In a notice to state and local officials, Fresno’s biggest hospital system said it would eliminate 285 positions of clinical supervising nurses at three network locations.

Community Health System would then create 350 other positions in bedside nursing and clinical leadership in its network.

A letter acquired by GV Wire shows 180 positions at Community Regional Medical Center affected, 19 at the Fresno Heart & Surgical Hospital, and 86 at Clovis Community Hospital.

“As a hospital system, we are always working to improve patient safety and quality standards and to increase support for our team members,” said Daniel Davis, division president of hospitals with Community Health, in a statement to GV Wire. “That’s why Community is adopting a new inpatient staffing model which will introduce a new assistant nursing manager role to our inpatient units.”

Eliminating 300 Jobs, Creating 350 More

The positions would be eliminated beginning May 3. A hospital spokesperson said a WARN notice had to be filed because the role was disappearing.

Many employees would have to reapply to continue working at Community. The 350 positions would be for bedside nursing or clinical leadership, including a new assistant nurse manager position.

“We want to retain our talented nurses and there is a job for every nurse who wants to continue their career with Community,” Davis said. “Staff who are impacted by the change are being notified and the new staffing model will go into effect on May 19.”

Nursing Shakeup Follows Leadership Change

Community employs more than 10,000 employees across four patient medical centers and its outpatient facilities, according to its most recent report. Of those, 3,632 are nursing staff.

Craig Wagoner is Community Health System’s new CEO, succeeding Craig Castro, who announced his retirement in November. Wagoner previously was the CEO at CRMC, the system’s flagship hospital and level 1 trauma center in downtown Fresno.