Nursing Instructor, Full-time Tenure Track (2 Vacancies)

Anacalifornia; Palm Desert (CA); Hybrid; USD 99,000 - 127,000; Full time

Job summary

College of the Desert is hiring a Nursing Instructor for a full-time tenure-track role. The position serves the Office of Instruction across multiple campus sites including Palm Desert, with responsibilities for classroom, lab, and clinical supervision.

Minimum qualifications include BRN guidelines: an RN license, Master’s in nursing or equivalent combination, and evidence of commitment to equity and student success. Salary is competitive and location varies by assignment.

Qualifications

• Master's in nursing is required by minimum qualifications.
• Bachelor's in nursing plus Master's in health education/health science also qualifies.
• Equivalency to BRN qualifications may be considered.

Responsibilities

• Meet classes, labs, and clinical setting as assigned.
• Develop and implement instruction aligned with official course outlines.
• Prepare and distribute syllabus communicating objectives, grading, and policies.
• Evaluate student progress and assign grades following district policy.
• Participate in curriculum development and advising activities.
• Support professional development and department meetings.

Education

Master's in nursing

Bachelor's in nursing AND Master's in health education or health science

equivalent

Board of Registered Nursing minimum qualifications

Job description

Nursing Instructor, Full-time Tenure Track (2 Vacancies)

Salary: $8,846.52 - $11,356.09 Monthly

Location: Location varies by assignment, CA

Job Type: FULL TIME

Job Number: 2600305

Division: Office of Instruction

Department: Office of Instruction

Opening Date: 09/28/2026

Closing Date: 10/26/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

Bargaining Unit: CODFA-College of the Desert Faculty Association

Description

About College of the Desert

The College of the Desert, Desert Community College District enrolls approximately 20,000 students each academic year with steady enrollment growth each year. College of the Desert embraces diversity in all forms and the right of all people to have access to quality higher education in a safe learning environment. Designated as a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI), College of the Desert administers an array of student programs specifically focused on student support and helping students achieve their educational and career goals. As a two-year college, we offer Associates Degree for Transfer, both in Art and Sciences, Associates Degrees, and Certificates across a wide range of disciplines.

College of the Desert is a district that consists of leadership, staff, and faculty who are committed to enhancing our community through supporting the academic success of all of our students including racially and ethnically diverse students, students with disabilities, students who are first generation to college, veterans, students of all ages, students with diverse socio-economic backgrounds, "dreamers", and students of diverse sexual orientation and gender expression.

When you join College of the Desert you can expect to be part of a diverse, inclusive, and collaborative community. We provide students with a rich and dynamic learning experience that embraces differences, emphasizes collaboration, and engages students in and out of the classroom. We are committed to ensuring that College of the Desert is a welcoming place for the success of all students.

Interested in learning more about College of the Desert and the Coachella Valley? Visit the links below.

• The Community - Coachella Valley
• College of the Desert

Who We Want:

College of the Desert is seeking individuals from a broad range of cultural heritages, socioeconomic backgrounds, genders, abilities, and orientations. As such, we prioritize individuals who fully demonstrate their understanding of the community we serve, the benefits of diversity in a professional and educational setting, and values creating a culture that brings people together. A successful candidate will value working in a collegial, collaborative environment that is guided by a commitment to inclusion, student education, and equity. An equity-minded individual is a person who already does or has demonstrated the desire to:

• Understand the importance of holding ourselves accountable as faculty, staff and leadership for closing equity gaps and engaging in equitable practices;
• Reframe inequities as a problem of practice and view the elimination of inequities as an individual and collective responsibility;
• Encourage positive race-consciousness and embrace human difference;
• Reflect on institutional and teaching practices and aim to make them more culturally responsive; and
• Strategically build buy-in and participation among colleagues for equity-related initiatives.

BASIC FUNCTION

Under administrative leadership, it is the responsibility of the instructor to participate in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of educational programs, courses, and other experiences that will directly result in the educational growth of the students and support advancement of the vision, mission, and values of the community college district.

GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

Under administrative leadership, it is the responsibility of the instructor to participate in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of educational programs, courses, and other experiences that will directly result in the educational growth of the students and support advancement of the vision, mission, and values of the community college district.

REPRESENTATIVE DUTIES

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES:

A. Classroom responsibilities

1. Meet classes/laboratories/clinical setting on day and times assigned.
2. Develop and implement instruction for each class/laboratory period which is consistent with the official course outline.
3. Develop and distribute the first week of class, a written syllabus for each course to communicate to students course objectives, grading criteria, and classroom policies.
4. Demonstrate respect for student rights as specified in District policy and applicable laws.
5. Submit requisitions for textbooks and instructional materials in a timely manner.
6. Refer students to tutoring and related student services when appropriate.
7. Supervise student in off-campus activities when participation is expected as part of a course requirement or where such supervision is part of the instructors load.
8. Provide academic assistance and related services to students during scheduled office hours.

B. Evaluation of Students

1. Evaluate students' progress toward meeting course objectives; advise the students of course objectives, methods of evaluation and the results of the evaluation.
2. Return assignments and examination results in a timely fashion.
3. Assign grades to students in the manner provided by District policy and administrative procedure and prescribed by the Education Code and Title V regulations for the State of California.
4. Participate in the credit by examination program where applicable.
5. Submit required administrative paperwork, including grade report forms, in a timely and accurate manner.

C. Curriculum

1. Participate in the development and review of curriculum as needed.
2. Participate in the development of alternative teaching modalities.

