Mental Health Registered Nurse (RN)

Mental Health Registered Nurse (RN)

The Mental Health Registered Nurse (RN) is a licensed professional responsible for delivering comprehensive, patient-centered psychiatric nursing care in an inpatient behavioral health environment. The RN performs ongoing assessments, develops individualized plans of care, implements therapeutic interventions, and evaluates patient responses. This role requires strong clinical judgment, crisis-management skills, and the ability to maintain a safe, structured, and recovery-oriented milieu for patients experiencing acute and chronic psychiatric conditions.

Responsibilities include conducting environmental rounds, safety checks, and contraband assessments in accordance with policy. The RN identifies changes in patient condition, including behavioral escalation, medical instability, or safety concerns, and intervenes promptly. Evidence-based nursing interventions, including de-escalation, crisis intervention, limit-setting, and psychotherapeutic communication, are implemented. The RN maintains a safe, therapeutic, and recovery-oriented environment for patients with acute and chronic psychiatric conditions. Patient assignments are managed consistent with established staffing standards, and interventions and patient progress toward treatment goals are documented in a clear, timely, and clinically relevant manner. Discharge planning is supported by identifying patient needs, barriers, and required follow-up services.

Schedule options include AM Shift (7 AM - 3:30 PM) or NOC Shift (11 PM - 7:30 AM).

Heritage Oaks offers comprehensive benefits such as competitive compensation, excellent medical, dental, vision, and prescription drug plans, generous paid time off, 401(K) with company match and discounted stock plan, career development opportunities within UHS and its subsidiaries, and education assistance.

Qualifications include a graduate from an accredited program of professional nursing, with a bachelor's degree preferred. Minimum of three (3) years' psychiatric nursing experience is preferred. Current California RN license, current CPR certification, and completion of Handle with Care (HWC) training, including seclusion/restraint competencies, within 30 days of hire are required. Successful completion of medication-administration and developmental-competency exams is also required. Additional requirements include the ability to adapt to changing patient needs, acuity levels, and assignments, ability to work collaboratively within an interdisciplinary team, strong written and verbal communication skills, and the ability to maintain composure and clinical effectiveness in high-stress situations.