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How to hire a county nurse

County nurse hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring county nurses in the United States:

  • In the United States, the median cost per hire a county nurse is $1,633.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • Human Resources use 15% of their expenses on recruitment on average.
  • On average, it takes around 12 weeks for a new county nurse to become settled and show total productivity levels at work.

How to hire a county nurse, step by step

To hire a county nurse, you should clearly understand the skills and experience you are looking for in a candidate, and allocate a budget for the position. You will also need to post and promote the job opening to reach potential candidates. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to hire a county nurse:

Here's a step-by-step county nurse hiring guide:

  • Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
  • Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
  • Step 3: Make a budget
  • Step 4: Write a county nurse job description
  • Step 5: Post your job
  • Step 6: Interview candidates
  • Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new county nurse
  • Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

    Before you post your county nurse job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a county nurse for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

    Determine employee vs contractor status
    Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

    A county nurse's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, county nurses from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

    This list presents county nurse salaries for various positions.

    Type of County NurseDescriptionHourly rate
    County NurseRegistered nurses (RNs) provide and coordinate patient care, educate patients and the public about various health conditions, and provide advice and emotional support to patients and their family members.$21-37
    Licensed Practical Nurse Staff NurseA licensed practical nurse is responsible for assisting patients with quality care under the supervision of a direct physician and registered nurse. Licensed practical nurses provide help on collecting samples and performing medical procedures such as taking patients' temperatures and vital signs... Show more$17-35
    Registered Nurse Charge NurseA registered charge nurse is responsible for supervising nurses' workflow in a particular department or area, ensuring every patient gets the proper care that they need. A registered charge nurse has the discretion to direct tasks, arrange schedules, and monitor patients, such as in the aspects of admission and discharge... Show more$22-52
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Home Health
    • CPR
    • BSN
    • Medication Administration
    • EMR
    • Physician Orders
    • TB
    • Vital Signs
    • Direct Patient Care
    • Health Services
    • IV
    • Immunization
    • Public Health
    • Discharge Planning
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Manage high-acuity cardiac/pulmonary and psychiatric patients
    • Prepare activities to occupy children while in the immunization clinic.
    • Document and track any Ppd, or immunization adverse reaction.
    • Manage high-acuity cardiac/pulmonary and psychiatric patients
    • Perform field visits to clients' homes to educate them on the cause, effect and prevention of diabetes.
    • Manage high-acuity cardiac/pulmonary and psychiatric patients
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in your county nurse job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A county nurse salary can vary based on several factors:
    • Location. For example, county nurses' average salary in south carolina is 44% less than in district of columbia.
    • Seniority. Entry-level county nurses earn 43% less than senior-level county nurses.
    • Certifications. A county nurse with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
    • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a county nurse's salary.

    Average county nurse salary

    $58,852yearly

    $28.29 hourly rate

    Entry-level county nurse salary
    $44,000 yearly salary
    Updated December 15, 2025
  4. Writing a county nurse job description

    A county nurse job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a county nurse job description:

    County nurse job description example

    • Current RN licenses for states of practice
    • Current certifications in Healthcare Provider BLS/CPR; ACLS; PALS or equivalent (if state or county required)
    • Current certifications such as TPATC, TNCC, PHTLS or ITLS (some states may require specific trauma certifications for flight nurses)
    • Current specialty training or willingness to let us train you in: NRP, FEMA, NIMS, IS 100, 200, 700, 800 and HazMat training

    Preferred Qualifications:

    Education: BSN or bachelor's degree in a health-related field

    Experience: Pre-hospital experience and flight experience

    Certifications: Specialty certifications such as CEN, CCRN, or CFRN

    Operation and Safety Requirements:

    As a member of the Clinical Flight Crew, any person employed in this position shall maintain a weight not to exceed 225 pounds including empty flight suit and boots.

    What we offer:

    Top tier benefits and clinical training including:

    • Annual high fidelity human patient simulation training
    • Annual participation in a cadaver lab
    • Flight simulator training
    • Paid continuing education, including ACLS, PALS, NRP and advanced trauma courses
    • Specialty certification stipend for CFRN paid annually
    • Opportunities to obtain licensure for work in additional locations with company-paid travel
    • Clinical leveling program and leadership positions provide ladder for advancement

    We can't be the industry-leading air medical company without you.


    Air Methods is an EEO/AA employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.

    #LI-BC1

    Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

    The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor's legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)

  5. Post your job

    To find the right county nurse for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

    • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
    • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with county nurses they would recommend.
    • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit county nurses who meet your education requirements.
    • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.
    Post your job online:
    • Post your county nurse job on Zippia to find and recruit county nurse candidates who meet your exact specifications.
    • Use field-specific websites such as healthcarejobsite, health jobs nationwide, hospitalcareers, medreps.com.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    During your first interview to recruit county nurses, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

    You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

    The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

  7. Send a job offer and onboard your new county nurse

    Once you've selected the best county nurse candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

    You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

    Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new county nurse. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

  8. Go through the hiring process checklist

    • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
    • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
    • Define job responsibilities and requirements
    • Establish budget and timeline
    • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
    • Write job description
    • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
    • Promote the job internally
    • Process applications through applicant tracking system
    • Review resumes and cover letters
    • Shortlist candidates for screening
    • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
    • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
    • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
    • Conduct background checks on top candidates
    • Check references of top candidates
    • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
    • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
    • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
    • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
    • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
    • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)
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How much does it cost to hire a county nurse?

Recruiting county nurses involves both the one-time costs of hiring and the ongoing costs of adding a new employee to your team. Your spending during the hiring process will mostly be on things like promoting the job on job boards, reviewing and interviewing candidates, and onboarding the new hire. Ongoing costs will obviously involve the employee's salary, but also may include things like benefits.

You can expect to pay around $58,852 per year for a county nurse, as this is the median yearly salary nationally. This can vary depending on what state or city you're hiring in. If you're hiring for contract work or on a per-project basis, hourly rates for county nurses in the US typically range between $21 and $37 an hour.

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