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Break Nurse Jobs (NOW HIRING)

As a Break Nurse you will work 8-hour shifts, relieving other registered nurses during break and meal periods - providing essential coverage across multiple units. You'll have the unique opportunity ...

RN, Break

Fresno, CA · On-site

$52.34 - $66.60/hr

As a Break Nurse you will work 8-hour shifts, relieving other registered nurses during break and meal periods - providing essential coverage across multiple units. You'll have the unique opportunity ...

Break RN

King City, CA · On-site

$3.1K/wk

Quick Offer - Travel Break RN | King City, CA Location: King City, CA Facility: Mee Memorial Hospital Position: Break Registered Nurse (RN) Pay Rate: $72 - $79/hr Traveler Pay: Up to $3,132/Week ...

Break RN Night Shift Facility: Mee Memorial Hospital Location: 300 Canal Street, King City, CA 93930 Job Type: Contract (13 weeks) Start Date: 4/28/2025 Shift: 7:00 PM 7:30 AM (Night) Guaranteed ...

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Break Nurse information

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How much do break nurse jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 23, 2026, the average hourly pay for break nurse in the United States is $38.62, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $29.57 and $43.27 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the least stressful RN job?

Registered nurses (RNs) working in outpatient clinics, school health, or telehealth often experience less stress compared to hospital-based roles. These positions typically have regular hours, predictable schedules, and less emergency or high-acuity situations, contributing to a lower-stress environment.

What is a Break Nurse job?

A Break Nurse is a registered nurse (RN) or licensed vocational nurse (LVN) who provides temporary relief for other nurses during their scheduled breaks. They ensure continuous patient care by stepping in to monitor patients, administer medications, and handle urgent needs. Break Nurses work in hospitals, clinics, or long-term care facilities, helping maintain workflow and prevent nurse burnout. Their role is crucial in maintaining patient safety and staff well-being.

How to make an extra $1000 a month as a nurse?

Break nurses can increase their income by taking on overtime shifts, working per diem or agency assignments, or offering specialized services such as patient education or health screenings. Developing additional skills or certifications, like IV therapy or wound care, can also qualify them for higher-paying roles or side opportunities.

What does a break nurse do?

A break nurse is responsible for providing temporary nursing coverage during staff breaks or absences, ensuring patient care continues smoothly. They may perform basic nursing tasks, monitor patients, and follow facility protocols, often working in hospitals or clinics with relevant certifications. This role requires strong communication skills and the ability to adapt quickly to different healthcare environments.

How to make $300,000 as a nurse?

Break nurses can increase their earnings by working in high-demand specialties, obtaining advanced certifications, and taking on overtime or agency assignments. Gaining experience, developing specialized skills, and working in settings like travel nursing or private duty can also boost income potential to reach higher salary levels.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the Break Nurse position, and why are they important?

To excel as a Break Nurse, you need to hold a current nursing license (typically RN or LVN/LPN), possess strong clinical assessment skills, and be adept at quickly adapting to different patient care assignments. Familiarity with charting systems like electronic health records (EHRs) and standard hospital equipment is essential. Excellent time management, flexibility, and effective communication skills help a Break Nurse seamlessly provide coverage and continuity of care. These qualities are vital for maintaining high standards of patient safety and supporting team efficiency during staff shift changes and breaks.

What are the typical daily responsibilities of a Break Nurse?

A Break Nurse's daily responsibilities involve temporarily assuming the patient care duties of other nurses during their breaks, which requires rapidly familiarizing oneself with different patient cases and responding to immediate needs. You might cover multiple units or patient assignments over the course of a shift, ensuring continuity of care and clear hand-off communication. This role requires you to administer medications, monitor patient conditions, and document updates in EHRs as needed. Break Nurses play a key role in helping the nursing team maintain high-quality care standards while supporting the overall workflow of the unit.

More about Break Nurse jobs
What cities are hiring for Break Nurse jobs? Cities with the most Break Nurse job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Break Nurse jobs? The most popular types of Break Nurse jobs are:
What states have the most Break Nurse jobs? States with the most job openings for Break Nurse jobs include:
Infographic showing various Break Nurse job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 73% Full Time, 23% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 95% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 4% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $80,321 per year, or $38.6 per hour.
RN Break Nurse - 3 North - Part Time/Nights - Req# 2117943807

RN Break Nurse - 3 North - Part Time/Nights - Req# 2117943807

Antelope Valley Medical Center

Lancaster, CA

Other

PTO

Posted 16 days ago


Antelope Valley Medical Center rating

7.7

Company rating: 7.7 out of 10

Based on 8 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

212th of 1,023 rated hospitals


Job description

Job Objective:

The RN Break Nurse is responsible for the nursing care of patients as established by the Nursing Practice Act of the Board of Registered Nursing of the State of California and as guided by policies and procedures of the hospital.

