Job Description

Posting number: F020M

Department: San Mateo Medical Center

Job classification: Licensed Vocational Nurse

Posting type: Open

Categories: Health Services, Nursing, Paraprofessional

Summary

NOTE: This recruitment was amended on March 2, 2026 to place a hold on accepting new applications. Applications are not currently being accepted.

San Mateo County Health has excellent job opportunities for Licensed Vocational Nurses to work at San Mateo Medical Center and Clinics https://www.smchealth.org/smmc-careers, and Correctional Health Services https://www.smchealth.org/ch.

Are you passionate about serving and making a difference in the community? Are you looking to join a progressive and committed healthcare department?

If yes, then we would like to hear from you!

Licensed Vocational Nurses, under general supervision, provide a full range of vocational nursing care to patients in a variety of settings and at various health care facilities. We offer full-time, part-time, term, relief, and extra help positions.

The ideal candidate will:

• Have at least one year of paid LVN experience.
• Be willing to work various shifts, weekends and holidays.
• Be able to perform heavy lifting duties when required.
• Be able to plan and present educational materials, teach and counsel others on health issues including family planning, STDs, AIDS and HIV infection, immunizations, and nutrition and develop work plans and schedules for special clinics and services.
• Be bilingual in Spanish and English.
• Possess a blood withdrawal certificate.
• Possess a CPR Certificate.

Previous LVN experience is strongly preferred. Some positions require bilingual fluency (English/Spanish).

For more information regarding our clinic services please visit: San Mateo Medical Center Clinics.

Examples of duties

Duties for all positions may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Participate in planning for care and instruction of patients.
• Record pertinent patient information in medical records.
• Report patients' needs to the appropriate medical and nursing staff.
• Feed, bathe, dress and care for patients.
• Position and exercise patients following prescribed procedures and techniques.
• Apply and change dressings using aseptic techniques.
• Following appropriate instruction by In-service Department and State certification, start I.V.'s and draw arterial and venous blood specimens.
• Take and record temperature, pulse, respiration and blood pressure.
• Collect or assist in the collection of gastric specimens, blood samples and other clinical material for testing.
• Assist medical professionals in procedures as instructed.
• Inventory and order medications.
• Participate in take-downs of violent patients.
• Inform patients of effects of medications.
• Administer prescribed treatments and medications, including injections.
• Instruct patients to maintain treatment at home.
• Reassure and calm agitated patients in an informative and sensitive manner.
• Screen patients for risk factors.
• Recommend treatment for common ailments, using standard protocol manuals and with registered nurse or physician review.
• May perform duties normally assigned to unlicensed personnel.
• Maintain accurate records.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

Clinic Option: LVNs in some positions will perform additional duties which may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Phlebotomy/blood withdrawal.
• Administering and inventory of medications, treatments, vaccines, injections and point of care.
• Run tests on blood and urine specimens in accordance with CLIA regulations.
• Determine immunizations needed and give injections.
• Remove sutures.
• Triage patients to determine nature and urgency of request.
• Teach and counsel patients on a variety of health related subjects.
• Perform duties associated with well care of children, including vision and hearing tests.
• To qualify under the clinic option, the incumbent must work in a clinic setting and spend at least 30% of his/her time performing duties listed under the clinic option.

Qualifications

Knowledge of:

• Principles and methods of general vocational nursing.
• Medical terminology.
• Safety and infection control practices.
• Clinical systems, supplies and equipment.

Skill/Ability to:

• Perform vocational nursing procedures required for assigned setting.
• Comply with clinical procedures and policies.
• Maintain professional nurse/patient relationships.
• Work harmoniously with other personnel.
• Follow safety practices.
• Participate in orienting and instructing other nursing and paraprofessional personnel.
• Maintain accurate records and prepare reports.
• Maneuver immobile patients and to lift and carry children weighing up to 40 pounds and sufficient stamina to stand and walk for full work shifts.

In addition, the Clinic Option requires skill/ability to:

• Plan and present educational materials.
• Teach and counsel others on health issues including family planning, STDs, AIDS and HIV infection, immunizations, and nutrition.
• Develop work plans and schedules for special clinics and services.

Licensure/Certification:

• Possession of a California license or interim permit as a Vocational Nurse.
• Must acquire a Certification in phlebotomy, I.V., and CPR within six months of hire.

Supplemental information

Anyone may apply. Answers to the supplemental questions must be submitted in addition to the standard San Mateo County employment application. A resume will not be accepted as a substitute for the required employment application and supplemental questionnaire.

EXAMINATION/SELECTION PROCESS

The examination/selection process will consist of the steps detailed in order below. Not all applicants meeting the minimum qualifications are guaranteed advancement through any subsequent phase of the examination.

1. Initial review of application materials (weight: pass/fail). Applicants submitting incomplete application and responses to the supplemental question, or who are lacking relevant qualifications and/or not following instructions will be disqualified.
2. All applicants passing the first step will be placed on a list and will be referred to hiring managers as vacancies occur that match applicants' skills, as demonstrated in the application and current or previous background and experience.
3. Applicants passing the second step will be contacted by a hiring manager or his/her designee for an interview.

IMPORTANT: Applications for this position will only be accepted online. If you are currently on the County's website, you may click the "Apply" button . If you are not on the County's website, please go to http://jobs.smcgov.org/ to apply. Online applications must be received by the Human Resources Department before midnight on the final filing date.

TENTATIVE RECRUITMENT SCHEDULE

This is a continuous recruitment which may close at any time.

Apply immediately. This recruitment is open on a continuous basis and selections may be made at any time within the process.

About the County

San Mateo County is centrally located between San Francisco, San Jose, and the East Bay. With over 750,000 residents, San Mateo is one of the largest and most diverse counties in California and serves a multitude of culturally, ethnically, and linguistically diverse communities.

The County of San Mateo, as an employer, is committed to advancing equity to ensure that all employees are welcomed in a safe and inclusive environment. The County seeks to hire, support, and retain employees who reflect our diverse community. We encourage applicants with diverse backgrounds and lived experiences to apply. Eighty percent of employees surveyed stated that they would recommend the County as a great place to work.

The County of San Mateo is an equal opportunity employer. We seek to hire, support, and retain employees who reflect our diverse community.

We encourage applicants with diverse backgrounds and lived experiences to apply.

The County of San Mateo is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion at all levels.

HR Contact: Priscilla Bermudez (042522)