Registered Nurse RN
Bakersfield, California
You'll spend most of your day visiting hospice patients at home, in private residences or assisted living and skilled nursing facilities.
Posted Nov 4, 2025
- Shift and hours
- Days
- Unit and setting
- home care hospice nursing you will ensure hospice patients are comfortablehospice patients
- License
- RN license Currently licensed to practice nursing in the state where the VITAS program is located.current RN license in the state where the program is located
- Term
- Permanent
Do you qualify?
- License
- current RN license in the state where the program is located Currently licensed to practice nursing in the state where the VITAS program is located.
- Experience
- 2+ years nursing in hospice, home health or community health within the last 5 years A minimum of two years of nursing experience in hospice, home health, or community health in the last five years.
- Also asks
- reliable transportation In addition to having your RN license, at least two years of nursing experience, and reliable transportation
What it pays
- Against similar roles
- In range for Bakersfield staff RN rolesBakersfield staff RN postings that state pay run $44/hr to $52/hr, the middle half $46/hr to $50/hr, across 52 postings.
The role and schedule
- Day to day
- hospice education for patients and families You will help patients and their loved ones understand and embrace the palliative-rather than curative-nature of hospice and the benefits of comfort-focused end-of-life care.
- Day to day
- making bedside care decisions with autonomy You will be entrusted with the autonomy to make care decisions at the bedside
- Day to day
- weekly interdisciplinary team meeting at the program office Once a week, you’ll visit the local program office to meet with an interdisciplinary team
- Travel
- visits to private homes and assisted living or skilled nursing facilities whether that means a private residence or an assisted living/skilled nursing facility
- Travel
- weekly visit to the local program office Once a week, you’ll visit the local program office
The workplace
Worth asking
- Can you walk me through differentials?
- What should I expect for weekly hours, weekend, holiday, call, and rotation?
More questions to askFewer questions
- What orientation, preceptor time, and ongoing unit support are included?
- How are patient load, floating, and staffing support handled day to day?
Your fit
Original listing
Posted on VITAS Healthcare’s careers page.
Read full text
Who we are
We are VITAS Healthcare, the nation’s leading end-of-life care provider since 1978. Our hospice organization kickstarts careers in caring, promotes from within, and provides a nationally recognized best-in-class employee experience. Supported by industry-leading experts and a growing network of programs in 15+ states, VITAS empowers team members to grow toward their goals while transforming patients’ lives. Our priority is to care: For our patients, for each other, and for the future. Salary Range: $47- $52/ Hourly
What you’ll do
As a home care registered nurse (RN), you will ensure hospice patients are comfortable and forge compassionate, meaningful connections with the people in their lives. This is important work that comes with equal responsibility. Patients and families trust VITAS nurses to guide them through the end-of-life journey, and maintaining that trust is our highest priority.
You will be a respected member of our team, both as a caregiver and as a hospice educator. You will be entrusted with the autonomy to make care decisions at the bedside, ensuring not a moment is wasted in bringing comfort to your patients. You will help patients and their loved ones understand and embrace the palliative—rather than curative—nature of hospice and the benefits of comfort-focused end-of-life care.
Where you’ll work
Each day is different. You will spend most of your time caring for hospice patients wherever they call home, whether that means a private residence or an assisted living/skilled nursing facility. Most VITAS nurses make 4-6 visits each day. Once a week, you’ll visit the local program office to meet with an interdisciplinary team, including social workers, physicians, chaplains, and nurses, who collaborate to provide holistic support for the patients and families we serve.
What’s expected from you
A VITAS nurse is the end-of-life caregiver everyone deserves. In addition to having your RN license, at least two years of nursing experience, and reliable transportation, you'll approach your work with the traits that make the VITAS Difference: Commitment, Compassion, and a Can-do Attitude. You will keep patient welfare at the center of everything you do, giving your best each day in service of our core commitment: Extending comfort and dignity to all people at the end of their life’s journey.
Qualifications
Currently licensed to practice nursing in the state where the VITAS program is located. A minimum of two years of nursing experience in hospice, home health, or community health in the last five years. Equivalent experience or licensure may be considered
Special instructions to candidate
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What's around it?
Bakersfield, CAFrom Census ACS 2024.
Living costs about the same as the US average
- Median rent
- $1,472/mo
- Household income
- $80,540/yr, all local households, not nurse pay