PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT/NURSE PRACTITIONER

santacruzcountyca.gov; Santa Cruz (CA); On-site; USD 186,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual leave

Holidays

Medical plan

Dental plan

Retirement plan

Life insurance

Disability insurance

Dependent care plan

Health care flexible spending

Job summary

County of Santa Cruz's Homeless Persons Health Project is seeking Physician Assistants or Nurse Practitioners to deliver primary health care in outpatient clinics and detention facilities. Clinicians will assess, diagnose, and manage complex chronic and acute conditions, supporting a continuum of care for homeless individuals.

The role emphasizes covering diverse patient populations, working within an integrated health services system, and utilizing electronic health records to document care and

Qualifications

• Frontline clinical assessment of patients with complex chronic or acute conditions.
• Ability to perform physical examinations and diagnose/treat.
• Experience with electronic health records and medical documentation.

Responsibilities

• Provide professional level primary health care to patients in outpatient clinics and detention facilities.
• Perform physical examinations and diagnose and treat patients according to protocols.
• Develop and implement treatment plans; write clear medical reports.

Skills

Clinical assessment

Patient care

EHR experience

Team collaboration

Education

CA PA license

CA NP license

CNM certification

Tools

Doptone

Microscope

Job description

PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT /NURSE PRACTIONER

Human Resources Department, 701 Ocean Street, Room 510, Santa Cruz, CA 95060Apply online at: www.santacruzcountyjobs.com

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

INVITES YOU TO APPLY FOR:

THE JOB: Under direction, to provide professional level primary health care to patients with complex chronic and acute health conditions in a variety of outpatient clinics and detention facilities; to perform physical examinations and to diagnose and treat patients; and to do other work as required. The current recruitment will be used to fill two vacancies. One position assigned to the Homeless Persons Health Project. The eligible list established from this recruitment will be used to fill the current vacancy and future full-time, part-time and extra help vacancies throughout the life of the eligible list.

The Homeless Persons Health Project Homeless Persons’ Health Project is a primary care clinic that is part of the County of Santa Cruz Health Services Agency, serving all areas of Santa Cruz County. It is among the first in the nation’s “Health Care for the Homeless” community health centers and has operated in Santa Cruz County since 1987. In addition to providing healthcare to people experiencing homelessness, we manage a permanent supportive housing program and operate a street medicine program. The Homeless Persons Health Project (HPHP) Street Medicine Program is a primary care and outreach response team designed to address the critical need to support people experiencing homelessness in Santa Cruz County, particularly those who live in encampments, rural areas, or those who do not access services at physical sites. The Street Medicine Program comprises one component of a larger service delivery system connected to the County of Santa Cruz Health Services Agency. The Homeless Persons Health Project provides a continuum of clinical, social, and housing services to people experiencing homelessness throughout Santa Cruz County.

Salary: $186,451 – 209,789 / Annually

Closing Date: Friday, December 4, 2026

County of Santa Cruz

County Equity Statement

Equity in action in Santa Cruz County is a transformative process that embraces individuals of every status, providing unwavering support, dignity, and compassion.

Through this commitment, the County ensures intentional opportunities and access, fostering an environment where everyone can thrive and belong.

THE REQUIREMENTS

Any combination of training and experience which would provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain this knowledge and abilities would be to possess one of the following certificates or licenses:

Pursuant to Section 3503 of the Business and Professions Code, possess a California license to practice as a Physicians’ Assistant.

ORPursuant to Section 2835 of the Business and Professions Code, possess a California certificate to practice as a Nurse Practitioner.

OR

Pursuant to Article 2.5 of the Business and Professions Code, possess a certificate to practice as a NurseMidwife.

Special Requirements: In addition to the core requirements for this class, incumbents may be required to possess credentials demonstrating specialties in any one of the following areas for certain positions. Nurse Practitioners: Family Practice NP, OB-GYN NP, Family Planning NP, Pediatric NP, Geriatric NP or Certified Nurse Midwife. Physicians Assistants: Women's Health Care Specialist.

Knowledge: Working knowledge of the principles, practices and procedures used to detect, diagnose and treat common health problems; medication and drugs commonly prescribed, including medications therapeutic effect, side effects, reactions and contraindications; scope of responsibilities, diagnosis and treatment techniques and procedures applicable within specific licensure and assignments (note: licensure and certification requirements may vary depending on assignments); control and care of chronic and communicable disease, illness and handicapping conditions; normal and abnormal values of laboratory tests and their clinical significance; medical laws and regulations and the ethics of patient care; and basic interviewing and counseling techniques. Some knowledge of community resources and referral systems and services provided by local health agencies.

