Clinical Nurse II - Adolescent/Child Inpatient Psychiatric Services

Clinical Nurse II

Under supervision, to apply the theoretical concepts of the nursing profession while providing routine direct patient care within the parameters of established nursing policies and procedures in controlled patient care situations required by the assigned clinical setting.

The Clinical Nurse II classification is distinguished from the Clinical Nurse I classification in that the Clinical Nurse I is specifically an entry level classification for registered nurses with no or limited experience, whereas the Clinical Nurse II is a registered nurse (RN) with at least one year of recent RN experience in a nursing specialty.

The Clinical Nurse II classification is distinguished from the Clinical Nurse III classification in that the Clinical Nurse II works under supervision while performing specific patient care assignments, whereas the Clinical Nurse III is expected to have the knowledge and abilities to assume charge nurse responsibility. The Clinical Nurse classification series is distinguished from the Public Health Nurse classification series in that the Clinical Nurse classification series works directly with individual patients or a defined patient assignment, where patients are injured, ill, or in life-threatening situations requiring nursing interventions, whereas the Public Health Nurse works in clinics, homes, and community settings caring for the health of the population to prevent disease and improve population health.

The Clinical Nurse classification series differs from the Psychiatric Nurse classification series in that the Psychiatric Nurse classification series works in mental health hospitals and clinics providing psychiatric and nursing interventions.

COVID-19 Risk Tier – High Risk

As a Clinical Nurse in the Acute Psychiatric Services (APS) Adolescent/Child Inpatient Psych unit at the Behavioral Health Pavilion (BHP), you'll be responsible for conducting comprehensive assessments, developing personalized treatment plans, and managing medication while ensuring patient safety and comfort. You will collaborate with psychiatrists and other behavioral health professionals to design optimal care, educate patients and families, and advocate for their needs.

The Eligible List created from this recruitment will be used for current and future openings within this competency area.

Better Health for All! The County of Santa Clara owns and operates a Hospitals and Clinics Delivery System that includes Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, O'Connor Hospital, St. Louise Regional Hospital, and Regional Medical Center.

Santa Clara Valley Medical Center - 731 bed tertiary level acute care hospital providing the highest level of adult and pediatric emergency medical and trauma services, a regional high risk Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, an ACS-verified Burn Trauma Center, a Primary Stroke Center, a CARF-accredited Rehabilitation Center, emergency and acute inpatient psychiatric services, as well as a range of other specialized services – in some cases the only such treatment in the region.

O'Connor Hospital - 358-bed acute care facility offering a full range of inpatient and outpatient medical, surgical and specialty programs to more than 1 million residents of San Jose. O'Connor Hospital was founded in 1889 as one of the first hospitals in Santa Clara County.

St. Louise Regional Hospital - 93-bed acute care facility affectionately known as South County's community hospital, is a Designated Primary Stroke Center, and is the only acute care hospital in the area. Located in Gilroy, St. Louise is one of the largest employers in the community.

Regional Medical Center – Regional Medical Center (RMC) is a 258-bed hospital that is the main emergency healthcare provider for East San José, treating a wide range of critical and life-threatening conditions for more than 60 years. Since the SCVH integration of RMC effective 4/1/25, RMC has expanded the critical services including Level II trauma, Thrombectomy capable Stroke Center and STEMI care, and has been seeing an increased number of emergency visits and inpatient volume.

Learn more about Santa Clara Valley Medical Center: Hospital and Clinics at

Typical Tasks

The following are the duties performed by employees in this classification. However, employees may perform other related duties at an equivalent level. Each individual in the classification does not necessarily perform all duties listed.

Assessment

• Interviews patient and/or family to obtain data for nursing assessment; records and reports data;
• Utilizes assessment data to formulate nursing diagnosis;
• Applies knowledge of normal parameters; identifies deviation from normal, obvious patient problems, symptoms, and/or behavioral changes; reports these to the appropriate authority;
• Makes observations about physical, psycho-social, cultural, learning needs, and response of patient and families; documents in a clear, concise manner.

Planning

• Identifies patient care problems and establishes priorities for care based on nursing and medical diagnosis;
• Understands goals and plans of care for the typical patient population;
• Initiates a patient care plan and collaborates when appropriate;
• Contributes to the revision of the initial patient care plan dependent upon the changing needs of the patient;
• Contributes to the development of unit standards of care;
• Plans patient teaching activities.

Implementation

• Establishes priorities and gives nursing care based on the patient care plan;
• Implements the patient care plan;
• Seeks supervision and guidance in further developing nursing skills, in performing procedures not yet mastered, and/or in functioning in unfamiliar situations;
• Accepts accountability for all nursing care provided;
• Monitors compliance with safety standards and care protocols for self and others;
• Records nursing care given and patient's response to care;
• Assists in coordinating the activities needed to implement the patient care plan;
• Participates in implementation of patient discharge plan;
• Teaches patient and families;
• Complies with external and internal regulations pertaining to nursing practice; recognizes legal and ethical duties and responsibilities of registered nurses;
• May participate in research projects.

Evaluation

• Evaluates the patient's response to care provided;
• Communicates evaluation outcomes;
• Evaluates teaching provided by self and others;
• May be assigned as a Disaster Service Worker (DSW), as required*;
• Performs other related duties, as required.

Employment Standards

Sufficient education, training, and experience to demonstrate the ability to perform the above tasks, plus the possession and direct application of the following knowledge and abilities:

Training and Experience Note: The required knowledge and abilities are attained through possession of an active California Registered Nurse (RN) license without restrictions;

and

One (1) year, within the last three (3) years, of full-time Registered Nurse (RN) experience in an accredited hospital, clinic, or healthcare setting.

and

One (1) year, within the last three (3) years, of full-time RN experience in a nursing specialty area. A nursing specialty is a field of nursing that focuses on either a particular patient population or a health condition.

Possession of a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) is preferred.

Special Requirements

• Must possess and maintain the following certification(s) during employment:
• Basic Life Saving Certification (BLS)
• For clinical specialty areas, must possess and maintain the following certification(s) during employment:
• Advance Cardiovascular Life Saving Certification (ACLS)
• Other identified specialty area certification(s) for specialty patient populations at appointment, as required.

• Ability to travel to alternate locations in the course of work. If driving, possession of a valid California driver's license prior to appointment and the ability to qualify for and maintain a County driver authorization.

• *As a condition of employment, pursuant to California Government Code Sections 3100-3109 and Local Ordinance, all County of Santa Clara employees are designated Disaster Service Workers (DSWs), including extra help. A DSW is required to complete all assigned DSW-related training, and in the event of an emergency, return to work as ordered.

Knowledge of:

• California Nurse Practice Act;
• American Nursing Association Code of Ethics;
• Nursing Professional Practice Model;
• Federal and State healthcare laws and regulations appropriate to the operation of California hospitals;
• Current nursing and related medical theory necessary to administer nursing care within assigned clinical setting;
• Principles, practices, and methods of acute and primary care clinical nursing, including community aspects and continuity of patient care;
• Diagnosis and treatment of common medical problems as related to