(CNS) Clinical Nurse Specialist, Oncology - 141780

University of California San Diego; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 184,000 - 209,000; Full time

Job summary

UC San Diego Health is seeking an Oncology Clinical Nurse Specialist to provide expert clinical leadership across the cancer care continuum. This CNS promotes evidence-based administration of chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and oncology treatments through clinical guidance, staff education, and practice standardization.

The CNS will collaborate with leadership to ensure nursing practices across infusion, clinic, and radiation therapy are evidence-based and aligned with national guidelines.

Qualifications

• Master’s Degree in Nursing (MSN) required.
• Registered Nurse (RN) license issued by California.
• Certified Clinical Nurse Specialist or completion within six months of hire.
• BART or BLS at time of hire with plan to obtain BART within 6 months.
• Five+ years of Oncology experience in cancer services.
• Recent Oncology experience reflecting advanced nursing knowledge.
• Advanced knowledge of research methods, data collection, and reporting.
• Strong communication and collaboration across teams.

Responsibilities

• Provide clinical leadership to improve cancer care outcomes across the continuum.
• Guide safe, evidence-based administration of chemotherapy and other oncology treatments.
• Collaborate with nursing, physicians, pharmacy, and interdisciplinary teams.
• Lead quality and safety initiatives and practice standardization.

Skills

Advanced critical thinking

Advanced interpersonal skills

Advanced written and verbal comms

Evidence-based practice

Staff education/mentoring

Education

Master’s Degree in Nursing (MSN)

RN license in California

Certified Clinical Nurse Specialist

BART or BLS at hire

Tools

Electronic Health Records

Learning Management System

Job description

#141780 (CNS) Clinical Nurse Specialist, Oncology Filing Deadline: Thu 10/22/2026

Hiring Pay Scale: $184,000-209,000 / Year
Worksite: Moores Cancer Center
Appointment Type: Career
Appointment Percent: 100%
Union: Uncovered
Total Openings: 1
Work Schedule: Days, 8-Hour Shifts, Monday-Friday

DESCRIPTION

UC San Diego Health is a Magnet designated organization, which is a prestigious recognition that applies to only 10% of all U.S. hospitals. Magnet is the “gold standard” for nursing excellence and is based on strengths in five key areas which include transformational leadership, structural empowerment, exemplary professional practice, new knowledge, innovation and improvements and empirical outcomes. UC San Diego Health has held its Magnet status since 2011.

The Oncology Clinical Nurse Specialist is an advanced practice registered nurse who provides expert clinical leadership to improve outcomes for patients with cancer across the continuum of care. The CNS promotes safe, evidence-based administration of chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and other oncology treatments through clinical guidance, staff education, and practice standardization. This role partners with nursing, physicians, pharmacy, and interdisciplinary teams to support complex patient care, enhance oncology nursing practice, and lead quality and safety initiatives that improve patient outcomes and experience.

In collaboration with leadership, this position will review and ensure that nursing practice within multiple modalities, including infusion, care coordination (clinic), and radiation therapy, is evidence-based and aligned with all national quality and regulatory guidelines. This position requires a dynamic clinical leader with exceptional written and verbal communication skills in guiding nursing research and professional development through the career ladder and other opportunities at UCSD and nationally.

The CNS will collaborate with the Nurse Educator to assess knowledge and competence opportunities for improvement within all modalities, coaching and encouraging continuous performance improvement and learning within teams. This position will also collaborate with unit-based councils to identify, plan and implement strategies to improve patient and staff safety and experience.

This is the journey-level classification for an Advanced Practice Clinical Nurse Specialist.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• A Master’s Degree in Nursing (MSN).


• Registered Nurse (RN) license issued by the state of California.


• Certified Clinical Nurse Specialist required or completion of the program within six (6) months of hire.


• BART or BLS at time of hire with commitment to get BART within 6 months of hire date.


• Five (5+) or more years of relevant Oncology or Outpatient Oncology experience in cancer services(radiation oncology, infusion, clinics, etc.), including diagnoses, treatments, standards of practice and patient / family educational consulting and resources.


• Recent Oncology or specialty care experience reflective of advanced nursing clinical knowledge and skills.


• Advanced knowledge of methodology for conducting evidence-based research, data collection, analysis, and reporting.


• Advanced critical thinking and problem-solving skills to assess highly-complex issues and develop multiple options for resolution.


• Advanced interpersonal skills, with the ability to provide education, training, and direction to nursing staff, and to develop positive working relationships with patients, families, employees, and outside agencies as required.


• Advanced skills in written and verbal communications, with the ability to convey complex and/or sensitive information in a clear and concise manner.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Three (3+) or more years of experience in a CNS role.


• Current ANCC CNS certification or current professional certification in another advanced nurse practice discipline.


• Experience with electronic health records.


• Experience with learning management system.


• Project management/Lean Six Sigma certification or experience.


• Experience with training, onboarding, and educational programs within the oncology specialty.


• Experience with metrics and KPIs and performance improvement initiatives.

SPECIAL CONDITIONS

• Must be able to work various hours and locations based on business needs.


• Employment is subject to a criminal background check and pre-employment physical.

Pay Transparency Act

Annual Full Pay Range: Unclassified - No data available (will be prorated if the appointment percentage is less than 100%)

Hourly Equivalent: Unclassified - No data available

Factors in determining the appropriate compensation for a role include experience, skills, knowledge, licensure and certifications, and other business and organizational needs. The Hiring Pay Scale referenced in the job posting is the budgeted salary or hourly range that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position. The Annual Full Pay Range may be broader than what the University anticipates to pay for this position, based on internal equity, budget, and collective bargaining agreements (when applicable).

If employed by the University of California, you will be required to comply with our Policy on Vaccination Programs, which may be amended or revised from time to time. Federal, state, or local public health directives may impose additional requirements.

If applicable, life-support certifications (BLS, NRP, ACLS, etc.) must include hands‑on practice and in‑person skills assessment; online-only certification is not acceptable.

UC San Diego Health is the only academic health system in the San Diego region, providing leading-edge care in patient care, biomedical research, education, and community service. Our facilities include two university hospitals, a National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, Shiley Eye Institute, Sulpizio Cardiovascular Center, the only Burn Center in the county, and dozens of outpatient clinics. We invite you to join our team!

Applications/Resumes are accepted for current job openings only. For full consideration on any job, applications must be received prior to the initial closing date. If a job has an extended deadline, applications/resumes will be considered during the extension period; however, a job may be filled before the extended date is reached.

To foster the best possible working and learning environment, UC San Diego strives to cultivate a rich and diverse environment, inclusive and supportive of all students, faculty, staff and visitors. For more information, please visit UC San Diego Principles of Community.

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law.

For the University of California’s Anti-Discrimination Policy, please visit https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/1001004/Anti-Discrimination

UC San Diego is a smoke and tobacco free environment. Please visit smokefree.ucsd.edu for more information.

UC San Diego Health maintains a marijuana and drug free environment. Employees may be subject to drug screening.

Misconduct Disclosure Requirement: As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts an offer of employment will be required to disclose if they have been subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct; or have filed an appeal of a finding of substantiated misconduct with a previous employer.

a. \"Misconduct\" means any violation of the policies governing employee conduct at the applicant’s previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, or discrimination, as defined by the employer. For reference, below are UC’s policies addressing some forms of misconduct:

• UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy


• UC Anti-Discrimination Policy


• Abusive Conduct in the Workplace