrated sense of urgency related to the importance of patient safety.
- Determine, assign, and assess performance objectives for nursing department.
- Organize, coordinate, develop and review policies, procedures and nursing protocols within the facility to meet all regulatory, compliance and quality care standards.
- Responsible for the quality of care, operational and financial efficiency of the nursing department.
- Lead and develop the nursing staff within the facility, providing performance goals, feedback and development opportunities.
- Set and carry out policies, goals and procedures for their function or department.
- Evaluate the quality of care, staff's work and the operational efficiency and effectiveness of the function or department.
- Develop and oversee functions or departmental budget and reporting.
- Provide staff management to include hiring, development, training, performance management and communication to ensure effective and efficient department operation.
- Master’s degree in nursing or mental health nursing strongly preferred.
- Bachelor’s degree in nursing or commensurate experience required.
- 10+ Years RN experience preferred. 6 years RN experience required.
- Nursing leadership experience in a freestanding psychiatric hospital strongly preferred.
- Prior CNO/DON experience strongly preferred.
- 2 years behavioral health experience as and RN in an inpatient psychiatric setting required
- 3 years of progressive nursing management or administrative nursing experience required.
- Provide direct care as needed. Direct and conduct recruitment, hiring and training of personnel.
Compensation
Base Salary - USD $138,000 to $200,000
Candidate Details:
10+ to 15 years experience
Seniority Level - Executive
Management Experience Required - No
Minimum Education - Bachelor's Degree
Willingness to Travel - Never
Screening Questions:
Do you have 10+ Years RN experience preferred. 6 years RN experience required.
Do you have Nursing leadership experience in a freestanding psychiatric hospital.
Do you have at least 2 years behavioral health experience as and RN in an inpatient psychiatric setting required
Do you have 3 years of progressive nursing management or administrative nursing experience required.
Do you have Prior CNO/DON experience.
Ideal Candidate:
The CNO needs to have inpatient BH exp multiple years of it, nursing leadership experience.
See All 15 Nursing Officer Jobs in California
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Find Nursing Officer JobsNursing Officer Jobs by City in California
Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Nursing Officer Job Market in California
A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.
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What California Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in nursing officer jobs across California.
- Active Registered Nurse license issued or recognized by the California Board of Registered Nursing
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from an accredited program required or strongly preferred
- Current BLS certification and ACLS certification for acute or critical care settings
- Minimum clinical experience in a relevant specialty such as ICU, surgery, or med-surg
- Demonstrated ability to lead, mentor, or coordinate a nursing team or care unit
- Familiarity with California Title 22 regulations and Joint Commission accreditation standards
Nursing Officer Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a nursing officer in California?
You must hold an active Registered Nurse license issued by the California Board of Registered Nursing, which requires completing an accredited nursing program and passing the NCLEX-RN exam. Most nursing officer roles in California also require a BSN at minimum, with many senior positions expecting an MSN or clinical leadership credential. Relevant specialty experience and demonstrated supervisory or charge nurse responsibilities are standard prerequisites for advancement into officer-level roles.
How much do nursing officers make in California?
Nursing officers 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 nursing officers in California?
Employers hiring nursing officers in California right now include Vibra Healthcare, Sierra Vista Hospital, and Grammar, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of October 2026. California's size and mix of large integrated health systems, county hospital networks, and university medical centers creates steady openings for experienced nursing officers throughout the year.
Which California cities have the most nursing officer jobs?
Sacramento, San Bernardino, and Duarte have the most nursing officer openings in California. Los Angeles and San Diego lead because of their concentration of large hospital systems, trauma centers, and VA facilities, while San Francisco's academic medical centers and UCSF Health anchor demand in the Bay Area. Suburban markets around these hubs also post regularly as regional medical centers expand capacity.
Are there remote nursing officer jobs in California?
Yes, but they're rare. About 25% of nursing officer openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of October 2026, reflecting the largely hands-on, unit-based nature of the role. The portions most likely to be remote are care coordination, utilization review, and telehealth-focused nursing officer positions, where direct patient contact is not required every shift.
How can I get hired as a nursing officer in California with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is through a nurse residency or new-graduate transition program at a large California health system such as Kaiser Permanente, Cedars-Sinai, or a UC Health campus, which are designed specifically for RNs without post-licensure experience. Lateral moves from roles like staff nurse, charge nurse, or clinical coordinator build the supervisory record most officer-level postings require. Holding a California BRN license and a current BLS certification from day one removes the most common screening barriers.
Where can I find and apply to nursing officer jobs in California?
You can find and apply to nursing officer jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings updated regularly. Find roles that match your specialty and experience level and apply directly to the employer without creating an account or signing up.
See All 15 Nursing Officer Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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