Per Diem Registered Nurse II/III - Utilization Management VCMC

County of Ventura; Santa Paula (CA); On-site; USD 76,346 - 128,461; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Educational Incentive

Bilingual Incentive

Charge Nurse Premium Pay

Night Shift Differential

Job summary

The County of Ventura is looking for a Per Diem Nurse to assist with patient care coordination at Ventura County Medical Center. Responsibilities include evaluating patient data, collaborating with healthcare teams for safe discharges, and ensuring compliance with regulations.

The position requires graduates from accredited nursing schools with proper California RN licensure. Opportunities for educational incentives and shift differentials are offered.

Qualifications

• Six months of recent acute care nursing experience for Per Diem RN II.
• Five years of recent acute care nursing experience for Per Diem RN III.
• Current valid Basic Life Support (BLS/CPR) certification.

Responsibilities

• Assist with patient care coordination and utilization review.
• Plan and coordinate safe discharge plans for patients.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams for patient care.

Skills

Compassionate patient care

Utilization review

Nursing assessment

Education

Graduation from an accredited School of Nursing

Current valid Registered Nurse license in California

Job description

Description

Under direction, scheduled as needed to assist with patient care coordination and utilization review. The incumbent will be responsible for assisting in the evaluation of patient care data to coordinate post‑discharge needs of patients. The Per Diem Nurse is scheduled to work on an as‑needed basis to supplement staffing needs.

The candidate will be compassionate and dedicated to providing the highest standard of care. The position makes recommendations to physicians for alternate levels of care when the patient does not meet medical necessity for inpatient hospitalization; interacts with the family, patient, and other disciplines to coordinate a safe and acceptable discharge plan; functions as an indirect caregiver, patient advocate, and manages patients in the most cost‑effective way without compromising quality; transfers stable non‑members to planned health care facilities; adheres to regulatory, accreditation, and compliance guidelines; and communicates with multidisciplinary teams in a fast‑paced environment.

Approximate Salaries

• Per Diem Registered Nurse II: $55.42 - $73.14 hourly
• Per Diem Registered Nurse III: $73.14 - $93.25 hourly

What We Offer

• Educational Incentive: $1.25 an hour for a bachelor's degree or $1.75 an hour for a graduate’s degree not specifically required.
• Bilingual Incentive: Eligible based on operational need and certification of skill.
• Certification Pay: $0.813 per hour based on scheduled workweek hours for each qualified certification up to a maximum of five.
• Evening Shift Differential: 7.5%
• Night Shift Differential: 15%
• Weekend Shift Differential: $2.00 per hour.
• Charge Nurse Premium Pay: $2.50 per hour.
• Standby Premium Pay: ¼ of regular hourly wage or Federal minimum wage (whichever is greater).

Agency / Department

Health Care Agency – Ventura County Medical Center.

Tentative Schedule

Opened July 2, 2026. Closing date continuous; application may close at any time.

Duties

• Plans, develops, assesses and evaluates care provided to patients.
• Collaborates with physicians and multidisciplinary team members to develop, implement and document individualized care plans.
• Recommends alternative levels of care and ensures compliance with federal, state and local requirements.
• Assesses high-risk patients in need of post-hospital care planning.
• Develops and coordinates implementation of a discharge plan to meet patient needs.
• Communicates the plan to physicians, patients, family caregivers, staff and community agencies.
• Reviews, monitors, evaluates and coordinates the patient's hospital stay to assure timely delivery of essential services.
• Participates in Bed Huddles and carries out recommendations aligned with patient needs.
• Coordinates the interdisciplinary approach to care, including utilization management, transfer coordination, and obtaining authorizations for outside services.
• Conducts daily clinical reviews for utilization/quality management activities across settings.
• Acts as liaison between in-patient facilities and referral agencies, providing case management.
• Refers patients to community resources to meet post-hospital needs.
• Maintains required documentation for transfer of patients.
• Adheres to internal and external regulatory and accreditation requirements.
• Educates healthcare team members on discharge planning roles and resource use.
• Provides patient education to cope with psychological issues related to acute and chronic illness.
• Reports incidents related to quality, risk, or patient safety identified during case review.
• Analyzes utilization patterns, trends, and problems; participates in data collection for special studies.
• Facilitates care planning rounds and patient family conferences.
• Participates in committees, teams or other duties as assigned.
• Performs other duties as required.

Typical Qualifications

These are entrance requirements for the examination process and determine placement on the eligible list.

Education, Training, and Experience

• Per Diem RN II: Six months of recent acute care nursing experience in an acute hospital setting.
• Per Diem RN III: Five years of recent acute care nursing experience in an acute hospital setting.

Necessary Special Requirements

• Graduation from an accredited School of Nursing.
• Current valid license as a Registered Nurse issued by the State of California; or licensure in another state with California licensure pending.
• Current valid Basic Life Support (BLS/CPR) certification by first day of employment and thereafter.
• Successful completion of the Health Care Agency Pharmacology examination within three months of employment.
• Other competency requirements in conformance with the California Board of Registered Nurses nursing requirements.

Desired

• Recent experience performing utilization review using MCG Care Guidelines to evaluate medical necessity and appropriateness of patient treatment.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Working knowledge of professional nursing within utilization management, medical terminology, hospital routine and equipment, and medicines and narcotics.

Ability to plan and organize nursing care; train and supervise non‑professional staff; establish confidence with patients and staff; and work effectively in different hospital departments on required shifts.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The County of Ventura is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.