Licensed Vocational Nurse

NOTE:
This recruitment was amended on September 17, 2025 to remove a hold on accepting new applications. Applications are now being accepted.

San Mateo County Health has excellent job opportunities for Licensed Vocational Nurses to work at San Mateo Medical Center and Clinics, and Correctional Health Services.

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).

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.

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.

Equal Employment Opportunity:

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.