Psychiatric Nurse

The Position

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This is a continuous filing exam. Next filing cut-offs are at 5:00 pm on: 1/16/24, 3/18/24, 5/20/24, 7/15/24, 9/16/24, 11/18/24
Note: Vacancies may be permanent or intermittent on-call (per-diem). Shift differential may be available in addition to base salary. PM (swing) shift - 5%. Noc (grave) -
10%. Weekend-$1.00 per hour worked.
Now hiring full time for our Intake Stabilization Unit

Note: For additional nursing opportunities please see Registered Nurse DCF Level I/II, Public Health Nurse Level I/II Psychiatric Nurse performs professional nursing duties in the care of mentally ill and emotionally disturbed patients; advises and collaborates with other staff and interdisciplinary health treatment teams in diagnosis and treatment planning for such patients; and, assists and participates in various administrative and mental health program activities.

Examples of Knowledge and Abilities

Knowledge of

• Professional nursing principles, procedures, and techniques used in the care and treatment of psychiatric patients
• Social, psychological, and physical factors of mental and emotional disorders
• Medical and psychiatric terminology
• Medications, including narcotics and their effects upon psychiatric patients
• Control procedures, preparation, and administration of medications
• State of California laws and regulations on nursing practices
• Basic laws and regulations pertaining to psychiatric nursing and treatment of the mentally ill
• Basic theories, principles, and techniques of group and individual psychotherapy
• Basic general procedures and organization of mental health treatment facilities and multidisciplinary treatment teams
• Symptoms and behavior patterns of emotionally disturbed and mentally ill patients
• Standard professional methods of physically restraining psychiatric patients
• Medical and social community resources available to patients
• First aid

Ability to

• Apply professional psychiatric nursing care principles and practices in the evaluation and treatment of psychiatric patients
• Communicate with and gain the cooperation of patients
• Keep accurate written charts and records of patient activities and progress
• Learn and comply with laws, rules, regulations, protocols, and procedures, including security requirements, applicable to the work unit
• Use professional judgment to determine and apply appropriate intervention techniques with patients in crisis
• Work cooperatively with other mental health treatment practitioners to provide an integrated treatment plan
• Conduct and review reports of interviews of patients to evaluate their condition and determine the circumstances causing them to require mental health treatment services
• Conduct and assist in formal and informal individual and group counseling
• Assist in and physically subdue resisting patients with a minimum of force necessary to effect a restraint
• Communicate effectively, orally and in writing, with patients, their families, facility and clinic personnel, and others
• Maintain patient confidentiality

Employment Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

Possession of a current Registered Nurse license issued by the State of California.

Note: If the minimum qualifications include an educational or certificate/license requirement, applicants must submit proof of requirements with the application. Failure to submit proof of requirements may result in disqualification from the examination. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable. For guidelines on submitting acceptable proof of educational requirements, please click here (Download PDF reader) or speak to someone in our office before the cut-off date listed in this notice.

General Qualifications

Certificates/licenses: All persons appointed must possess and maintain a current Registered Nurse license issued by the State of California. Failure to maintain such license may be cause for disciplinary action in accordance with Civil Service Commission Rules.
All persons appointed will be required to have, or obtain, and maintain a valid CPR certificate.

Note: Individuals who do not meet these requirements due to a physical disability will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

Special Requirements

Background/Criminal History: The County may access criminal history information on all candidates who have accepted a conditional offer of appointment for the above job class consistent with the provisions of the Board of Supervisors Resolution No. 82-602, Personnel Policies and Procedure B-5 and applicable federal and state law. The County shall not consider for employment any candidate who has been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor that relates to or impacts the candidate's ability to perform the job duties of this class unless it is determined that mitigating circumstances exist. For purposes of accessing criminal history information, the candidate will be fingerprinted. A subsequent arrest notification may be obtained.

The County may also conduct a background check on the candidate prior to appointment to a position within this class. The background check may include personal and professional reference checks, credit history check, Social Security Number verification, professional license/registration verification, military service information and driving history. Information obtained in the course of this background check will be considered by the appointing authority in the selection process. In obtaining such information, the County will comply with applicable consent and disclosure practices in the Fair Credit Reporting Act and the California Investigative Consumer Reporting Agencies Act.

Physical Abilities: All persons appointed must be physically able to restrain and assist in restraining patients. Persons appointed may be required to work evenings, nights, weekends and holidays. Psychiatric health facilities such as the County's Mental Health Treatment Center are licensed and regulated by the California State Department of Mental Health Services; such regulations include staffing and personnel standards which may apply to the class and may supersede the above minimum qualifications.

CHILD AND ELDER ABUSE REPORTING: Persons selected for employment must, as a condition of employment, sign a statement agreeing to comply with Section 11166 and 11160 of the California Penal Code relating to child and elder abuse reporting.