Mental Health Nurse - Hospital

Job Description:

Mental Health Nurse - Hospital

Description

Description

OVERVIEW
Under general direction and following established medically approved policies and procedures, implements specialized skilled nursing processes in the Psychiatric Acute unit of the Ventura County Medical Center. The Psychiatric Acute unit serves a wide range of critical mental health needs from short-term through long-term stabilization.

IDEAL CANDIDATE
The ideal candidate is a compassionate, adaptable, and clinically skilled registered nurse who excels in delivering comprehensive care to patients with complex medical and mental health needs. They will have significant experience in a mental health care setting and demonstrate sound clinical judgment along with strong communication skills. The ideal candidate is also confident in crisis intervention, medication management, and safety protocols, while consistently demonstrating empathy and effective collaboration.

PAYROLL TITLES AND APPROXIMATE SALARIES:
Registered Nurse II: $52.07 - $62.27 hourly
Per Diem Registered Nurse II: $52.75 - $69.62 hourly
Registered Nurse-Mental Health: $53.89 - $66.80 hourly

WHAT WE OFFER
The County of Ventura offers an attractive compensation and benefits package. In addition to the annual salary, an employee within these positions may also be eligible for the following, subject to the applicable section of the respective Memorandum of Agreement. To learn more about what we have to offer, please click the links below:

• Per Diem - Highlight of Per Diem CNA Benefits
• Regular - Highlight of Regular CNA Benefits

AGENCY/DEPARTMENT: Health Care Agency - Ventura County Medical Center

Registered Nurse II, Per Diem Registered Nurse II, and Registered Nurse-Mental Health are represented by the California Nurses' Association (CNA) and are eligible for overtime compensation. Salary placement will be determined according to the current CNA memorandum of agreement.

The eligible list established from this recruitment will be used to fill current and future (including Temporary and Fixed-Term), Intermittent, Per Diem, and Extra-Help vacancies. There are currently three (3) Regular vacancies.

NOTE: If appointed at the lower level, the incumbent may be promoted to the higher level without further examination upon meeting the minimum requirements, demonstrating satisfactory performance, and in accordance with the business needs of the department.

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE
OPENING DATE: July 1, 2025
CLOSING DATE: Continuous and may close at any time; therefore, the schedule for the remainder of the process will depend upon when we receive a sufficient number of qualified applications to meet business needs.
FIRST REVIEW OF APPLICATIONS: July 15, 2025

Examples Of Duties

Duties include but are not limited to the following:
R egistered Nurse II

• Uses the full scope of the Nurse Practice Act to assess, plan, organize, and provide nursing care to assigned patients;
• Follows prescribed doctors' orders concerning treatments and medications;
• Documents patient treatment and dispensing;
• Makes patient observations and records and reports on all pertinent information, including changes in patient condition and general progress;
• Provides follow-through on judgment within the scope of accepted nursing practice;
• Assists doctors in examination and treatment;
• Provides unit organization and is responsible for the completion of all delegated and indicated nursing duties by the end of the assigned shift;
• Assists in training, supervision and evaluation of new and ancillary personnel;
• Maintains current knowledge of nursing care developments and therapeutic measures;
• Attends department in-services and staff development programs;
• May participate in quality assurance/utilization review or other non-direct patient care nursing assignments;
• May interpret and monitor cardiac rhythms depending on area of assignment;
• Participates in crisis response interventions, de-escalation, and physical interventions when required to ensure patient safety;
• Performs Registered Nurse-Mental Health duties in a training or closely supervised capacity while gaining knowledge of the full scope of responsibilities listed below; and
• Performs other related duties as required.

Registered Nurse-Mental Health
In addition to the duties listed above, the Registered Nurse-Mental Health also:

• Administers psychotropic medication, monitors drug effectiveness and side effects, and provides drug education to clients and clients' families;
• Conducts initial interview and ongoing assessment of client's presenting problems, including mental status, level of functioning, developmental status, social and employment skills, co-occurring substance abuse problems, and mental and physical health educational needs;
• Provides periodic and ongoing re-assessment of changes in client's mental and physical health status, nutritional status, and progress toward recovery;
• Provides individual counseling, leads or co-leads group counseling sessions, and conducts family conferences;
• May provide functional and clinical supervision to student nurses and other disciplines;
• Evaluates client outcomes and periodically consults with the psychiatrist to determine the need for adjustments in the Care Plan;
• Participates in team meetings to discuss ongoing client needs and progress, shift activity, and adherence to program policies and procedures such as documentation and timeliness of services and/or treatments provided;
• Assesses client's suicidal or homicidal tendencies, potential for violence toward self or others, and grave disability; makes independent judgment with respect to client's need for involuntary treatment; and, where appropriate, signs application for immediate 72-hour detention at a hospital facility or schedules an appointment for evaluation and treatment at mental health clinic;
• May provide triage, information and referral when appropriate, and may assess incoming clients for assignment within the unit or department;
• Provides crisis intervention including evaluation, counseling, and consultation with law enforcement agencies; may be designated to escort patients for involuntary admission under Section 5150 of the Welfare and Institutions Code; explains and enforces legal rights;
• Participates in the development or amendment of program policies and procedures;
• Coordinates various tasks relative to the delivery of services in assigned program; and
• Performs other related duties as required.

