Psychiatric Nurse - Extra-Help

Position Information

If you are passionate about providing quality psychiatric nursing care and want to make a positive impact on individuals experiencing mental health crises, we encourage you to apply!

Starting salary up to $72.99/hour* and additional possible premiums based on position, location, and hours**!

Please note that p ossession of a current, valid California license as a Registered Nurse (RN) is required.

About the Position

We are seeking dedicated and compassionate extra-help Psychiatric Nurses to join our team in the Department of Health Services' Behavioral Health Division. As a psychiatric nurse, you will work either as part of a 24/7 multidisciplinary team in the Crisis Stabilization Unit (CSU) or the Adult Medication Clinic and play a critical role in providing specialized care for individuals experiencing psychiatric emergencies. Some of the key responsibilities are:

• Observing clients and collaborating with primary care providers and other medical professionals to ensure continuity of care
  
• Assisting in maintaining client safety through regular safety checks
  
• Supporting clients with daily living activities, including meal preparation and other skills
  
• Administering medications and providing medication education to clients
• Taking and documenting vital signs and maintaining accurate and up-to-date client charts
  
• Providing crisis intervention and de-escalation, using seclusion and restraint as necessary

As an ideal candidate to join the team, you will collaborate effectively with a multi-disciplinary team and possess many of the following:

• Comfort working independently, with an understanding of when to seek consultation
  
• Attention to detail for accuracy in clinical documentation and patient care
  
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic, and sometimes high-pressure environment
  
• Commitment to a trauma-informed, recovery-oriented approach in care delivery
  
• Prior professional experience working with individuals with mental health and/or substance abuse disorders
  
• Experience with or willingness to learn electronic health record systems
  
• Familiarity with harm reduction strategies in client care
  
• Familiarity with local community resources
  
• Bilingual candidates are encouraged to apply, though bilingual skill sets are not required
  

**Additional Information

• Positions in CSU may require evening, night, weekend, and holiday shifts.
  
• Outpatient positions are Monday through Friday during regular business hours in a clinic or community setting.
  
• The County shall pay a premium of twenty percent (20%) in addition to the employee’s base hourly rate of pay for each hour actually worked as an Extra Help employee in the class of Psychiatric Nurse. (See SEIU MOU for more information).
  
• For each hour or portion of an hour assigned and actually worked in the Crisis Stabilization Unit (CSU), employees shall be paid an additional five percent (5%) premium pay. (See SEIU MOU for more information).
  

Extra-Help Employment


Extra-help employees relieve or augment permanent staff. Intermittent, extra-help employees are not in the classified civil service and do not have property rights to permanently allocated positions. In addition, they do not receive most regular employee benefits such as long-term disability insurance coverage; accrual of vacation; participation in the County retirement program; or eligibility to take promotional examinations. Intermittent, extra-help employees are limited in their employment to a maximum of 1,380 hours within any twelve-month consecutive period. Extra-help employees who meet the eligibility requirements may qualify for a County contribution toward medical coverage.

This recruitment is being conducted to fill four Psychiatric Nurse, intermittent, extra-help positions in the Department of Health Services. This employment list may also be used to fill future extra-help positions as they occur during the active status of this list.
*Salary is negotiable within the established range.

Application submissions require the Supplemental Questionnaire be completed.

Minimum Qualifications

Education and Experience: Any combination of training and experience which would provide an opportunity to acquire the knowledge and abilities listed. Normally, this would include graduation from an accredited school of nursing.

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

Working knowledge of: principles, techniques, and trends of behavioral health with particular reference to mental health and substance use disorder diagnoses and treatment, human development, motivation, personality, learning, individual and cultural differences, adaption, and social interaction; psychiatric rehabilitation, Trauma-Informed Care, and Recovery-Oriented Care; modern methods, techniques, and procedures used in general and professional psychiatric nursing; medical and psychiatric terminology, equipment and facilities.

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. 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.

Application submissions require the Supplemental Questionnaire be completed.

Responses to supplemental questions are used to evaluate your qualifications. Please provide sufficient information to allow for a thorough evaluation of your qualifications.

The selection procedure will consist of the following examination:

An Application and Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination (pass/not pass) will be conducted to evaluate each applicant's combination of educational coursework, training, experience, knowledge, and abilities that relate to this position to ensure satisfaction of the minimum qualifications for this position. Candidates who possess the minimum qualifications for the position will be placed on an extra-help employment list and referred to the department. The department may contact candidates from the employment list who possess the most appropriate job-related qualifications for further consideration.

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 is 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.

How to Apply

Applications are accepted online at www.yourpath2sonomacounty.org . Paper applications may be submitted by person, fax (707-565-3770), email, or through the mail. All applications and appropriate supplemental information as outlined in the job bulletin must be received by the time and date specified on the first page of this job announcement. Continuous recruitments may close without notice at any time that a sufficient number of qualified applications have been received. Applications received after the recruitment closes will not be accepted.

The County of Sonoma values diversity and is dedicated to creating a workplace environment that provides individuals with a sense of belonging. We are committed to having a diverse workforce that is representative of the communities we serve. The County is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer where all aspects of employment are based on merit, competence, performance, and business need.

HR Analyst: SZ

HR Technician: RR

IMPORTANT NOTE: Benefits described herein do not apply to Extra Help positions.

COUNTY OF SONOMA BENEFITS: GENERAL*

These are some of the excellent benefits the County offers:

Paid Time Off :Competitive vacation and sick leave accruals; 12 paid holidays, and an additional 8 floating holiday hours per year; and may be eligible for up to 8 weeks (320 hours) of Paid Parental Leave after 12 months of County employment.

Health Plan :Choose from nine health plans (three HMOs, three deductible HMOs, and three HSA-qualifying plans) with a generousCounty contribution to the premium (the contribution amount varies by bargaining unit). For more information, please see the appropriate MOU.

Retirement :Fully integrated with Social Security.For more information regarding eligibility, retirement contributions, and reciprocity with prior public service, please visit https://scretire.org/active-/-deferred/when-you-are-hired .

IRS 457 Plan : Pre-tax employee contribution up to the IRS annual maximum.

Retiree Medical :County contribution to a Health Reimbursement Arrangement to help fund post-retirement employee health insurance/benefits.

Student Loan Debt Relief :County employees may be eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness through the U.S. Department of Education.

Plus excellent dental, vision, disability, life insurance, professional development, and more.

For answers to specific questions regarding the employment process and more details about benefits or retirement, please contact Human Resources at (707) 565-2331.Additional details about benefit and compensation packages can be found in the MOUs located at https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/administrative-support-and-fiscal-services/human-resources/divisions-and-units/employee-relations/labor-agreements-and-salary-resolution . For specific information about health and welfare benefits including plan options, coverage, and premium amounts go to https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/administrative-support-and-fiscal-services/human-resources or, contact the Human Resources' Risk Management-Benefits Office at benefits@sonoma-county.org or (707) 565-2900.

*IMPORTANT NOTES: Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice.

Closing Date/Time: Continuous

• 

• County of Sonoma

• 707-565-8059

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