PSYCHIATRIC NURSE (EXTRA-HELP)

Salary: $30.96 - $37.64 hourly

Per Diem: + 20%; Night Shift: + 17%; Evening Shift: + 5%; Charge Nurse + 5%. The Inpatient Psychiatric Unit of Sonoma County's Department of Health Services currently has several temporary extra-help openings. The Inpatient Unit is a 30-bed locked acute psychiatric facility serving the entire Sonoma County area, with a multi-disciplinary staff of mental health professionals. It provides a supportive milieu including individual, group, family and occupational therapy; and related social services.

Psychiatric Nurses are responsible for evaluating the needs of psychiatric patients; observing and interacting with patients, and keeping records and reports on the condition of their behavior and progress; assisting patients in adjusting to the facility; participating in therapy and staff meetings; and performing routine nursing functions such as administering medications and monitoring vital signs; and performing other duties as required. In the Inpatient Psychiatric Unit, the Psychiatric Nurse supervises and oversees the work of Registered Nurses and Licensed Psychiatric Technicians, students and registry staff, and assists with new employee orientation; conducts therapy and education groups for hospitalized clients; and dispenses medications and performs treatments per physician's orders. Psychiatric Nurses will observe, assess and participate in containment of assaultive client behavior. They must be able to maintain a calm, professional demeanor in a busy, locked psychiatric unit.

NOTE: The ability and willingness to work all shifts including days, evenings, nights and weekends is expected, although shift preferences will be honored to the extent possible. Only those who indicate availability for various shifts including night shift will be eligible for consideration. The ability to speak and understand Spanish is desirable for this position, but not required.

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 ANY EMPLOYEE BENEFITS SUCH AS: MEDICAL, DENTAL, OR LONG-TERM DISABILITY INSURANCE COVERAGE; ACCRUAL OF VACATION AND SICK LEAVE; 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.

Education: Graduation from an accredited school of nursing.

Experience: One year of professional psychiatric nursing experience in facilities comparable to those operated by the Sonoma County Mental Health Services Division.

License: Possession of a valid California license as a Registered Nurse. Please provide your license number on your application. Be prepared to provide a copy of your current California RN license if requested during the later stages of the selection process.

Possession of a valid driver's license at the appropriate level including necessary special endorsements, as required by the State of California to perform the essential job functions of the position.

The ability to work a variety of shifts, including night shift, is expected.

Knowledge of: principles, techniques and trends of mental health with particular reference to normal and disordered behaviors, human development, motivation, personality, learning, individual differences, adaption and social interaction; modern methods, techniques, and procedures used in general and professional psychiatric nursing; medical and psychiatric terminology, hospital routine, procedures, equipment, and facilities; the uses and affects of medicines and narcotics; laws governing treatment of involuntary patients; rehabilitation and counseling techniques; the principals and techniques of psychiatric and social assessment and evaluation; the methods and techniques of physical and chemical restraints; community agencies, resources and services; knowledge and skill in observing and recording patient behavior.

Ability to: provide effective psychiatric nursing care to mentally ill and emotionally disturbed patients; exercise patience and judgement in recognizing symptoms indicative of adverse patient reactions; follow oral and written directions of a technical and professional nature in exact detail; develop and maintain the confidence and cooperation of mentally and emotionally disturbed patients; deal effectively with emergency situations; establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with other departmental staff and representatives of other agencies; administer treatment plans and medications as prescribed; deal with patients and their families respectfully and tactfully; prepare, interpret and maintain accurate nursing records and reports; participate in management of assaultive behavior approved containment procedures of potentially combative clients; stand and walk for long periods; move heavy objects on a regular basis; work shifts, weekends and holidays.

This selection procedure will consist of an application appraisal (weight 100%). Each application will be thoroughly evaluated for satisfaction of minimum qualifications and relevance of educational course work, training, experience, knowledge, and abilities which relate to this position. Candidates possessing the most appropriate job-related qualifications will be placed on a temporary employment list and referred to the Department of Health Services for consideration.

Candidates referred for possible appointment may be required to sign a waiver enabling a private investigator to check into the applicant's employment and/or personal history. The background check may include criminal and civil filings, address verification, social security verification, driving history, any professional license mentioned, secondary education, employment history and reference development, credit history, and financial information related to bankruptcy, liens, and judgements. Failure to sign the waiver may result in the application not being considered further. Background information obtained will not be made available to candidates.

Applications are accepted on-line through the County of Sonoma website (www.sonoma-county.org) or the website of www.governmentjobs.com. Paper applications may be submitted by person, fax or through the mail. Continuous recruitments may close without notice at any time that a sufficient number of qualified applications have been received. Applications received after the closing date will not be accepted.

THE COUNTY OF SONOMA IS COMMITTED TO A POLICY AND ACTIVELY PURSUES A PROGRAM OF EQUAL EMPLOYMENT AND NON-DISCRIMINATION.

Analyst: LV Assistant: kb