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Director of Trauma Services, RN - Mercy San Diego

Scripps Health

San Diego, California

Health system employer

$84.15–$122.01/hr

About $175k–$254k/yr

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Scripps Health workplace
RNNursing Unit & Program DirectorsExecutive Nurses & Nurse AdministratorsAdministrative & Consulting Nurses

Posted Aug 15, 2026 · Last seen active Aug 16, 2026

What the listing says

Facility
Level I trauma center

About this role

Show full description
Scripps Mercy Hospital has served central and downtown San Diego since 1890 and is the oldest medical center in the county. The San Diego campus is located near the corner of 5th Avenue and Washington Street in Hillcrest. Scripps Mercy Hospital consists of two campuses in San Diego and Chula Vista. Scripps Mercy Hospital San Diego’s campus includes the O’Toole Breast Care Center, a 24-hour emergency room that is a Level I Trauma Center, outpatient physical rehabilitation, minimally invasive robotic surgery and our childbirth unit (including a Level II neonatal intensive care unit). Director of Trauma Services, RN Full Time, Salary Role - Eligible for the Management Incentive Compensation Plan (MICP) at the Director level Location: Scripps Mercy San Diego AWARD-WINNING WORKPLACE: Scripps is a Great Place to Work Certified company for 2026. Recognized by Newsweek as one of America’s Greatest Workplaces for Diversity in 2024. Becker's Healthcare ranked Scripps Health on its 2026 list of 165 top places to work in health care. Nearly a quarter of our employees have been with Scripps Health for over 10 years. We encourage you to join Scripps Mercy San Diego as the Clinical Director of a Level I Trauma Program. Lead a dynamic team of approximately 25 employees that include Trauma Team Leads, Trauma Registrars, a PI Nurse, Trauma Injury Prevention Outreach Coordinator, Orthopedic Techs and Trauma Clinic staff. Mercy San Diego’s Trauma Center sees approximately 2800 patients per year. The ideal candidate will have experience working in a high-volume Level I trauma environment as a trauma nurse or in a trauma ICU. The director works closely with the Trauma team and must have the ability to build close relationships with physicians. Key Responsibilities Participates in trauma care systems at the community, state and national levels. Creates and implements clinical protocols and practice management guidelines to ensure a focus on patient safety. Participates in a multidisciplinary approach monitoring processes and outcomes. Creates quality filters, audits and case review to identify any trends and outlines any remedial actions. Supervises the collection, coding, scoring and development of data for validation and distributes findings. Ensures adherence to the American College of Surgeons standards for trauma designation, San Diego county contract with the department of Emergency Services, and that Title 22 chapter 7 division 9 are met. Oversees the safe transition of patients through the continuum of care to include active participation of nursing staff in planning and coordinating patient care, and direct hand-off to next appropriate level of care. This is a Full Time, salaried position at Scripps Mercy Hospital San Diego. Required Qualifications: Current California RN license Current American Heart Association Healthcare Provider BLS, ACLS & PALS certifications TNCC required Graduate of an accredited nursing program Bachelor's degree Seven (7) years of applicable clinical experience, three of which in a leadership role. Requires excellent skills in communication, problem-solving, team development, planning and follow-through. Ability to exercise the authority and responsibility for assigned services based on the scope of the organization and complexity of patient care. A minimum of 16 hours (internal or external) of trauma-related continuing education per year. Preferred Qualifications: Knowledge of the American College of Surgeons standards for trauma designation Master's degree or MSN 2 years of experience in a Level I Trauma Center TNCC Instructor At Scripps Health, you will experience the pride, support and respect of an organization that has been repeatedly recognized as one of the nation’s Top 100 Places to Work. You’ll be surrounded by people committed to making a difference in the lives of their patients and their teammates. So if you’re open to change, go ahead and unlock your potential. Position Pay Range: $84.15-$122.01/hour

Skills for this role

Trauma Care SystemsClinical Protocols DevelopmentPractice Management GuidelinesQuality AuditsCase ReviewData Collection and CodingTrauma RegistryTransitional Care PlanningTeam Development

Certifications

BLSACLSPALSTNCC

Requirements

  • RN
  • CA RN
  • Managed Registered Nurses (RNs)
  • TNCC Certification
  • Nursing department supervision
  • Nursing
  • Completing CE credits
  • Hospital patient safety
  • RN License
  • Hourly pay

About the employer

Scripps Health
Health system employer

Scripps Health is a nonprofit health care system based in San Diego, California, operating five hospital campuses, 30 outpatient centers and clinics, and hundreds of affiliated physician offices. Scripps Memorial Hospital Encinitas has served North County's coastal communities since 1978.…

3.5 Google rating
Scripps Health photo

What reviewers appreciate

  • Recognized among Fortune's Top 100 US Employers
  • Collaborative, multidisciplinary team environment including surgeons, PAs, NPs, and charge nurses
  • New Hire Retention Incentive up to $7K for eligible positions

What reviewers flag

  • Complex patient mix on units like Medical Acute 2 South may create high acuity and demanding workload
  • Night shift positions (12-hour shifts) may be required for certain roles
  • No specific salary data publicly available in provided research, making compensation transparency limited for prospective nurses
compassionatecollaborativecohesivecommunity-focusedquality-drivenmultidisciplinary

Living in San Diego, CA

San Diego pairs year-round beach weather with a laid-back outdoor lifestyle that makes it easy to trade scrubs for surfboards after a shift. Balboa Park offers trails and museums, while neighborhoods like Hillcrest give nurses walkable dining and nightlife options.

Map showing the location of San Diego, CA
San Diego, CA on the map · © Mapbox © OpenStreetMap· Open the live map
Metro price level · San Diego area
12% above the national average
BEA index 111.9 (100 = national)
Median gross rent
$2,313/mo
rent and tenant-paid utilities
Median household income
$108,077/yr
all local households, not nurse pay

U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis · 2024 metro Regional Price Parities · Census ACS 2024

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