Full-Time
RN Lead Mentor-Medical/Surgical
Posted on 4/18/2026
Kaweah Health
1,001-5,000 employees
Non-profit hospital system delivering trauma care
Compensation Overview
$47.35 - $71.03/hr
Visalia, CA, USA
In Person
 Medical, Clinical & Veterinary (1) |
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- CA Registered Nurse license
- Basic Life Support certification
- Minimum of two years recent clinical experience and experience as an RN preceptor
- Advanced Fetal Monitoring completed within the past year
- Effective critical clinical decision-making skill
- Knowledge and expertise in performance of clinical procedures in the assigned clinical setting
- Strong interpersonal skills and ability to interface effectively with all members of the interdisciplinary team, including the ability to maintain confidentiality
- The ability to promote a healthy work environment conducive to professional growth and development
- Collaborates with the unit Management Team and Clinical Educator(s) in identification and need for modification of orientation pathway and individual clinical competence of the orientee
- Assists the unit Clinical Educator through utilization of adult learning principles in evaluating barriers to progression of clinical skill of the orientee
- Utilizes skills checklists, orientation plan, and weekly goal review as primary pathway for assisting development progression
- Ability to utilize a variety of learning methods to facilitate skill development and competency in the unit setting
- Provides concise written and verbal feedback regarding orientee’s performance at defined intervals, and other nurses identified as needing additional support or remediation
- Facilitates communication between multiple preceptors of orientee to maintain consistency during the orientation process
- Promotes orientee's induction in the social environment of the department
- Serves as a role-model and utilizes constructive feedback in a supportive manner and promotes individual personal accountability
- Mentors new nurses in their early transition to the unit with a focus on safety and developing confidence in providing safe patient care
- Mentors and regularly follows up with preceptors and assists them in developing strong clinical and precepting skills. Takes the lead in problem solving any issues that arise including a mismatch of preceptor and preceptee
- Partners with unit Educator(s) in weekly debriefing with preceptees, preceptor follow up, and evaluations
- Demonstrates the knowledge and skills necessary to provide care and services appropriate to the population served on the assigned unit or work area. Knowledgeable of growth and development for all patient/family cultural, linguistic, spiritual, gender, and age specific needs. Able to effectively communicate and care for patient and family as reflected in the Plan of Provision of Care
- Performs other duties as assigned
- BSN
- Experience in shared governance process and/or unit quality/safety improvement processes
Kaweah Health is a public, not-for-profit health system based in Visalia, California, serving the Central Valley since 1963. It operates a 581-bed medical center, a large outpatient clinic, and several facilities, offering emergency care, cancer treatment, cardiovascular services, rehabilitation, and other medical services. It is the largest hospital system in Tulare County and a certified trauma center. As a not-for-profit, it reinvests earnings back into the community to fund new services, facilities, and programs, with a strategic focus on accessible, high-quality healthcare. The organization has launched an financial recovery plan, “Operation Back in Black,” to improve finances through revenue enhancement and cost reduction, and partners with Medline to enhance supply chain and operational efficiency. Its goal is to provide broad, high-quality healthcare to its community while strengthening financial sustainability and expanding services as needed.
Company Size
1,001-5,000
Company Stage
Grant
Total Funding
$8.7M
Headquarters
Visalia, California
Founded
1963
Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- Nursing shortage dropped from 25% in 2021 to 7% via Unitek College partnership.
- $20.8 million Distressed Hospital Loan received March 4, 2024, boosts liquidity.
- Jonna Schengel appointed Zone 2 board representative through December 4, 2026.
What critics are saying
- Employment discrimination lawsuit triggers multimillion-dollar settlements in 6-12 months.
- Debt service failure after 106 layoffs breaches $20.75M loan covenants in 3-6 months.
- 7% nursing shortage with 70 RN vacancies risks fines and service cutbacks in 12-18 months.
What makes Kaweah Health unique
- Kaweah Health operates Tulare County's largest 581-bed trauma center since 1963.
- Operation Back in Black drives revenue growth and cost reductions for financial recovery.
- Medline partnership optimizes supply chain and operational efficiency.
