RN Medical Surgical

St. Josephs Medical Center

STOCKTON, California

Eligibility: Sign-on bonus

Posted Oct 15

Unit and setting: Med-Surg
License: RN licenseActive Registered Nurse (RN) license in the State of California
Term: Permanent

Do you qualify?

License: Active Registered Nurse (RN) license in the State of California Check your license
Certification: Basic Life Support (BLS) certification - American Heart Association
Education: Graduate of an RN School of Nursing

Preferred

Education: Bachelors degree in health related field Preferred: Bachelors degree in health related field
Experience: One year recent acute care experience Preferred: One year recent acute care experience

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What it pays

Against similar roles: Pays above most California staff rolesCalifornia staff postings that state pay run $34/hr to $96/hr, the middle half $45/hr to $73/hr, across 3,751 postings.
Sign-on bonus: $5,000

Worth asking

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On your path

Med surg A broad first base while you learn which path pulls harder.

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Original listing

Posted on St. Josephs Medical Center’s careers page.

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Job Summary and Responsibilities

As our Medical/Surgical 2 South Nurse, you will be a compassionate and pivotal healthcare professional, delivering comprehensive nursing care and leading patient-centered care initiatives.

Every day, you will expertly assess patient/family health needs, leading the development, implementation, and evaluation of nursing care plans, and providing technical nursing care to diverse age populations (neonatal to geriatric) with developmental understanding. You'll actively uphold our Organization's Mission, Core Values, and support strategic and Performance Improvement plans.

To be successful in this role, you will possess strong clinical assessment, critical thinking, leadership, and communication skills, with an unwavering commitment to patient advocacy and continuous quality improvement.

Assures that the rights of the patient/family are respected and maintained.

Allows for privacy and modesty in the provision of care.

Identifies self by name and title to patient/family.

Determines presence/type of Advanced Directive.

Reports suspected cases of abuse/neglect, if identified.

Understands role of, and how to access, the Bioethics Committee.

$5,000 Sign on for eligible new hires with at least 1 year of relevant experience. Job Requirements

Required

Graduate of an RN School of Nursing

Active Registered Nurse (RN) license in the State of California

Basic Life Support (BLS) certification - American Heart Association

Preferred

Bachelors degree in health related field

One year recent acute care experience

Where You'll Work

Founded in 1899, Dignity Health - St. Joseph’s Medical Center is a 355-bed, acute care, nonprofit hospital located in Stockton, California. Serving over 125,000 patients annually, the hospital offers a full complement of services including a Level III NICU, cancer care, heart care, and a family birth center. Additionally, St. Joseph’s Medical Center has been recognized as an LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality High Performer by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation. It is a Joint Commission-certified Primary Stroke Center and was named one of America’s 250 Best Hospitals by Healthgrades in 2026.

One Community. One Mission. One California

What's around it?

In Stockton, CA

Stockton, CAFrom Census ACS 2024.

Living costs about 5% above the US average

Median rent: $1,577/mo
Household income: $79,907/yr, all local households, not nurse pay

Life in Stockton, CA

NeighborhoodsNurses and relocating professionals frequently target North Stockton, including upscale, master-planned pockets like Brookside, which borders the San Joaquin Delta and features tree-lined streets, the Brookside Country Club, and gated developments. The University of the Pacific (UOP) area and Lincoln Village offer established, quieter residential options with mature landscaping and strong community recognition. Outer suburban communities and nearby enclaves such as Morada, Waterloo, Shadow Lake Park, and neighboring Lodi are also popular alternatives for healthcare workers seeking residential stability away from urban density.

Nurses and relocating professionals frequently target North Stockton, including upscale, master-planned pockets like Brookside, which borders the San Joaquin Delta and features tree-lined streets, the Brookside Country Club, and gated developments. The University of the Pacific (UOP) area and Lincoln Village offer established, quieter residential options with mature landscaping and strong community recognition.