Typical Qualifications

These are entrance requirements to the examination process and assure neither continuance in the process nor placement on an eligible list.

EDUCATION, TRAINING, and EXPERIENCE:
Registered Nurse II

• Requires six (6) months of recent full-time acute care registered nursing experience in an acute hospital or equivalent setting, or
• Completion of the Ventura County Medical Center competency requirements* as evaluated and approved by the Chief Nursing Executive. These competency requirements are in conformance with the California Board of Registered Nurses nursing requirements.

Registered Nurse-Mental Health

• Requires one (1) year of full-time professional registered nursing experience providing direct patient care in a mental health setting

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Graduation from an accredited School of Nursing
• Must possess and maintain a current, valid license as a Registered Nurse issued by the State of California, or Registered Nurse licensure in another state with California licensure pending
• Must possess a current, valid Basic Life Support (BLS/CPR) certification by first day of employment and maintain it thereafter
• Must possess a current, valid Crisis Intervention (CPI) certification within six (6) months of hire and maintain it thereafter
• Must possess a current, valid Violence Prevention (AVADE) certification within six (6) months of hire and maintain it thereafter
• Must successfully complete the Health Care Agency Pharmacology examination within three (3) months of hire

DESIRED:

• Experience caring for patients with multiple diagnoses, such as mental disorder, substance abuse and/or homelessness
• Experience in an Inpatient Unit, Emergency Room Quad, Jail Mental Health Unit or equivalent environment
• Bilingual skills in English and Spanish

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, and ABILITIES
Working to thorough knowledge of: the theory, techniques, and practices of professional nursing; medical terminology and hospital routine and equipment; medicines and narcotics; mental and medical nursing theories and practices; theory of human growth and development; current mental health treatment approaches; community resources and their interrelationships; mental health laws as related to patient care; and social and political factors influencing mental health care delivery.

Working ability to: plan and organize nursing care; train and supervise non-professional staff; maintain confidentiality of patient/client information; work effectively in different healthcare and/or hospital departments or shifts as required; establish and maintain the confidence of and working relationships with professional staff, patients and families, and other related entities; communicate effectively both orally and in writing; participate in comprehensive planning in consultation with a multidisciplinary team; make independent decisions on behalf of patients; and provide effective functional supervision and leadership.

Recruitment Process

FINAL FILING DATE: This is a continuous recruitment and may close at any time; therefore, apply as soon as possible if you are interested. Your application must be received by County of Ventura Human Resources in Ventura, California, no later than 5:00 p.m. on the closing date.

To apply online, please refer to our website at www.ventura.org/jobs . If you prefer to fill out a paper application form, please call (805) 677-5184 for application materials and submit them to County of Ventura Human Resources - Health Care Agency, 646 County Square Drive, Ventura, CA 93003.

LATERAL TRANFER OPTION : If presently permanently employed in another "merit" or "civil service" public agency/entity in the same or substantively similar position as is advertised, and if appointed to that position by successful performance in a "merit" or "civil service" style examination, then appointment by "Lateral Transfer" may be possible. If interested, please click here for additional information.

Note to Applicants: It is essential that you complete all sections of your application and supplemental questionnaire thoroughly and accurately to demonstrate your qualifications. A resume and/or other related documents may be attached to supplement the information in your application and supplemental questionnaire; however, it/they may not be submitted in lieu of the application.

SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE - Qualifying: All applicants are required to complete and submit the questionnaire for this examination at the time of filing. The supplemental questionnaire may be used throughout the examination process to assist in determining each applicant's qualifications and acceptability for the position. Failure to complete and submit the questionnaire will result in the application being removed from consideration.

APPLICATION EVALUATION - Pass/Fail: An application evaluation will be conducted to determine whether or not each applicant possesses the required licensure, certification, and experience for this recruitment. Those candidates who meet the requirements will be placed on the eligible list.

Candidates successfully completing the examination process may be placed on an eligible list for a period of one (1) year.

BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION: A thorough pre-employment, post offer background investigation which may include inquiry into past employment, education, criminal background information, and driving record may be required for this position.

For further information about this recruitment, please contact Maritza David by e-mail at Maritza.David@venturacounty.gov or by telephone at (805) 677-5162.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY: The County of Ventura is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.

YOUR BENEFITS AS A COUNTY OF VENTURA EMPLOYEE

California Nurses Association

(CNA)

To learn more about Benefits, Retirement, and the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), see links below.

• Benefits website or you may call (805) 654-2570.
• Retirement FAQ's
• Memorandum of Agreement

Union Code: NCN

Salary:

$108,305.60 - $144,809.60 Annually