Psychiatric Nurse

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Arlington County requires all applicants to thoroughly complete each section of the application, including prior job responsibilities, duties, and supplemental questions. While you may attach a resume, it will not replace a completed application. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

This position includes a $2500 gross sign-on bonus upon hire and a second $2500 gross sign-on bonus after probation has been met.

Arlington County’s Department of Human Services (DHS) is seeking a compassionate and experienced Psychiatric Nurse to join the Crisis Intervention Center (CIC) within the Behavioral Healthcare Division (BHD). This rewarding position offers the opportunity to make a meaningful impact in the lives of individuals experiencing behavioral health crises. The successful candidate will work both independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team, partnering with physicians, nurses, clinicians, law enforcement officers, and deputies to provide high-quality, person-centered crisis intervention and behavioral health services. 

The Crisis Intervention Center/ Emergency Services (ES) is a 24/7 operation that provides mental health assessments (in the office, in the home, or in the community), crisis interventions, stabilization, support, short-term counseling, on-call psychiatric services, follow-up services, and Critical Incident Stress Management services. The program aims to provide crises services in the least restrictive environment to de-escalate crisis situations and prevent future crises. Services are offered which are trauma-informed, culturally competent, strengths-based, needs-driven, and are responsive, adaptive, and respectful. To learn more about our services, please visit Crisis Intervention Center.

Arlington County DHS is committed to delivering client services in an effective, equitable, respectful, and trauma-informed manner. Our staff is dedicated to ensuring our clients are approached, engaged, and cared for in ways that demonstrate competency, sensitivity, and awareness of factors that impact the client experience including but not limited to: cultural identity, gender, racial, and ethnic diversity, religious/spiritual ascription, physical capability, cognitive and literacy levels, sexual orientation, and linguistic needs.

Minimum Qualifications: 

• Bachelor's degree in Nursing from an accredited college or university; plus
• Considerable experience providing nursing care in a psychiatric setting serving clients with mental health, substance abuse or developmental disabilities. 

Substitution: Education may be substituted by additional directly related experience on a year-for-year basis.

Licenses/Certifications: Must be licensed as a Registered Nurse in the Commonwealth of Virginia or by endorsement from another state to practice professional nursing in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Desirable Qualifications: Preference may be given to applicants with experience or certification in one or more of the following:

• Community or inpatient psychiatric environment;
• Performing technical nursing procedures, administering medications, and developing solutions in tandem with client's primary care status with the psychiatric treatment goals; and/or
• Emergency Services Prescreener certification.

Special Requirements

Background Check: A pre-employment criminal records check will be conducted. It will include checks of the following: criminal record, driving record, education, professional licensure, and credit history. You will be required to sign a release authorizing the County to obtain your background information.

Driver's License: Applicant must possess, or obtain by time of appointment, a valid driver’s license, and must provide or authorize Arlington County to obtain a copy of official driving record. Any offer of employment may be contingent upon favorable review of the applicant’s driving record. Alternatively, the applicant must have the ability and willingness to use alternative methods of transportation to perform assigned duties and responsibilities at locations other than the primary worksite.

Employment restrictions: To ensure that dual relationships are avoided and that employees who are also clients do not relate to their service provider as co-professionals, employees will not be hired by the County to provide or support services to the team or program in which they are current clients:

• You cannot concurrently receive behavioral health services from Arlington County Community Service Board (CSB) programs while employed in an Arlington County CSB program (exception Crisis Intervention services).
• At least 24 months must have passed between receipt of CSB services from Arlington County and employment in an Arlington County CSB program.

Please complete each section of the application including the supplemental questions. Your responses to the supplemental questions are required because they provide us with specific information necessary to evaluate your qualifications for this position. These responses are considered part of the selection process. A resume may be attached; however, it will not substitute for a completed application. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please do not write "see resume" as a response to the questions. In accordance with § 19.2-392.15, applicants are not required to provide information regarding sealed arrests, charges, or convictions in response to any questions or inquiries during the hiring process.

Additional Information

Work hours: 40 hours per week, including evenings, holidays, and weekends depending upon the needs of the agency. 

Starting salary is commensurate with the qualifications and experience of the candidate selected.

This position is eligible for County government employee benefits that include health, dental, vacation and sick leave, commuter transportation subsidies, tuition reimbursement, as well as a generous retirement plan.

For more information on Arlington County’s generous benefits and retirement plan, click here.

Arlington County is committed to advancing diversity, equity, access, and inclusion across all our services, activities, and programs. Learn more about our commitment. 

#LI-Onsite

Major job duties include:

• Overseeing the monitoring, medication administration, and medical services provided to clients while in the crisis intervention center; 
• Conducting comprehensive health assessments such as vital signs, medical tests and/or labs collection using appropriate medical equipment for CIC admissions;
• Transporting lab samples collected from clients to off-site testing location;
• Collecting and organizing medical records and clinical material for providers in preparation for emergency psychiatric evaluations;
• Facilitating and coordinating psychiatric evaluations and medical treatment with on-call medical providers;
• Coordinating with internal and external providers to support the appropriate medical and psychiatric treatment of individuals in crisis;
• Referring clients to community-appropriate resources for further assessment and to promote client well-being;
• Serving as a resource person in crisis management for DHS and community agencies; and
• Documenting client online records, clinical logs, and diagnostic reviews to meet local, state, federal, and agency requirements.

The Ideal candidate will possess the following:

• Desire and ability to work under uncertain conditions and flexible hours;
• Assessment skills and critical thinking;
• Working knowledge of co-morbid medical conditions in the chronically mentally ill and/or dual diagnosed;
• Proven success working both independently and as part of a team; and 
• Outstanding communication skills to work under extreme stress with behaviorally dysregulated clients and confused and overwhelmed families.
   

Salary: $91,707.20 - $142,168.00 Annually