Outer suburban communities and nearby enclaves such as Morada, Waterloo, Shadow Lake Park, and neighboring Lodi are also popular alternatives for healthcare workers seeking residential stability away from urban density.

Sources

As of Sep 16, 2026Source 1: levyrealestategroup.com Source 2: facebook.com Source 3: niche.com Source 4: shieldstorage.com Source 5: reddit.com

Getting aroundMost commutes within Stockton remain car-dependent, with average drive times running around 20 minutes. Hospital workers traveling from North Stockton or nearby bedroom towns like Lodi encounter relatively manageable surface and highway trips, whereas commuting from distant foothill towns like Sonora is viewed locally as impractical. Public transit options remain limited across the metro, requiring hospital staff working shift hours to rely primarily on personal vehicles.

Most commutes within Stockton remain car-dependent, with average drive times running around 20 minutes. Hospital workers traveling from North Stockton or nearby bedroom towns like Lodi encounter relatively manageable surface and highway trips, whereas commuting from distant foothill towns like Sonora is viewed locally as impractical.

Public transit options remain limited across the metro, requiring hospital staff working shift hours to rely primarily on personal vehicles.

Sources

As of Sep 16, 2026Source 1: realestate.usnews.com Source 2: youtube.com Source 3: reddit.com

OutdoorsStockton sits on the California Delta, offering boating, fishing, paddleboarding, and watersports along the deepwater channel and Stockton Marina. The city maintains over 70 public parks, highlighted by Shumway Oak Grove Regional Park, which features native oak woodlands, nature trails, and a tranquil lake. Cyclists and joggers utilize the 5.5-mile paved Calaveras River Bike Trail, while the Joan Darrah Promenade provides a continuous paved pathway along the downtown waterfront.

Stockton sits on the California Delta, offering boating, fishing, paddleboarding, and watersports along the deepwater channel and Stockton Marina. The city maintains over 70 public parks, highlighted by Shumway Oak Grove Regional Park, which features native oak woodlands, nature trails, and a tranquil lake.

Cyclists and joggers utilize the 5.5-mile paved Calaveras River Bike Trail, while the Joan Darrah Promenade provides a continuous paved pathway along the downtown waterfront.

Sources

As of Sep 16, 2026Source 1: visitcalifornia.com Source 2: theadventuristmagazine.com Source 3: youtube.com Source 4: apartmentguide.com

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Living in STOCKTON

Stockton is defined by its inland deepwater port, Delta waterways, and exceptional cultural diversity, creating a distinctive Central Valley lifestyle for healthcare professionals. For relocating nurses, location choice is paramount: established northern neighborhoods like Brookside, Lincoln Village, and areas bordering University of the Pacific offer tree-lined, stable living environments, while towns like Lodi provide nearby alternatives. Workday commutes across the city typically average around 20 minutes by car, although transit is minimal and personal vehicles are essential for shift work. Off the clock, Stockton offers standout cultural assets, from Minor League baseball at Banner Island Ballpark and exhibits at the Haggin Museum to Cambodian New Year festivities at Wat Dhammararam. Outdoor recreation spans the Calaveras River Bike Trail and boating on the Delta, balanced by a deep multicultural food scene including Market Tavern and long-standing Asian and Mexican staples. While newcomers must navigate extreme triple-digit summer heat and broad safety disparities across zip codes, careful neighborhood selection lets nurses enjoy significant lifestyle space within reasonable driving distance of Sacramento and the Bay Area.

AI area guide

Sources

As of 2026-01-04Source 1: levyrealestategroup.com Source 2: visitcalifornia.com Source 3: apartmentguide.com Source 4: youtube.com Source 5: realestate.usnews.com

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Do you qualify?

Preferred

What it pays

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Your fit

On your path

Original listing

Job Summary and Responsibilities

What's around it?

Stockton, CAiFrom Census ACS 2024.

Life in Stockton, CA

Moving for this role?

Nurses on this role

Nurses on this role

Life in Stockton, CA

Moving for this role?

Nurses on this role

Stockton, CAFrom Census ACS 2024.