Palo Alto Medical Foundation
Clinic in Santa Cruz, CA
- $198k–$297k/yr posted pay across 9 roles
- Hiring days
- Nurse residency
From 9 postings and nurse reviews · Employer research Sep 11, 2026Sources
The short version
You would join a Sutter Health affiliate that lists a nurse residency and a Transition in Practice path into ED, OR, critical care, or labor and delivery, while each affiliate sets its own policies.
Employer research, Sep 11, 2026
You can look at a Sutter Health nurse residency described as system-wide, then confirm it actually runs at the affiliate where you would work.
For new gradsSources
As of 2026Source: credenzahealth.comIf you want ED, OR, critical care, or labor and delivery, Sutter lists a Transition in Practice path for licensed RNs, with each affiliate setting its own rules.
For experienced nursesSources
As of 2026Source: credenzahealth.comTuition reimbursement is listed among benefits most Sutter facilities offer, though this affiliate can write a different policy.
For new gradsSources
As of 2026Source: credenzahealth.com
Who it fits
Best fit
- New grads: Nurse residency: Sutter Health nurse residency and Transition in Practice (TIP)
- Psych and urgent care nurses: 4 of 9 roles
- Nurse practitioners: all 9 roles are advanced practice roles
Not a fit
- New grads: 6 of 9 roles ask for nursing experienceNew grad jobs near Santa Cruz
Nursing here
- Nurse residency
Sutter Health nurse residency and Transition in Practice (TIP)
Palo Alto Medical Foundation · employer research
Sources
As of 2026Source: credenzahealth.com- Career development
Palo Alto Division outpatient RNs were classified as Staff RN I, II, III, and RN IV in the ESC Local 20 contract.
Palo Alto Medical Foundation · employer research
Sources
As of 2020Source: ifpte20.org- Tuition support
Tuition reimbursement is listed among benefits most Sutter Health facilities offer.
Palo Alto Medical Foundation · employer research
Sources
As of 2026Source: credenzahealth.com- Union representation
Union and non-union roles reported
Palo Alto Medical Foundation · employer research
- Scheduling
Reviews cite flexible schedules for some staff, but also heavy workload and trouble using PTO.
Palo Alto Medical Foundation · employer research
Sources
Benefits
Tuition reimbursement is listed among benefits most Sutter Health facilities offer, with each affiliate setting its own policies. One RN here highlighted medical, dental, and vision coverage.
Units hiring now
What nurses say
Themes from public reviews
Summaries of published reviews, with the original sources.
- Overall ratings
- About 398 Glassdoor ratings average 4.0, and roughly 80% of reviewers would recommend PAMF to a friend.
Sources
- Coworkers and benefits
- A Palo Alto RN highlighted close coworkers plus medical, dental, and vision benefits.
Sources
As of 2023-03-04Source: glassdoor.com- Pay versus workload
- That same 2023 RN scored compensation and benefits 5/5 but work-life balance, culture, career growth, and senior management at 1/5.
Sources
As of 2023-03-04Source: glassdoor.com
More review themes
- Nurse burnout
- The reviewer said nurses are overworked, junior nurses carry more load than seniors, and staff openly dislike working there.
Sources
As of 2023-03-04Source: glassdoor.com- Management and growth
- Summarized reviews describe camaraderie and some training, but also politics, uneven managers, limited promotions, and favoritism.
Sources
As of 2026Source: glassdoor.com- Patient population
- One RN said some local patients come across as entitled, pretentious, and rude.
Sources
As of 2023-03-04Source: glassdoor.com
The hard parts
Reviews cite flexible schedules for some staff, and also heavy workload and trouble using PTO.
Sources
What to ask
- How is base pay set for the role, and which differentials apply?
- Which shifts are open, and what are the weekend, holiday and call rules?
- How long is orientation, and will I have one preceptor?
- What does a usual day’s workload look like?
Common questions
Does Palo Alto Medical Foundation hire new grads?
6 of 9 roles ask for nursing experience, and none says it welcomes new grads. Its nurse residency: Sutter Health nurse residency and Transition in Practice (TIP).
Which shifts are open?
Of the 9 roles with a stated shift, 9 are day shifts.
Which units are hiring?
Psych (2), urgent care (2) and OBGYN (1).
How do I apply?
Choose a role and press Apply. Your application comes to our team, we send it to Palo Alto Medical Foundation, and we tell you what happens next.
Current openings at Palo Alto Medical Foundation
Nurse Practitioner- Women's Health Advanced Center
$205,000–$297,000/year
- NP
- Day shift
Nurse Practitioner, Urgent Care, per diem
$95–$133/hr
- NP
- 8-hour days
- Per diem
- NP
- Day shift
- Per diem
Nurse Practitioner- Women's Health Advanced Center
$205,000–$297,000/year
- NP
- 40 hours a week, Monday - Friday
Nurse Practitioner, OBGYN
$205,000–$297,000/year
- NP
- Day shift
- Advanced Nurse Practice
Nurse Practitioner, Family & Internal Medicine Float
$198,000–$278,000/year
- NP
- Day shift
- Floating required
Sources
- credenzahealth.com/healthcare-facilities/sutter-health-837804
The short version, Nursing here · as of 2026
- glassdoor.com/Reviews/Employee-Review-The-Palo-Alto-Medical-Foundation-E18292-RVW74182296.htm
Nursing here, What nurses say, The hard parts · as of 2026
- glassdoor.com/Reviews/The-Palo-Alto-Medical-Foundation-Reviews-E18292.htm
Nursing here, What nurses say, The hard parts · as of 2026
- glassdoor.com/Overview/Working-at-The-Palo-Alto-Medical-Foundation-EI_IE18292.11,43.htm
What nurses say · as of 2026
- ifpte20.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/ESC-Local-20-PAMF-RN-Contract-2016-2020.pdf
Nursing here · as of 2020
- nrtw.org/en/news/palo-alto-decert-03132024
Nursing here
- padailypost.com/2024/03/14/nurses-vote-to-drop-union
Nursing here
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Some shifts end with you crying in your car because it all catches up at once. That is allowed. Just say out loud, to someone you trust, that it was a bad one.
Get certified in whatever you keep gravitating toward. After my wound care certification it was like new glasses: I saw what I had not known to look for.