Internship

Student Nurse Aide Medical/Surgical Intern

Posted on 5/9/2026

Kaweah Health

Kaweah Health

1,001-5,000 employees

Non-profit hospital system delivering trauma care

Compensation Overview

$20.38/hr

Visalia, CA, USA

In Person

Category
Medical, Clinical & Veterinary (1)
Requirements
  • BLS certification is required.
  • Current CA Certified Nursing Assistant certification is preferred.
  • Current enrollment in an accredited RN program with successful completion of at least one semester.
  • Employee must submit updated transcript to HR each term and notify Manager and HR of any changes in nursing program enrollment.
  • Work Study course is required only if the nursing student is seeking course credit for the learning experience or during the summer if their nursing program is not in session.
Responsibilities
  • Have the college/university’s student skills competency checklist available at all times while working as a Student Nurse Aide.
  • Perform school checklist duties only when school is in session and only after skills have been validated by the school of Nursing in conjunction with the Kaweah Health RN preceptor.
  • Report any variance in the patient’s condition to licensed staff.
  • Report specific patient or family needs, concerns, and changes in activity to licensed staff.
  • Refer complaints and problems to licensed staff or department manager immediately.
  • Answer patient call lights within two minutes as assigned.
  • Greet patients and family members in friendly professional manner; identify self by name and job category; assist patient with their needs as assigned.
  • Be an active participant in achieving quality patient care.
  • Maintain confidentiality with all patient care issues.
  • Comply with current policies and procedures including safety and infection control; perform tasks safely.
  • Assist the Nursing staff in performing tasks as delegated by the Registered Nurse.
  • Provide for the toilet needs of patients by emptying bedpans and drainage containers; report any variation in output to the RN.
  • Provide assistance with the admission, transfer, and discharge of patients.
  • Orient patients to room (call light, storage of belongings, etc.).
  • Assist patients with meals, snacks, and with water pitchers.
  • Assist with activities of daily living: bath, ambulation, oral care, etc.
  • Collect and record intake and output, weight, height, and vital signs as delegated by the Registered Nurse; collect respiratory rate by direct observation of the patient.
  • Collect, label, and deliver specimens.
  • Provide post-mortem care and assist in transporting the body to the morgue.
  • Assist with emergency care by participating in crash cart checks, providing cardio-pulmonary resuscitation, and responding to Code Blue.
  • Handle the personal property of the patient with great care.
  • Maintain a professional appearance as outlined in HR.107, Professional Appearance Guidelines; wear timing devices as required.
  • Maintain a clean, safe, and neat patient environment.
  • Keep all required certifications current.
  • Document all care provided in the Electronic Medical Record as soon after the care occurs as possible.
  • PEDIATRICS ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR: Performs Unit Secretary duties for the unit.
  • OBSTETRICS ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR: May stock IV fluids and Irrigation fluids in locked supply drawers on mother/baby unit.
  • Demonstrates knowledge and skills to provide care and services appropriate to the population served on the assigned unit or work area; knowledge of growth and development for all patient/family cultural, linguistic, spiritual, gender, and age specific needs; communicate and care for patient and family as reflected in the Plan for Provision of Care.
  • Performs other duties as assigned.

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 Jobs

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

The Valley Voice, LLC
Mar 6th, 2026
Kaweah Health board appoints Jonna Schengel as Zone 2 representative.

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.

Valley Public Radio
Jan 29th, 2026
Kaweah Health graduates nursing staff as shortage plagues county

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.

Nexstar Media Group, Inc.
Feb 27th, 2025
WATCH: Kaweah Health and Award Winning Spine Surgery in the Central Valley

FRESNO, Calif. (KGPE) - Kaweah Health was recently recognized as being a top 100 hospital in the nation for spine surgery by Healthgrades.

The Valley Voice, LLC
Oct 6th, 2023
Kaweah Health named in employment discrimination case

Kaweah Health named in employment discrimination case.

Exeter Chamber of Commerce
Sep 25th, 2023
Kaweah Health's Open House Journey to Care

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.