Duties and Responsibilities:

  • Arrive to the assigned unit prepared to work for scheduled shift.
  • Obtain a copy of the completed Lunch Breaks Schedule from the Charge Nurse (CN) or a designee.
  • Break Nurse will introduce him/herself and inform the Primary Care Nurses (PCN) of their role as the Break Nurse (BN).
  • Receive a brief 3-5min report, accept the PCN's phone and assume care of the patients on his/her assignment.
  • Break Nurse will assume full responsibility of the patients during the PCN's break and provide the care necessary, including but not limited to, providing ADLs, assisting in procedures, transferring/receiving of the patient to/from another department, and speaking with physicians, family members and other members of healthcare team.
  • Break Nurse must review all orders in the electronic medical record and complete any tasks which are due.
  • Document break relief in the staff management system.
  • In the event that there is no nurse to break, inform the Charge Nurse and House Supervisor. Break Nurse may stay in the initially assigned department as a Resource Nurse, unless redirected by the unit Manager or HS to provide breaks in different department.
  • A Break Nurse may only perform as such, during the times PCNs are in need of meal break relief, unless redirected and approved by the unit Manager or HS (Charge Nurses are not authorized to change the Break Nurse's role/assignment). Whenever a decision is made to change the BN's role, the Staffing Office must be informed, so the role change can be documented in the staff management system.
  • Notify the Charge Nurse immediately if problems are encountered with providing breaks at the assigned times.
  • In the event that a PCN doesn't return on time for his/her break, Break Nurse must notify the Charge Nurse or a designee. A Break Nurse may give the phone and a handoff report to the Charge Nurse and then proceed to relieve the next nurse. Not doing so will disrupt the remaining nurses' breaks.

Non-Essential Duties:

  • Other duties as assigned within compliance with Title 22, The Joint Commission, and CMS.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Knowledge

  • Supports and adheres to the values and mission statement established by the AVH Board of Directors.
  • Conforms to required accreditation standards.
  • Conforms with and supports hospital quality management and performance improvement guidelines.

Skills

  • Skill and ability to follow telephone etiquette/standards.
  • Displays a willingness to work as a team player.
  • Safely and effectively uses all equipment necessary to carry out duties.

Abilities

  • Ability to adhere to all established AVH policies and procedures and to interpret and function under these.
  • Ability to organize work and establish priorities.
  • Ability to expand on own initiative in performance of duties.
  • Ability to function effectively under pressure and meet time parameters.
  • Ability to relieve clerical staff at desk, or to adopt any function commonly assigned to unlicensed assistive personnel, or as allowed within scope of nursing practice, as needed.
  • Ability to give and support the highest level of patient/customer satisfaction at all times
  • Ability to be flexible in meeting staffing requirements of the facility
  • Ability to meet basic health requirements and physical job standards

AVH Values: All AVH employees will effectively demonstrate these values:

  • Patients Come First - We listen actively and communicate with our patients and families, placing safety as a top priority.
  • Accountability & Ownership - We fully complete tasks, are transparent, effectively communicate, and recognize that what we do reflects on us.
  • Teamwork - We build trusting relationships, promote a sense of community, and are respectful of everyone. Success is about the whole team.
  • Integrity & Honesty - We tell the truth at all times, speak up when something is wrong, and do the right thing when no one is looking.
  • Excellence - We take pride in our work, are goal-oriented, and on a never-ending quest for top tier quality.
  • Initiative & Innovation - Our can-do attitudes, creativity, and resourcefulness empower us to improve the patient's experience, solve our own problems, make timely decisions, and look for opportunities to add value.
  • Tenderness & Compassion - We have genuine empathy, show kindness, and encourage and advocate for each other.

Education and Experience:

Education:

  • National certifications are desirable.

Experience

  • Minimum of one year of experience in an acute care setting.

Required Licensure and/or Certifications:

  • Registered Nurse
  • BCLS required. ACLS, NRP and PALS certification may be required, dependent upon practice area.

AVH Conduct/Compliance Expectations:

  • Ability to adhere with AVH Absenteeism and Tardiness Policy
  • Ability to adhere with AVH Leaves of Absence Policy
  • Ability to adhere with AVH Paid Time Off (PTO) Policy
  • Ability to adhere with AVH Recording of Hours Worked Policy
  • Ability to adhere to the department dress code
  • Ability to organize work and establish priorities
  • Ability to expand on own initiative in performance of duties
  • Skill and ability to follow the telephone etiquette/standards
  • Conforms to AVH Standards of Excellence
  • Ability to function effectively under pressure and meet time parameters
  • Ability to communicate effectively while maintaining good working relationships with co-workers, managers and other hospital staff
  • Ability to adhere to the normal standards of courtesy and conduct as defined under the rules of hospitality at AVH
  • Ability to maintain the confidentiality of patient, hospital and department information
  • Ability to adhere to safety rules and regulations
  • Safely and effectively uses all equipment necessary to carry out duties
  • Ability to interpret and function under hospital and department policies and procedures
  • Conforms with required and appropriate JCAHO requirements
  • Conforms with and supports hospital quality assurance and improvement guidelines
  • Ability to participate effectively in department and hospital staff education
  • Display a willingness to work as a team player
  • Ability to give and support the highest level of patient/customer satisfaction at all times
  • Supports and adheres to the values and mission statement established by the AVH Board of Directors
  • Ability to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the Compliance & Integrity Program and its established policies.
  • Ability to follow the Code of Conduct

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions:

  • May be required to take call shifts per department policy
  • Mandatory weekend and holiday rotation

A detailed description of the physical requirements of this job is maintained in the Employee Health Department.


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