D. Student Advising

1. Advise enrolled students on such matters as:
2. a. Course content, scope, and meaning.
3. b. Major course requirements for the degree or certificate.
4. c. Learning skills
5. d. Collateral or enrichment reading or experience opportunities for further understanding of the courses or subject field.
6. e. Career alternative/opportunities related to the subject field.
7. Participate as a Faculty Advisor to student organizations or clubs.

E. Professional Development

1. Participate in required professional development activities.
2. Continue to develop professional skills and knowledge.
3. Participate in planning staff development programs.
4. Participate in institutional research activities and grants.
5. Attend/participate in professional conferences, seminars, or meetings.

F. Additional Responsibilities

1. Schedule, announce to students in all classes, and maintain office hours.
2. Attend and participate in department/center meetings.
3. Attend commencement ceremony.
4. Participate in the process of Shared Governance by contributing to the academic community through committee work on the department, division, college and/or district level, or participate in other significant non-classroom college, district, or community activities.
5. Keep official records required by District policy and administrative procedures and submit them in accordance with college procedures.
6. Participate in supervision of student assistants and paraprofessionals.
7. Participate in articulation activities and the coordination of inter-divisional and intra-divisional learning activities.
8. Abide by departmental regulations concerning the proper use, care, and security of equipment.
9. Advise administration of unsafe conditions or potential hazards and recommend solutions.
10. Participate in advisory committee meetings as required.
11. Consult with management on personnel needs; assist with position announcements, recruitment, and screening/interviewing committees.
12. Participate in the tenure review process as assigned.
13. Participate in the evaluation of regular faculty and adjunct faculty as assigned.
14. Participate in mentoring of new faculty as assigned.
15. Fulfill all obligations as established in the current collective bargaining agreement.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office Minimum Qualifications:

• Master's in nursing OR Bachelor's in nursing AND Master's in health education or health science OR the equivalent OR the minimum qualifications as set by the Board of Registered Nursing.
• Sensitivity to and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability, and ethnic backgrounds of community college students.

Board of Registered Nursing Minimum Qualifications:

An assistant instructor shall meet the following minimum qualifications:

(1) A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college which shall include courses in nursing, or in natural, behavioral or social sciences relevant to nursing practice;

(2) Direct patient care experience within the previous five (5) years in the nursing area to which he or she will be assigned, which can be met by:

(A) One (1) year's continuous, full-time or its equivalent experience providing direct patient care as a registered nurse in the designated nursing area; or

(B) One (1) academic year of registered nurse level clinical teaching experience in the designated nursing area or its equivalent that demonstrates clinical competency.

Licenses And Other Qualifications

• Valid California Registered Nurse License.

Preferred Qualifications

• Conferred master's degree or current enrollment in a master's program with an expected completion date.

Board of Registered Nursing Pre-Approval Process:

Applicants are encouraged to obtain BRN faculty approval before applying. To apply:

• Log into the California Department of Consumer Affairs' BreEZe system.
• Under 'Manage your license information,' use the dropdown menu under your RN license and select 'CA Faculty Approval.'
• Complete and submit the application for either "Assistant Instructor" or "Instructor" based on qualifications. Supporting documents such as unofficial transcripts and a resume may be required.

EQUIVALENCY REQUESTS & FOREIGN EQUIVALENCY EVALUATIONS:

If you do not clearly meet the minimum qualifications as they are defined, you MUST submit an Equivalency Request form (Download PDF reader) along with your application materials.

• Equivalency Information is available by clicking here.
• Degrees earned outside of the U.S. require that a Foreign Equivalency Evaluation be uploaded IN ADDITION TO the foreign transcripts.
• Foreign Equivalency information is available by clicking here.

EMPLOYMENT STATUS

• Faculty Bargaining Unit Position
• Salary placement will be on the Full Time Faculty (175 Days) Salary Schedule.
• Salary placement will be in accordance as outlined in the Collective Bargaining Agreement (Download PDF reader)

WORKING CONDITIONS:

Classroom and online environment and faculty office environment. Classes may be held at all campus locations, Palm Desert, Indio, Mecca-Thermal, Palm Springs, and/or Desert Hot Springs in addition to clinical facilities. Classes may be scheduled during the day, evening, or weekend and may include online synchronous and asynchronous teaching and learning.

REQUIRED APPLICATION AND REQUIRED UPLOADED DOCUMENTS:

To be considered a candidate for this position, the following materials must be electronically uploaded:

• Online Application: All sections of the College of the Desert District online application must be completed including education and experience.
• Resume: Must include length of employment (month/year start and end dates) for each employer.
• Cover Letter: Please address how you meet the minimum requirements for this position and any special qualifications you possess.
• College Transcripts: Academic transcripts of all college level coursework showing date degree awarded from an accredited institution. For consideration, degree(s) must be awarded at the time of application. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable at time of application. Successful candidate must provide official transcripts upon hire. Non-U.S. transcripts must include a certified U.S. evaluation (i.e., NACES agency: www.naces.org) at the time of application. Diplomas will not be accepted in lieu of the required transcripts.

REQUIRED IN YOUR APPLICATION:

• List of References: References should include at least two supervisors and one colleague. Please include name, title, email and current phone numbers. Letters of reference will not be accepted in lieu of the required List of References.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR APPLICANTS:

• Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S.
• College of the Desert does not offer sponsorship nor take over sponsorship for an employment VISA.
• Employment is contingent on residence in California.
• Incomplete application packages will not be considered.
• All submitted materials become the property of College of the Desert Community College District and will not be returned or copied and will be considered for this position only.
• Salary placement will be contingent on all materials submitted for this position.
• Applicant bears the sole responsibility for ensuring that the application package is complete when submitted.
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