Full-Time
Chief Nursing Officer
Posted on 5/9/2026
Kaweah Health
1,001-5,000 employees
Non-profit hospital system delivering trauma care
Compensation Overview
$375k - $450k/yr
Visalia, CA, USA
In Person
 Medical, Clinical & Veterinary (2) |
|---|
| , |
- CA Registered Nurse license (RN)
- Master of Science in Nursing
- Minimum of five years of experience at the Senior Nursing Leadership and Management Level of a medium-sized or large healthcare organization
- Influences all nursing care, nursing resource allocation, and nursing practice throughout Kaweah Health via both general and specific responsibilities.
- Develops, coordinates, implements and oversees budget of designated patient care services.
- Ensures departments are properly organized, managed, and supervised.
- Ensures inter-professional collaboration with other governance, administrative, medical staff and clinical leaders.
- Directs the development, implementation, and evaluation of Kaweah Health’s plan for the provision of care and service to provide the level of care required by current medical and nursing standards.
- Ensures care is safe, high-quality, and meets professional and regulatory standards.
- Directs the development of hospital-wide patient care programs, policies, procedures and standards consistent with Kaweah's Mission.
- Establishes standards of nursing care and clinical practice to improve patient care.
- Defines the scope and limits of levels of delegation as it relates to responsibility, accountability, and authority in nursing and advanced nursing practice.
- Determines the qualifications and competence level for department staff.
- Makes recommendations regarding required staffing levels based on acuity and required ratios.
- Ensures patient care leaders participate in the selection of methods, technologies, and information systems for patient care and nursing practice.
- Recommends requirements for space and other resources in conjunction with the Facilities, Operations and other Patient Care leadership.
- Participates in selecting outside sources for needed services.
- Participates in the development of new service lines in conjunction with the VP of Strategic Planning and Development.
- Coordinates with medical directors, medical staff leaders and medical staff members to ensure proper medical direction of departments and necessary input and evaluation of services.
- Creates an environment of open communication and collaboration for team members, leaders and medical staff in the development and maintenance of provision of care.
- Demonstrates the knowledge and skills necessary to provide care and services appropriate to the population served on the assigned unit or work area.
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.
Help us improve and share your feedback! Did you find this helpful?
Your Connections
People at Kaweah Health who can refer or advise you
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.