Ability to: Assess health status of patient; take complete medical history, perform physical examinations, evaluate results and identify abnormal health conditions; identify and manage health problems; develop and implement treatment plans for patients according to standardized procedures and protocols; analyze and interpret health information and data including laboratory test results; order laboratory procedures and appropriate prescriptions under standardized procedures and policies; use specialized equipment such as doptone and microscope; establish and maintain effective working relationships with others; write clear and concise medical reports; instruct and counsel patients on matters pertaining to health; recognize and evaluate situations which call for the immediate attention of a physician; work effectively under pressure in stressful and emergency situations; deal effectively with manipulative, hostile and sociopathic behavior; and learn to access, input and analyze data using a computer terminal.

THE EXAMINATION: Your application and supplemental questionnaire will be reviewed to determine if you have met the education, experience, training and/or licensing requirements as stated on the job announcement. If you meet these criteria and are one of the best qualified, you may be required to compete in any combination of written, oral and/or performance examinations or a competitive evaluation of training and experience as described on your application and supplemental questionnaire. You must pass all components of the examination to be placed on the eligible list. The examination may be eliminated if there are ten or fewer qualified applicants. If the eligible list is established without the administration of the announced examination, the life of the eligible list will be six months, and your overall score will be based upon an evaluation of your application and supplemental questionnaire. If during those six months it is necessary to administer another examination for this job class, you will be invited to take the examination to remain on the eligible list.

PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT / NURSE PRACTIONER - SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE

The supplemental questions are designed specifically for this recruitment. Applications received without the required supplemental information will be screened out of the selection process. Employment experience referred to in your response must also be included in the Employment History section of the application.

Please answer the question(s) below as completely and thoroughly as possible, as your answer(s) may be used to assess your qualifications for movement to the next step in the recruitment process.

1. Describe your experience working with medical and socially complex patients, including pain management.

2. Describe any experience working with an underserved population including homelessness, encampments, and rural areas.

3. Describe your experience working in a community clinic setting.

4. Describe your experience working with electronic health records.

(Note: Selective certification to positions may be based on the type of credentials required for the position and the area of specialization noted above.)

EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

• ANNUAL LEAVE - 22 days first year, increasing to 37 days after 15 years of service. Available for vacation and/or sick leave.
• HOLIDAYS - 14 paid holidays per year.
• BEREAVEMENT LEAVE - 3 days paid in California, 5 days paid out-of-state.
• MEDICAL PLAN - The County contracts with CalPERS for a variety of medical plans. For most plans, County contributions pay a majority of the premiums for employees and eligible dependents.
• DENTAL PLAN - County pays for employee and eligible dependent coverage.
• VISION PLAN - County pays for employee coverage. Employee may purchase eligible dependent coverage.
• RETIREMENT - Pension formula 2% at age 60 or 2% at age 62 as determined based on provisions of the CA Public Employees’ Pension Reform Act of 2013(PEPRA). Pension benefit determined by final average compensation of three years. County participates in Social Security.
• LIFE INSURANCE - County paid $20,000 term policy. Employee may purchase additional life insurance.
• DISABILITY INSURANCE - Employees in the General Representation Unit participate in the State Disability Insurance (SDI) program. This program is funded 100% by employee payroll deductions.
• DEPENDENT-CARE PLAN - Employees who make contributions for child or dependent care may elect to have their contributions made utilizing "pre-tax dollars."
• H-CARE PLAN - Employees who pay a County medical premium may elect this pre-tax program.
• HEALTH CARE FLEXIBLE SPENDING ALLOWANCE (HCFSA) - Employees may elect this pre-tax program to cover qualifying health care expenses.
• DEFERRED COMPENSATION - A deferred compensation plan is available to employees.

Note: Provisions of this bulletin do not constitute an expressed or implied contract.

Women people of color, and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply. If you have a disability that requires test accommodation, please call [phone].

To comply with the 1986 Immigration Reform and Control Act, Santa Cruz County verifies that all new employees are either U.S. citizens or persons authorized to work in the U.S.

Some positions may require Fingerprinting and/or Background Investigation.