Psychiatric Nurse - Full-Time & Part-Time
Starting salary up to $53.54/hour plus a cash allowance of $3.45/hour,
and a competitive total compensation package!*
We offer expansive opportunities for growth and development, the ability to be a part of a challenging and rewarding work environment, and the satisfaction of knowing you're working to better your community. You can also look forward to a competitive, total compensation package* including:
- An annual Staff Development/Wellness Benefit allowance up to $600 and ongoing education/training opportunities
- Competitive vacation and sick leave accruals, 12 paid holidays, and an additional 8 floating holiday hours per year
- Significant portion of health care premiums paid by the County and access to several health plan options
- County contribution to a Health Reimbursement Arrangement to help fund post-retirement employee health insurance/benefits
- Retirement fully integrated with Social Security
- May be eligible for up to 8 weeks (320 hours) of Paid Parental Leave after 12 months of County employment
- Eligibility for a salary increase after 1,040 hours (6 months when working full-time) for good work performance; eligibility for a salary increase for good performance every year thereafter, until reaching the top of the salary range
*Salary is negotiable within the established range. Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice. Additional information can found in the Service Employees International Union Local 1021 Memorandum Of Understanding (SEIU MOU)
About the Positions
Behavioral Health Psychiatric Nurses work on multi-disciplinary teams to provide medication education and adherence support services, mental status examinations, treatment planning, crisis intervention, and medical case management. They work in close collaboration with psychiatrists, case managers, primary care doctors, pharmacies, hospitals, and laboratory services. Typical duties include:
- Administering medications
- Performing nursing assessments
- Conducting home visits
- Using crisis intervention and de-escalation techniques
- Conducting seclusion and restraint
- Observing clients and reporting to the clinical team
- Collaborating with primary care and other medical providers for continuity of care
- Assisting with maintaining client safety by performing safety checks
- Assisting clients with preparing meals and completing other daily living skills
- Taking and documenting vital signs
- Charting and observing clients for signs of medication side effects.
Psychiatric Nurses work as part of a 24-hour multi-disciplinary team in the Crisis Stabilization Unit. Psychiatric Nurses in outpatient settings work Monday through Friday during business hours in a clinic and in community settings. Incumbents are expected to be able to work independently with an understanding of when to seek supervision and consultation from the Charge Nurse, Supervising RN, or Psychiatrist. Some of these assignments require the ability to work evenings, weekends, and holiday shifts.
About the programs:
About the Crisis Stabilization Unit (CSU)
The CSU's dedicated team of licensed mental health clinicians, psychiatric nurses, and psychiatrists provide crisis intervention, medication assessment, stabilization, and information and referral services 24-hours a day, 7 days a week for adults, children, and families experiencing a mental health crisis. The CSU provides up to 23-hours of supportive care, including medications for individuals in an acute mental health crisis. For those needing longer crisis intervention, voluntary crisis residential services or inpatient hospitalization are arranged.
Community Mental Health Center (CMHC)
Community Mental Health Centers (CMHCs) provide outreach and engagement and outpatient specialty mental health treatment services to adults living in regionally-based areas of Sonoma County. In addition to providing services to geographically-isolated adults with serious mental illness, CMHCs also provide services to people who are homeless and/or have co-occurring substance abuse disorder problems, and to locally underserved racially and ethnically diverse communities.
Adult Medication Support
Adult Med Support provides services to adults with serious and persistent mental illness and co-occurring substance use disorders, who currently do not receive comprehensive services.
The ideal candidates will possess:
- Experience providing medication management services and psycho-education to clients in a recovery-oriented, behavioral health setting
- Knowledge of best practices in psychiatric nursing, including harm reduction approaches
- Excellent communication skills
- The ability to work collaboratively with a multidisciplinary team in a fast-paced environment
- Prior recovery-focused professional experience with substance abuse disorder and/or mental health clients
- The ability to multi-task and thrive in a fast-paced and dynamic environment
- A strong desire to work in the public behavioral health system of care
- The ability to work evenings, weekends, and holiday shifts
This recruitment is being conducted to fill two full-time positions and one part-time position (.50 Full-Time Equivalent) in the Department of Health Services. This employment list may also be used to fill future full-time, part-time, or extra-help (temporary or intermittent) positions as they occur during the active status of the list. Qualified County employees who wish to be considered for future positions should consider applying to this recruitment.