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Benefits
Health Insurance
Dental Insurance
Vision Insurance
Life Insurance
Disability Insurance
Paid Vacation
Paid Sick Leave
Paid Holidays
Flexible Work Hours
Company News
Kaweah Health board appoints Jonna Schengel as Zone 2 representative. The Kaweah Health Board of Directors has appointed Jonna Schengel, PT, MA, Ed.D., to serve as the Zone 2 representative, filling the seat vacated by the retirement of Lynn Havard Mirviss, RN, Ed.D. Schengel will serve out the remainder of the term through Dec. 4, 2026. Schengel is currently the Dean of Career Technical Education (CTE) and Workforce Development, Industry and Technology, Manufacturing, Nursing and Allied Health at College of the Sequoias (COS). Selected from a pool of highly qualified candidates, she brings extensive expertise in healthcare education and workforce development to the board. A Visalia resident since 1991, Schengel has deep roots in the local healthcare community. She worked as a physical therapist and founded Central California Physical Therapy Specialists before selling the practice in 2011. At COS, she developed the physical therapist assistant program and significantly expanded the nursing program, further demonstrating her commitment to building the regional healthcare workforce. "I understand how important Kaweah Health is to the vitality of the Central Valley, not just for the employees who work here, but also for the patients," Schengel said. "Ultimately, I want Kaweah Health to be the premier provider of healthcare in the Central Valley." With her strong background in health sciences and educational leadership, Schengel looks forward to contributing her experience, perspective, and commitment to supporting the mission and future of Kaweah Health. Kaweah Health is the community name for the Kaweah Delta Health Care District, a public hospital district serving the greater Visalia area. The district covers 183 square miles, encompassing all of Visalia and Goshen and parts of Ivanhoe and Farmersville. The district is divided into five equally populated zones, each represented on the board by a locally elected member. Board members serve four-year terms and may run for re-election without limit.
Kaweah Health graduates nursing staff as shortage plagues county. VISALIA, Calif. - Kaweah Health has graduated an inaugural class of nurses under a new partnership that seeks to address a shortage in Tulare County. In 2020, the hospital partnered with Unitek College, an institution that offers higher education in medicine and nursing throughout the country. It has physical campuses in California, Nevada, and New Mexico. Thirteen graduates received their Bachelor of Science in Nursing degrees this month. The new nurses come at an opportune time, as there has been a decline in the number of people working in hospitals across the nation and the Central Valley. The COVID-19 pandemic left significant impacts in the medical field - like stress and excessive workloads - which made the nursing shortage worsen... Kaweah Health officials say the hospital faced a 25% nursing shortage in 2021. That figure sparked the urge to close the gap and improve nurse capacity in the county. The college proposed creating a program within Kaweah Health for prospective nurses who are interested in studying and working at the same time. Dianne Cox, chief human resources officer at Kaweah Health, says the nursing shortage at its hospital is now 7%. "We have 70 vacancies of registered nurses and about 1000 direct patient care registered nurses positions available. We're doing very well with recruitment and retention," Cox said. "We really believe that we will have solved our nursing shortage in Visalia and Tulare County." The program is primarily available to hospital employees, though there are some exceptions. To apply, employees must go through a testing process and provide references. Currently, 160 employees are enrolled. After the 13 graduates who completed the program this month, the hospital expects roughly 50 participants will graduate each year after. Interim Chief Nursing Officer Scott Baker says this program has great potential, especially since it could help fill vacancies by nursing staff who will soon retire. "As we grow this program, and as we hire more of these nurses, this is going to feed the hospital," Baker said. "Having this pool of nurses to pull in will refresh that, and as we grow them into clinical experts, it really balances out what we're going to be losing." Kaweah Health has also partnered in recent years with Porterville College and San Joaquin Valley College's radiologic technology program to boost training and medical staffing.
FRESNO, Calif. (KGPE) - Kaweah Health was recently recognized as being a top 100 hospital in the nation for spine surgery by Healthgrades.
Kaweah Health named in employment discrimination case.
You'll learn first-hand why so many have picked Kaweah Health to pursue their career in healthcare, and why Kaweah Health was named Healthgrades® America's 100 Best Hospitals™ for 2023.