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Creative Nursing Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Skilled Nursing Professionals

Treatment Nurse

Santa Rosa, CA · On-site

$50 - $55/hr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

Come join our amazing team where you can help express your love, compassion, energy and creative ... Our company mission is to strive every day to be the skilled nursing facility of choice in our ...

Skilled Nursing Professionals

Treatment Nurse

Santa Rosa, CA · On-site

$50 - $55/hr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

Come join our amazing team where you can help express your love, compassion, energy and creative ... Our company mission is to strive every day to be the skilled nursing facility of choice in our ...

Skilled Nursing Professionals

Treatment Nurse

Santa Rosa, CA · On-site

$50 - $55/hr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

Come join our amazing team where you can help express your love, compassion, energy and creative ... Our company mission is to strive every day to be the skilled nursing facility of choice in our ...

Skilled Nursing Professionals

Registered Nurse

Fresno, CA · On-site

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

Pacific Gardens Nursing and Rehabilitation Center Come join our team and start making a difference ... Come join our amazing team where you can help express your love, compassion, energy and creative ...

Skilled Nursing Professionals

Registered Nurse

Fresno, CA · On-site

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

Pacific Gardens Nursing and Rehabilitation Center Come join our team and start making a difference ... Come join our amazing team where you can help express your love, compassion, energy and creative ...

Skilled Nursing Professionals

Registered Nurse

Fresno, CA · On-site

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

Pacific Gardens Nursing and Rehabilitation Center Come join our team and start making a difference ... Come join our amazing team where you can help express your love, compassion, energy and creative ...

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Showing results 1-20

All JobsCreative Nursing JobsCreative Nursing Jobs in California

Creative Nursing information

See California salary details

$69.1K

$88.1K

$136.2K

How much do creative nursing jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 19, 2026, the average yearly pay for creative nursing in California is $88,113.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $76,500.00 and $87,300.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is creative nursing?

Creative nursing is an approach within the nursing profession that emphasizes innovative thinking, problem-solving, and the use of new ideas to improve patient care. It involves applying creativity in clinical practices, patient education, and healthcare environments to enhance outcomes and satisfaction. Creative nurses often use art, technology, and unique communication methods to address patient needs and adapt to changing healthcare situations. This field encourages nurses to think outside the box and seek novel solutions to everyday challenges in healthcare.

How does a creative nurse collaborate with interdisciplinary teams to enhance patient care?

Creative Nurses often work alongside doctors, therapists, social workers, and other healthcare professionals to develop innovative care plans tailored to patients' unique needs. They may introduce art therapy, music, or alternative communication strategies to improve patient engagement and outcomes. Regular team meetings and open communication are key, as Creative Nurses contribute fresh perspectives to problem-solving and patient support. This collaborative environment helps foster holistic care and encourages continual learning and professional growth.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a creative nurse, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Creative Nurse, you need a solid nursing background with an active RN license, combined with innovative problem-solving abilities and a willingness to explore new approaches in patient care. Familiarity with evidence-based practice, digital health tools, and continuing education in specialty areas can enhance your effectiveness. Strong interpersonal skills, adaptability, and open-mindedness help you engage patients and colleagues while implementing creative health solutions. These skills are vital for delivering personalized care, improving patient outcomes, and advancing nursing practice in dynamic healthcare environments.

What is the difference between Creative Nursing vs Registered Nurse?

AspectCreative NursingRegistered Nurse
CredentialsTypically requires a nursing license and additional creative or therapeutic certificationsRequires an RN license and state licensure
Work EnvironmentHospitals, clinics, therapeutic settings, educational programsHospitals, clinics, community health, long-term care
Industry UsageUsed in healthcare settings emphasizing patient engagement through creative methodsStandard healthcare roles across various medical settings

Creative Nursing combines traditional nursing skills with creative techniques to enhance patient care, often in therapeutic or educational settings. Registered Nurses provide direct patient care across a wide range of healthcare environments. While both roles require nursing licensure, Creative Nursing emphasizes innovative, arts-based approaches, whereas Registered Nurses focus on clinical care and medical procedures.

What cities in California are hiring for Creative Nursing jobs?

Cities in California with the most Creative Nursing job openings:

Creative Nursing jobs near you
Infographic showing various Creative Nursing job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 3% As Needed, 61% Full Time, 14% Part Time, and 22% Contract. Highlights an 99% Physical, and 1% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $88,113 per year, or $42.4 per hour.

Creative Arts Therapist

SD Department of Veterans Affairs

San Diego, CA

$102K/yr

Full-time

Posted 3 days ago

New

Job description

The Creative Arts Therapist (Art) at the VA San Diego Health Care System (VASDHCS) is aligned under Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service providing rehabilitation for Veterans with complex conditions including amputation, paralysis, neurological and orthopedic disorders, behavioral health/ psychiatric diagnoses, dementia, TBI, respiratory disorders, chronic cardiovascular disease, and multi-morbid presentations. This announcement may be used to fill future vacancies.Qualifications:Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.
Basic Requirements:
  • United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
  • English Language Proficiency: Must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7403(f).
  • Education:
    • Master's degree or higher, from an accredited college or university, with a major in art therapy approved by the American Art Therapy Association on or before June 30, 2016. If the degree is received after June 30, 2016, a master's degree or higher from an accredited college or university, with a major in art therapy, must be accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Art Therapy Education: a committee of the Commission on Accreditation on Allied Health Education Program; OR
    • Master's degree in a related field, plus graduate coursework and supervised field experience in art therapy. Acceptable related fields include: Counseling, Marriage and Family Therapy, Social Work, Psychology, Addictions Counseling, Psychiatric Nursing, and Psychiatry, AND must possess a full, current, and unrestricted registration as a Registered Art Therapist (ATR) approved by the Art Therapy Credentials Board. If hired under this education, the registration cannot be waived.
  • Certification:
    • Certification in a specialty treatment area in art therapy such as, but not limited to: Trauma Informed Art Therapy, Focused-Oriented Art Therapy, Photo Therapy, Mandala Assessment Research Instrument (MARI), Art Therapy Analytics, or in a directly related field such as dementia, motivational interviewing, and/or cognitive behavior therapy.
May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria).
Grade Determinations:
GS-12 Creative Arts Therapist (Art): In addition to meeting the basic requirements, the completion of two years of progressively complex experience, which includes one year equivalent at the next lower grade GS-11 directly related to the position being filled, is required.
-AND-
In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:
  1. Skill in differentiating signs, symptoms, and contraindications as related to clinical diagnoses in order to independently determine appropriate interventions.
  2. Ability to apply advanced clinical judgment and critical thinking when interpreting and documenting interactions related to complex medical conditions.
  3. Ability to design comprehensive and complex screening tools and templates.
  4. Ability as a skilled listener sensitive to a variety of human needs.
  5. Ability to exhibit emotional stability, patience, and interpersonal skills.
  6. Knowledge of insight and psychological processes.
  7. Skill in using a higher degree of sensitivity of group dynamics, interpersonal interactions, and symptoms with special attention to complexity, comorbidity and contraindications.
  8. Knowledge of a variety of art mediums through continuing education for application in clinical settings.
  9. Knowledge of how therapy impacts revenue resource allocation as it relates to complex diagnosis, treatment, and diagnostic coding.

Preferred Experience: Greater than 2 years progressively complex experience as Creative Arts Therapist with preference that experience hospital based Recreation/Creative Art Therapy Program.
Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.
Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.Education:IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.
Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.Employment Type: OTHER

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