Registered Nurse II - Pre-op / PACU

Salary : $108,312.24 - $129,526.21 Annually

Location : Ventura, CA

Job Type : Full-Time Regular

Job Number : 0305HCA-25AI (ECA)

Department : Health Care Agency

Division : Ventura County Medical Center and / or Santa Paula Hospital

Opening Date : 09 / 23 / 2025

Closing Date : Continuous

Description

Under direction, the incumbent is responsible for providing professional direct or indirect nursing care to patients in both the preoperative and post-anesthesia phases. Preoperative nurses play a critical role in preparing patients for surgery by conducting comprehensive assessments, reviewing medications, coordinating diagnostic testing, and ensuring all necessary consent and documentation are complete. They educate patients about the surgical process and provide emotional support to reduce anxiety, while also confirming physical readiness through proper attire and the removal of personal items to maintain safety and compliance with protocols.

Following surgery, post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) nurses care for patients as they recover from anesthesia, monitoring vital signs, levels of consciousness, and overall responsiveness. Because patients may experience confusion, pain, nausea, or difficulty breathing, and may not be able to clearly communicate their needs, PACU nurses must proactively observe and respond to subtle cues. This role demands quick decision-making in a high-pressure, fast-paced environment to ensure patients safely regain consciousness and stabilize after surgery.

PAYROLL TITLE : Registered Nurse II

WHAT WE OFFER :

The County of Ventura offers an attractive compensation and benefits package, subject to eligibility requirements, that includes :

• Educational Incentive - An educational incentive of 2.5% for completion of an associate's degree, 3.5% for completion of a bachelor's degree, OR 5% for completion of a graduate's degree.
• Bilingual Incentive - Incumbents may also be eligible for bilingual incentive depending upon operational need and certification of skill. Proficiency levels by exam are $.69 per hour (Level I), $1.00 per hour (Level II), or $1.32 per hour (Level III).
• Certification Pay - $0.813 per hour based on scheduled work week hours for each qualified certification up to a maximum of five (5) certifications. One of the five certifications may be paid at $2.00 per hour for a National Certification.
• Evening Shift Differential - 7.5%
• Night Shift Differential - 15%
• Weekend Shift Differential - $2.00 per hour
• Continuous County Service Incentive Pay - 1% for 7 years, 1.25% for 12 years and 1.5% for 17 years
• Preceptor Pay - $2.50 per hour
• House Supervisor Pay - $4.00 per hour
• Charge Nurse Premium Pay - $2.50 per hour
• Float Nurse Premium Pay - $2.50 per hour
• In House Registry Pay -

Non-overtime is 1.75 straight time base hourly rate

AGENCY / DEPARTMENT : Health Care Agency - Ventura County Medical Center and / or Santa Paula Hospital

Registered Nurse II is represented by the California Nurses' Association (CNA) and is eligible for overtime compensation.

The eligible list established from this recruitment may be used to fill current and future Regular (including Temporary and Fixed-Term), Intermittent, and Extra Help vacancies within the Pre-Op / PACU unit. There are currently seven (7) Regular, Full-time vacancies, and one (1) intermittent vacancy within Ventura County Medical Center and / or Santa Paula Hospital.

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE

OPENING DATE : September 23, 2025

CLOSING DATE : Continuous and may close at any time.

Examples Of Duties

Duties may include but are not limited to the following :

Typical Qualifications

These are entrance requirements to the exam process and assure neither continuance in the process nor placement on an eligible list.

EDUCATION, TRAINING, and EXPERIENCE

Requires six (6) months of recent full-time acute care registered nursing experience in an acute hospital or equivalent setting, or completion of the Ventura County Medical Center competency requirements

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

DESIRED

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities :

Thorough knowledge of : the theory, techniques, and practices of professional nursing; preoperative and postoperative assessments; evaluation systems like Aldrete Score; medical terminology and hospital routine and equipment; and medicines and narcotics.

Working ability to : plan and organize nursing care; train and supervise non-professional staff; establish and maintain the confidence of patients and staff; maintain confidentiality of patient / client information; work effectively in different healthcare and / or hospital departments or shifts as required; establish and maintain effective interpersonal relations with other staff members, patients, and their families; communicate effectively both orally and in writing.

Recruitment Process

FINAL FILING DATE : This is a continuous recruitment and may close at any time; therefore, apply as soon as possible if you are interested in it. Your application must be received by the County of Ventura Human Resources, Health Care Agency in Ventura, California, no later than 5 : 00 p.m. on the closing date.

To apply on-line, please refer to our website at If you prefer to fill out a paper application form, please call (805) 677-5184 for application materials. Our address is : County of Ventura, Human Resources - Health Care Agency, 646 County Square Drive, Ventura, CA 93003.

Note to Applicants : It is essential that you complete all sections of your application and supplemental questionnaire thoroughly and accurately to demonstrate your qualifications. A resume and / or other related documents may be attached to supplement the information in your application and supplemental questionnaire; however, it / they may not be submitted in lieu of the application.

LATERAL TRANSFER OPTION : If presently permanently employed in another "merit" or "civil service" public agency / entity in the same or substantively similar position as is advertised, and if appointed to that position by successful performance in a "merit" or "civil service" style examination, then appointment by "Lateral Transfer" may be possible. If interested, please click for additional information.

SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE - qualifying : All applicants are required to complete and submit the questionnaire for this examination at the time of filing. The supplemental questionnaire may be used throughout the examination process to assist in determining each applicant's qualifications and acceptability for the position. Failure to complete and submit the questionnaire may result in the application being removed from consideration.

APPLICATION EVALUATION - Pass / Fail : An application evaluation will be conducted to determine whether or not each applicant possesses the required licensure and certification for this recruitment. Those candidates who do will be placed on the eligible list.

Candidates successfully completing the examination process may be placed on an eligible list for a period of one (1) year.

BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION : A thorough pre-employment, post-offer background investigation which may include inquiry into past employment, education, criminal background information, and driving record may be required for this position.

For further information about this recruitment, please contact Erika Ayala by e-mail at Erika.Ayala@venturacounty.gov or by telephone at (805) 677-5164.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY : The County of Ventura is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.

YOUR BENEFITS AS A COUNTY OF VENTURA EMPLOYEE

California Nurses Association

(CNA)

To learn more about Benefits, Retirement, and the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), see links below.

Union Code : NCN

01

Your salary will be determined by your complete nursing experience so be sure to list all applicable experience in the work experience section of this application. Do you understand?

02

Do you have six (6) months of recent full-time acute care registered nursing experience in an acute hospital or equivalent setting?

03

Do you possess a current valid license as a Registered Nurse issued by the State of California?

If yes, you MUST include your date of license and a current valid license number in the Certificates and Licenses section of your application. Failure to do so will result in your application being disqualified.

04

Are you willing and able to take calls after hours or on weekends?

05

Do you possess Basic Life Support (BLS / CPR) certification?

If yes, you MUST include the certification information in the Certificates and Licenses section of your application. Failure to do so will result in your application being disqualified.

06

Do you possess an Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certification?

If yes, you MUST include the certification information in the Certificates and Licenses section of your application. Failure to do so will result in your application being disqualified.

07

Do you possess a Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) certification?

If yes, you MUST include the certification information in the Certificates and Licenses section of your application. Failure to do so will result in your application being disqualified.

08

Are you willing and able to obtain either a Trauma Care after Resuscitation (TCAR) certification within three (3) months, or Trauma Nursing Core Course (TNCC) certification within six (6) months of hire date?

If you currently hold any of these certifications, you MUST include the certification information in the Certificates and Licenses section of your application. Failure to do so will result in your application being disqualified.

Required Question