APPLICATION SUBMISSIONS REQUIRE THE SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE BE COMPLETED.
Minimum Qualifications
Professional License: Possession of a current California license as a Registered Nurse (RN). RN license must be maintained as a condition of employment in this classification. Possession of current CPR and First Aid certifications is desirable.
License: Possession of a valid driver's license at the appropriate level including special endorsements, as required by the State of California, may be required depending upon assignment to perform the essential job functions of the position.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Knowledge of: the uses and effects of medicines and narcotics; laws governing treatment of involuntary clients; rehabilitation and counseling techniques; and skill in observing and recording client behavior; the principles and techniques of psychiatric and social assessment and evaluation; the methods and techniques of physical restraints; community agencies, resources, and services.
Ability to: provide effective psychiatric nursing care to clients with behavioral health needs; exercise patience and judgment in recognizing symptoms indicative of adverse client reactions; follow oral and written directions of a technical and professional nature in exact detail; communicate client history and needs accurately and succinctly; develop and maintain the confidence and cooperation of clients with behavioral health challenges; effectively intervene and direct staff in emergency situations; establish and maintain effective working relationships with other departmental staff and representatives of other agencies; administer treatment plans, medicines, and narcotics as prescribed; communicate with clients and their families empathetically and compassionately; prepare, interpret, and maintain accurate nursing records and reports; write progress notes to Medi-Cal standards; occasionally restrain clients; stand and walk for long periods; work under psychological and physical strain; and lift or move heavy objects on an occasional basis.
Selection Procedure & Some Helpful Tips When Applying
- Your application information and your responses to the supplemental questions are evaluated and taken into consideration throughout the entire selection process.
- You should list all employers and positions held within the last ten years in the work history section of your application and should be as thorough as possible when responding to the supplemental questions.
- You may include history beyond ten years if related to the position for which you are applying. If you held multiple positions with one employer, list out each position separately.
- Failure to follow these instructions may impact your competitiveness in this process or may result in disqualification.
Please visit Getting-a-Job with the County of Sonoma to review more detailed information about the hiring process, including the application process, examination steps, and department selection process.
Responses to supplemental questions will be scored using position-specific criteria. Please provide specific and detailed responses of a reasonable length to allow for thorough assessment of your qualifications. Responses which state "See Resume" or "See Application" may be considered insufficient and therefore may not be scored.
The selection procedure will consist of the following examination:
An Application & Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination (Weight 100%). Each application and supplemental questionnaire will be thoroughly evaluated for satisfaction of minimum qualifications and relevance of educational coursework, training, experience, knowledge, and abilities that relate to this position. Candidates possessing the most appropriate job-related qualifications will be placed on an employment list and referred to the department for selection interviews.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
A background investigation is required prior to employment. Candidates referred to departments for a selection interview are typically required to sign authorization and release forms enabling such an investigation. Failure to sign prescribed forms will result in the candidate not being considered further for that vacancy. Reference information will not be made available to applicants.
Additional requirements, such as successful completion of a physical exam, drug screen, etc., may apply, depending on the duties and responsibilities of the position. If you receive a conditional job offer for the position, the requirements upon which the offer are contingent will be outlined in the conditional job letter. You may also review the Job Classification Screening Schedule to determine the requirements for this position.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION: As the largest employer in Sonoma County, the Board of Supervisors has adopted a vaccination and testing policy to help mitigate transmission of COVID-19. All County employees will be required to either have documented proof of full COVID-19 vaccination on file or consent to weekly COVID-19 testing.