In recognition of National Nurses Week, May 6-12, we want to spotlight what a career in nursing might look like by highlighting Candy Zaranyika, a nurse who began her Community journey while still in college and now manages Labor and Delivery at Clovis Community Medical Center. Thank you, Candy, and all the other nurses who make Community a great place for patients and staff every week, all year long.


In 2000, Candy Zaranyika was still in nursing school when she began working as a patient care assistant (now called patient care technician) in the surgery department at Clovis Community Medical Center. While she mainly transported patients, she also assisted with housekeeping when the rooms needed to be cleaned immediately.

Today, more than 20 years later, Zaranyika is a clinical nurse manager for Labor and Delivery at Clovis Community Medical Center.

“So I really did start at the bottom and work my way all the way up,” said the 2002 Fresno State graduate.

Returning to Community

Zaranyika’s Community journey hasn’t been seamless. She left her job mid-career for two years to care for her sick mother. “But after my mom was better, I wanted to get back into a hospital, so of course I came back here.”

In 2004, Zaranyika returned and accepted a post-partum nursing position at Community Regional Medical Center, then worked in antepartum (prenatal) nursing, caring for patients with very high-risk pregnancies. She worked as a clinical nurse educator for four years then moved to Clovis Community’s Labor and Delivery department, where she’s been ever since.

Employees rate Community’s opportunities for career growth high year after year in surveys, said Carla Milton, Senior Vice President of Human Resources. In fact, Community has 879 employees who are marking 20 or more years with the healthcare organization, and some who’ve spent four or more decades.

Zaranyika said work/life balance, educational benefits and retirement benefits are great reasons to work at Community. “Why wouldn’t I come back here when I was able to restart my career?”

A tough but rewarding job

Being a nurse for 20-plus years has its ups and downs. “There are tough days where we have a lot of cases back-to-back,” Zaranyika said, citing the sad moments when a newborn is lost.

But there are also many, many happy moments. “When that bell goes off once, or sometimes twice for twins, we know there is new life … and that’s a celebration, especially for parents who’ve had difficulties.”

Zaranyika has been on both sides of the delivery bed at Community. “I had my 11-year-old daughter here so I know what it’s like to be a patient. And I must say, the care we provide is excellent. I know firsthand we are compassionate and we have empathy.”

A growing family

Zaranyika is quick to point out that her own career longevity is not uncommon at Community. “As I look around the hospital, I see people who started about the same time I did. That says a lot about this hospital. Some of our employee’s children even work here now,” said Zaranyika.

In addition to promoting from within, the hospital recruits experienced healthcare workers and encourages new graduates and those looking to change careers to apply. “Whether or not the opportunity is at the bedside, or in one of our clinics, or our quality and risk management division, or our education and informatics, there’s just a wealth of opportunities,” said Milton.

Take 5 to apply

Did you know it takes only five minutes to apply for a job at Community? 

If you or someone you know is looking for a career opportunity, visit jobs.communitymedical.org to find the position that suits your career goals.

See this story on MedWatch Today