Licensed Practical Nurses

Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) Behavioral Health

Mississippi State Hospital | Whitfield, MS (15 miles southeast of Jackson)

State Classification: Licensed Nurse Practical

  Unit: [Inpatient Psychiatric Services / Jaquith Nursing Home / Whitfield Medical Surgical Hospital

Bring your nursing skills where they matter most

At Mississippi State Hospital, LPNs are at the heart of care. You'll help people living with serious mental illness heal, stabilize and return to their communities. We're a publicly funded behavioral health program of the Mississippi Department of Mental Health and one of the largest public behavioral health hospitals in the nation. Our 282-bed hospital is accredited by the Joint Commission. Our campus also includes a 198-bed nursing home and Whitfield Medical Surgical Hospital, which provides acute medical care. Nearly 1,000 professionals work here around the clock on our 350-acre wooded campus in Whitfield.

Our mission is to help the people we serve achieve mental wellness by encouraging hope , promoting safety and supporting recovery . If you're a caring, steady LPN who wants your work to make a real difference, we'd like to meet you.

What you'll do

Patient care

• Give medications, injections and immunizations as prescribed, and watch for reactions and side effects
• Take vital signs, including blood pressure, temperature and weight
• Record patient histories, track food and fluid intake and output
• Provide basic wound care, including cleaning and dressing wounds
• Check skin regularly for signs of breakdown
• Help patients with bathing, dressing and other daily needs
• Move and transfer patients safely, help them walk, and support rehabilitation

Behavioral health

• Watch patients' mental health and behavior, and report changes to the treatment team
• Give emotional support to patients and their families
• Use approved protective interventions, including restraints when necessary, following hospital policy and training

Teamwork and communication

• Help carry out care plans as part of a team from several disciplines
• Talk with doctors, patients and families, and teach patients about their care
• Make sure patients and families understand discharge instructions
• Mentor CNAs and other nursing support staff, and delegate tasks to them
• Document care in the electronic health record
• Go with patients to offsite appointments when needed

What you'll need

• Certificate from an approved school of practical nursing
• Current, unrestricted Mississippi LPN license [confirm whether multistate compact licenses are accepted]
• 04 years of nursing experience. New graduates are welcome.
• American Heart Association BLS certification [confirm whether it's required at hire or provided after]
• Crisis prevention training or behavioral health experience is a plus
• A calm, patient and respectful approach to people living with mental illness
• Strong attention to detail, communication and organizational skills, and a willingness to learn and grow
• Male applicants ages 1826 must be registered with Selective Service

Why you'll love working here

Pay and benefits

• Competitive state salary, plus possible extra pay based on job type, duty and location
• Health and prescription insurance, plus wellness benefits
• Life insurance, with optional discounted dental, vision and cancer coverage
• Paid personal, sick and military leave
• State retirement programs and deferred compensation
• State Credit Union membership

Room to grow

• A state nursing career ladder that goes from LPN up to RN, Nurse Team Lead and Nurse Supervisor roles
• Training in CPR, AED use and protective interventions
• A teaching setting with a psychiatry residency program and nursing students from partner schools
• State professional development programs through the Mississippi State Personnel Board
• A place to build a long-term career, with service milestones celebrated every month

A culture that recognizes you

• Nurse Appreciation Week celebrations honoring our nursing team
• Monthly MSH STARS celebrations for Employees of the Month, service milestones, promotions and new certifications
• Perfect attendance awards, given quarterly and once a year
• Annual Employee of the Year awards, including a Direct Care category
• Campus traditions like MSH Day and National Hospital Week events
• An on-campus employee dining room

A great place to work

• A 350-acre wooded campus just 15 miles from Jackson's restaurants, entertainment and events
• A team of nearly 1,000 professionals providing care around the clock

How to apply

• Online: in new window)
• In person: Personnel Department, Mississippi State Hospital, Whitfield, MS. Paper applications are accepted MondayFriday, 8:00 a.m.4:00 p.m.
• Questions: View phone number on click.appcast.io

Mississippi State Hospital is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act. [Insert the client's full EEO statement from their careers page]

Salary/Compensation: $32,000 - $54,600 per year