Flexibility for a better work-life balance. Higher income. Inclusive innovation. Yes, you get all three with PRN jobs as a certified nursing assistant (CNA) in California. Want more information? Learn the differences between CMA vs CNA.
PRN Jobs in California: Calling All CNAs
Flexibility for a better work-life balance. Higher income. Inclusive innovation. Yes, you get all three with PRN jobs as a certified nursing assistant (CNA) in California. To learn more about unlocking opportunities, read our article about the ban on noncompetes.
What Are the Most Common Jobs for CNAs in California?
Almost half—48 percent—of all CNAs work in nursing homes or skilled nursing facilities. Additionally, 25 percent of CNAs work in general hospitals, and others work in specialty hospitals, outpatient care centers, home healthcare, and employment services. With all these types of facilities seeking out help, it’s easy to find PRN CNA jobs in California.
Nursing Homes and Assisted Living Facilities in California
In California, over 50,000 CNAs work in nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and continuing care retirement communities for older adults. According to California’s Department of Social Services (DSS), the state has over 7,800 licensed residential care establishments for the elderly (RCFEs), which encompass assisted living, memory care, and continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs). RCFEs have 24-hour assistance with daily living activities for their residents, but not round-the-clock nursing care.
In addition to RCFEs, California has the advantage of approximately 1,200 long-term skilled nursing facilities, including free-standing nursing homes and long-term care centers associated with hospitals.
The sheer number of residential and long-term care facilities, together with the host of CNAs working in these establishments, give you an idea of how much California and its people depend on nursing assistants. The residents and patients need CNAs with genuine patience, amiability, appreciation, and respect for senior citizens, as well as healthcare skills. They need you.
Sign up with Nursa to pick up PRN shifts for CNAs. Check out the most popular ways to stay hydrated on the job in our post about the best water bottles for nurses.
What Do CNAs Do in Nursing Homes?
Certified nursing assistants in California are critical in providing direct care and support for nursing home residents. CNAs assist residents with activities of daily living (ADLs), such as bathing, dressing, and eating. They also help residents move around safely and maintain hygiene, encourage residents to do physical activity, and take time for companionship.
CNAs also observe and monitor the residents’ health, document vital signs and symptoms, and report them to licensed nurses.
CNAs in General Hospitals
Hospitals often use CNAs in the emergency room (ER), medical-surgical (med-surg), intensive care unit (ICU), rehabilitation, geriatric, and labor & delivery units—more than in the operating room (OR) or units such as cardiac or neurological care due to the complexity of patient conditions.
The medical-surgical unit is often the largest within a hospital and has continuous turnover. It caters to many medical conditions and requires more nursing professionals than most other units. Experience in this department—caring for patients with diverse medical or surgical conditions—polishes several skills and builds knowledge, preparing CNAs for work in other units or settings.
In hospitals, CNAs typically care for many patients and must think and adapt quickly to diverse medical conditions and the corresponding difficulties. Hospital CNAs are often referred to as patient-care techs, or PCTs for short.
Read more about nursing in California in our ultimate guide to PRN jobs in this state.
How Much Do CNAs Earn in California?
The Golden State is one of the top ten best-paying states for CNAs, coming in third after Alaska and New York. To learn more about CNA salaries, please read the CNA Salary Guide.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the mean wage for California nursing assistants is $47,070 annually or $22.62 hourly. However, the top 10 percent earn over $59,490.
Within this prosperous state, nursing wages vary significantly by location. The prime areas pay-wise for CNAs are the following metros:
- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward with a mean CNA hourly wage of $27.18
- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara at $26.72 an hour
- Salinas at $22.96
Interestingly, PRN CNAs earn higher hourly rates in all locations up and down the state than staff nursing assistants. You can boost your income by working per diem shifts wherever you are. You can pick up PRN shifts to supplement your regular income or work PRN full-time. Since PRN nurses are independent contractors, these higher rates compensate for the fact that per diem work does not offer benefits such as retirement plans or health insurance.
For more information on the average CNA salary in California, see Nursa’s California CNA Salary Guide.
Premier Innovative Healthcare Systems
Famous for Silicon Valley and Apple Park, California is known for innovation, and its hospitals are no exception—from leadership in value-based healthcare to creating healing hospital environments. California offers world-class hospitals and expanding healthcare systems that need CNAs.
In California, you can be an essential part of institutions that uphold nursing excellence.
How to Become a CNA in California
California requires the following for CNA certification:
- Minimum age is 16 years old.
- No high school diploma is required.
- Candidates must complete CNA programs approved by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) with 120 hours of classroom and clinical training and pass the competency evaluation exam.
- Candidates must undergo criminal background checks with fingerprinting.
- Candidates must have current immunizations and negative TB tests.
The California Department of Public Health provides a complete list of CNA training programs in the state.
Once you have the above requirements, submit an application to the CDPH with personal information, educational background details, and documentation of completing an approved training program.
The CDPH takes up to 30 days to process electronic submissions and up to 45 days for paper-mailed submissions.
How Do I Submit My Application?
You can apply for, renew, or verify your CNA certificate with the California Department of Public Health’s online portal or via regular mail using the forms provided. The California CNA registry provides information on the status of nursing assistant and home health aid certifications. Interested parties in California can use the CNA license lookup tool for status verification.
How Can I Find PRN CNA Jobs in California?
Nursa makes finding jobs easy by connecting certified nursing assistants looking for work with facilities needing per diem CNAs to fill shifts. Patient care tech (PCT) jobs are also available. Browse the list below and click on links to cities below to find CNA jobs near you.
The Greater Los Angeles Area
The Los Angeles metro is the most populous area in the state and, as such, offers the most nursing assistant jobs, including per diem shifts for CNAs. If you live in the LA metro or want to live there, look into some of the following locations.
Orange County
Los Angeles County
San Bernardino County
Riverside County
San Diego-Carlsbad Metro
San Diego is California’s second-largest city and employs close to 10,000 CNAs. Look at some of the PRN job postings below and create your own schedule by picking up shifts.
San Diego County
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward Metro
The San Francisco Metro is the highest-paying area in California for CNAs. Click on some of the locations below to find the right per diem job for you and apply.
Alameda County
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara Metro
The San Jose metro is the second highest-paying area in the state. If this is an ideal location for you, check out the links below and find attractive CNA job postings.
Santa Clara County
- Milpitas
- Mountain View
- Palo Alto
- San Jose
- Santa Clara
- Sunnyvale
- Campbell
- Cupertino
- Los Altos
- Los Gatos
- Saratoga
Santa Cruz County
Napa Metro
Close to San Francisco, Napa also offers enticing job posts.
Napa County
Modesto Metro
About 70 miles east of the Bay area, Modesto presents excellent job opportunities for CNAs. Click on the link and find a shift.
Stanislao County
Fresno Metro
Fresno is another populous urban center that offers CNAs well-paid per diem jobs. See if you find a job that is appealing to you.
Fresno County
Yuba Metro
Yuba is an urban area with a relatively small population, 40 miles north of Sacramento. If this is your area, click on the link to check out PRN jobs in Marysville.
Yuba County
As you can see, you have plenty of options to choose from. Learn more about picking up CNA jobs with Nursa.
What Are the Advantages of PRN Nursing?
In per diem nursing, you pick up jobs by the shift, which gives you control over your schedule and flexibility. The pay scale is generally higher than average, and you can experience working in varied settings, helping you decide which area to pursue.
Start picking up CNA jobs on the Nursa platform today.
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