[Q1 2026 Start] Annual Faculty - Medical / Surgical Nursing (Sacramento)

Description:

Job Description Summary:

Samuel Merritt University graduates improve health outcomes and reduce disparities for all members of our communities. We have spent more than a century preparing outstanding healthcare professionals through immersive learning and community engagement and are deeply committed to transforming healthcare through diversity and inclusion. At the College of Nursing (CoN), we are at the forefront of educational innovation in theory and practice to prepare highly competent professional nursing leaders who are engaged in advancing nursing practice and improving health for diverse populations/peoples. Our motto is education plus compassion, which we proudly demonstrate in how we serve our students, faculty, staff, and local communities.

Join a team of dedicated educators! Our faculty are known for their passion for growing the nursing profession. With this passion, we strive to awaken curiosity in our students and instill lifelong learning. Congruent with our values, we work hard to inspire service and leadership in our students. For this reason, the role of faculty is vitally important because of its unmatched position to shape the professional and personal development of graduates. This position is in the College of Nursing (CoN) and reports directly to the Program Director. The position combines teaching and service. We define teaching as creating environments that facilitate student learning and attaining expected outcomes at the course and program levels. Faculty has ownership of the development, implementation, evaluation, and revision of the College of Nursing curricula designed to prepare graduates to provide nursing care in a dynamic healthcare environment. Service implies the use of academic and professional expertise to serve the University, the nursing profession, and the community. Service consists of meaningful activities that promote the image, mission or strategic priorities of the University, the well-being of relevant individuals or groups among the community of interest or the professional growth of faculty.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Major Areas of responsibilities include but not limited to:

Teaching (92%)

• Creates a dynamic, learner-centered environment that uses a variety of teaching methods that support the diverse learning needs of the student population and that are based on educational theory and evidence-based teaching and clinical practices.

• Models reflective and critical thinking and serves as a coach and mentor for students; confers with them on their progress and assists them in developing learning plans to facilitate achievement of course objectives.

• Maintains and enhances competence in subjects being taught.

• Confers with colleagues to ensure the integrity of the courses across programs and the curriculum.

• Prepares and reviews written examinations, papers, and student projects.

• Notifies the Course Manager of at-risk students and any issues at the clinical sites.

• Supervises or teaches clinical rotations as needed in acute, community, and laboratory settings and internship/preceptorship courses.

• Documents student progress on appropriate forms.

• Instructional assignments may be assigned at any SMU campus.

• Other duties as assigned.

Service (8%)

• Participate in Faculty Organization meetings .

• Participate in College of Nursing Faculty meetings.

• Participate in University or College committees as needed.

• Provide service to the profession and the community.

• Participate in University and CoN events as specified in University and CoN attendance expectations.

• Clarify with the student the nursing curriculum and interpretation of programmatic requirements.

• Provide needed information so students can make the best academic decisions for themselves.

• Increase student awareness of educational resources available

• Discuss student academic progress and progression toward educational goals.

• Refer to other institutional and community support services, where appropriate.

• Forward appropriate student information regarding needs and preferences that could influence policy setting in the CoN and enhance the learning environment.

Minimum Qualifications & Requirements

Education & Experience

• Earned Master's required, Doctorate in nursing or a related field from an accredited institution of higher learning, preferred .

• Current California Public Health Certificate or eligible for certification in California.

• Three years of work experience as a public health or community health nurse in California.

• Teaching experience of diverse students at the baccalaureate or higher degree level, preferred.

• Rank is commensurate with qualifications and experience.

• Unencumbered California registered nurse license or eligible for licensure in California.

• Experience working with leadership in healthcare academic institutions and community organizations preferred.

Skills

• Excellent written and oral communication.

• Read and write clear documents.

• Function effectively as a member of a team and independently.

Abilities

• Express or exchange ideas by means of the spoken word in person or on the telephone.

• Receive detailed information through verbal and written communication.

• Read and write clear documents.

• Have a strong commitment to the caring science principles and mindfulness-based stress reduction practices central to the culture and expected outcomes of the program.

• Model appropriate ethical and professional behaviors and expert communication skills.

• Embrace the mission, vision, and values of the program, school of nursing, and university.

• Have an unobstructed vision for aligning the safety and quality of student learning activities.

1722 instructional and 150 service hours comprise a regular, 12-month annual faculty appointment. The total workload for a regular, 12-month annual faculty appointment is 1872 hours – 1722 teaching and 150 service hours.

Benefits of Working at SMU

Health, Dental, Vision Care

SMU offers a broad range of employee benefits including health, vision, and dental care; sick leave, vacation and holiday leave, 403(b) retirement plan, life insurance, flexible spending accounts, voluntary tax-deferred annuities, educational leaves, sabbatical leaves, tuition reimbursement, tuition remission on SMU courses, disability insurance, and more.

SMU offers HMO, EPO and PPO health insurance plans, Delta Dental coverage, and VSP vision coverage.

Healthcare Flexible Spending Account

A Healthcare Flexible Spending Account (FSA) is a pre-tax benefit account used to pay for eligible medical, dental, and vision care expenses that aren’t covered by your insurance plan or elsewhere. It’s a smart, simple way to save money while keeping you and your family healthy and protected.

Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account

A Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account (DCFSA) is a pre-tax benefit account used to pay for dependent care services, such as preschool, summer day camp, before or after school programs, and child or elder daycare. A DCFSA is a smart, simple way to save money while taking care of your loved ones so that you can continue to work.

Life Insurance

As a means of financial protection, basic life insurance is provided for employees. Insurance may be purchased to benefit-eligible employees in order to supplement additional basic life insurance coverage. Employees that purchase supplemental life insurance may also purchase coverage for dependents.

Retirement 403(b)

A retirement plan that includes investment alternative and a matching contribution plan is available to all benefit-eligible employees. The retirement plan rewards special contributions of the long-service employee by providing a measure of financial security during retirement.

You Are Welcome Here

SMU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, pregnancy, ethnicity, national origin (including ancestry), citizenship status, familial status, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, veteran or military status, predisposing genetic characteristics, or any other protected category under applicable local, state, or federal law—including protections for those opposing discrimination or participating in any resolution process within the University or within the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or other human rights agencies. Nondiscrimination is consistent with the principles and practice of the University and is in compliance with Title VII of The Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, Title IX of The Education Amendments of 1972, and section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.