Psychiatric Nurse - II

Health and Human Services Department, Adult System of Care partners with agencies in Placer County to assist adults and older adults to achieve optimal levels of self-sufficiency and independence by providing a range of treatment and support services including therapeutic intervention, case management, crisis intervention, skill development, and medical and support services. Adults in crisis are protected through services in locked and unlocked inpatient and residential treatment programs.

Extra Help/temporary assignments are not eligible for benefits and are limited to working 28 hours per week with a fiscal year cap of 1000 hours or 960 hours for CalPERS retired annuitants. Extra Help assignments may be eligible for transition to permanent status, should vacancies arise, with the approval from the County Executive Officer.

The eligible list created by this recruitment may be used in the future to fill additional extra help and or permanent positions.

To provide professional psychiatric nursing care and other nursing care to emotionally disturbed or mentally ill patients on an inpatient or outpatient basis.

This is the full journey level class within the Psychiatric Nurse series.  This class is distinguished from the Psychiatric Nurse I by the assignment of the full range of duties.  Employees at this level receive only occasional instruction or assistance as new or unusual situations arise and are fully aware of the operating procedures and policies within the work unit.  Positions in this class are flexibly staffed and are normally filled by advancement from the entry level.

This class is distinguished from the Supervising Psychiatric Nurse in that the latter provides psychiatric nursing care requiring a high level of skill and independent judgment and exercises direct supervision over subordinate psychiatric nursing staff.

Receives general supervision from assigned management staff or a Supervising Psychiatric Nurse.

Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Oversee medication crisis telephone calls and walk-ins; provide assessment of and intervention with clients who are medication-only patients.
• Provide monitoring of medication-only clients; provide specific medication counseling and education to clients regarding the need, purpose, and effects of prescribed medications.
• Provide direct medication treatment (under psychiatrist's orders); assist in preparing medication-only treatment plans.
• Assist in developing a medication education program; assist in developing standards and procedures for medication monitoring by nursing staff; plan and provide in-service training for Division staff as directed.
• Assess needs/situation of selected new clients and provide case management and supportive therapy through observation, history taking, physical examination, analysis, documentation of findings, and consultation with psychiatrist.
• Make home visits; make site visits to contracting providers to provide clients with medication supervision and instruction.
• Build and maintain positive working relationships with co-workers, other County employees and the public using principles of good customer service.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

It is the applicant's responsibility to identify in their application materials how they meet the Minimum Qualifications listed below.

Experience: Two years of responsible professional psychiatric nursing experience performing duties similar to a Psychiatric Nurse I with Placer County.

Training: Equivalent to a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in nursing or a related field.

License or Certificate:

• Possession of a valid license as a Registered Nurse issued by the California Board of Registered Nursing.
• May need to possess a valid driver's license as required by the position.  Proof of adequate vehicle insurance and medical clearance may also be required.

In addition to the qualifications for Psychiatric Nurse I :

Knowledge of:

• Mental health procedures and practices relative to the delivery of psychiatric nursing care.
• Resources available to mentally ill persons.
• Pertinent local, State and Federal rules, regulations and laws.

Ability to:

• Independently provide professional psychiatric nursing care; administer and handle medications.
• Independently observe, assess, and record client behavior as related to psychiatric condition/treatment.
• Independently provide crisis intervention as necessary.

Training & Experience Rating (100%)

Based upon responses to the supplemental questionnaire, the applicant’s education, training and experience will be evaluated using a pre-determined formula.  Scores from this evaluation will determine applicant ranking and placement on the eligible list.

Prior to the date of hire, applicants for regular full and part-time positions must pass a medical examination which may include a drug screening and possibly a psychological evaluation. Applicants for extra help positions may be subject to a drug screening. All applicants must sign a constitutional oath, submit proof of U.S. citizenship or legal right to remain and work in the U.S. and be fingerprinted. For some positions, applicants may also be required to submit proof of age, be bonded or undergo a background check.

All new permanent employees, with the exception of sworn law enforcement and management, shall be required to join the employee organization or pay an 'Agency Fee' as a condition of employment.

The eligible list(s) resulting from this recruitment may be certified as a substitute list for a substantially similar classification.  For this purpose, a substantially similar classification is one at a lower level in the same classification (example: entry level vs. journey) and/or a similar classification (similar work performed, similar training and experience qualifications required). If you are contacted for an interview by a County department, you will be informed of the classification and other relevant information. If you choose not to interview for a substantially similar classification, you will remain on the eligible list for which you originally applied.

Placer County now offers an expedited process for qualifying certain applicants for interviews. Candidates currently employed, or employed within the last year, by a public agency operating under a personnel civil service or merit system may be eligible to be placed on a Public Agency Eligible List and certified as eligible for appointment to a similar job assignment without going through the examination process. For more information on the Public Agency Eligible List, to download forms, or to apply, please visit our website at: http://www.jobaps.com/placer/sup/abfreenames.asp.

Thank you for your interest in employment with Placer County. Placer County is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to an active nondiscrimination program. It is the stated policy of Placer County that harassment and retaliation is prohibited and that all employees and applicants shall receive equal consideration and treatment. All recruitment, hiring, transfer and promotion will be based on the qualifications of the individual for the positions being filled regardless of sex, sexual orientation, race, color, ancestry, religious creed, national origin, physical disability (Including HIV and AIDS), mental disability, medical condition (cancer or genetic characteristics/information), age (40 or over), marital status, pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions, or any other classification protected by federal, state or local laws or ordinance. Please contact the Personnel Department at least 5 working days before a scheduled examination if you require accommodation in the examination process. Medical disability verification may be required prior to accommodation.

The following information represents benefits currently available to permanent Placer County employees and may be subject to change.  It is advisable that applicants inquire as to the most current benefit package during hiring interviews or by contacting the Personnel Department.

Click here to view benefits for Professional bargaining unit