Position Information
Are you a California Registered Nurse who is passionate about recovery-focused and trauma-informed care? Join the Department of Health Services as an Extra-Help Psychiatric Nurse!Starting salary up to $70.18/hour*!The County of Sonoma's Department of Health Services (DHS) seeks multiple extra-help Psychiatric Nurses to provide direct services to clients in the community with severe and persistent mental illnesses. Psychiatric Nurses are responsible for:
- Providing specialized and mandated nursing services to individuals experiencing a psychiatric emergency
- Administering medications, observing clients, and reporting to the clinical team
- Collaborating with primary care and other medical providers for continuity of care
- Assisting clients with daily living tasks
- Providing crisis intervention, and de-escalation
- Supporting clients through medication education, therapy, and rehabilitation
- Case planning and management
In addition to bringing your recovery-focused and trauma-informed care experience, as an ideal candidate to join this team, you will possess:
- Current and valid California Registered Nurse license
- Prior professional experience with substance abuse disorder and/or mental health clients
- Knowledge of harm reduction approaches
- Ability to thrive in a dynamic environment
- Excellent communication skills
- Experience using electronic health records
- The ability to maintain a calm demeanor with agitated clients
- Passion for this field and helping others
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 three intermittent, extra-help Psychiatric Nurse 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 the 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 :Choice of five health plans (a PPO, EPO, HMO, and two deductible HMOs) with a County contribution toward the premium (the contribution amount varies by bargaining unit. For specific details, please refer to the applicable MOU). A County contribution to a Health Reimbursement Arrangement is available for some bargaining units.
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
