Transfer- Senior Psychiatric Nurse

Class Code 28289: Senior Psychiatric Nurse

Transfer job postings are for County of Sacramento employees only.
In order to be qualified for a transfer:
1. You must meet the Minimum Qualifications of the new job.
2. The difference between the top salary steps (the highest pay rate within the range of pay) of your current job class and the job class that you intend to transfer into must be less than 5%.

There are three different transfer types that you may qualify for: interdepartmental transfer interclass transfer and voluntary demotion. These different transfer types are defined as:

• Interdepartmental transfer - a transfer in the same class from one County department to another.
• Interclass transfer - a transfer from one job class to a different job addition the difference between the top salary steps (the highest pay rate within the range of pay) of your current job class and the job class that you intend to transfer into must be less than 5%.
• Voluntary demotion - a transfer into a job class that pays less than 95% of your current class salary.

Knowledge of

• Principles and techniques of establishing and assuring standards for quality of patient care
• Principles and techniques of training including needs assessment employee development methods and training evaluation methods
• Methods and procedures used to organize assign and review the work of employees
• Professional nursing principles procedures and techniques used in the care and treatment of psychiatric patients
• Social psychological and physical factors of mental and emotional disorders
• Medical and psychiatric terminology
• Medications including narcotics and their effects upon psychiatric patients
• Control procedures preparation and administration of medication
• State of California laws and regulations on nursing practices
• Laws and regulations pertaining to psychiatric nursing and treatment of the mentally ill
• Theories principles and techniques of group and individual psychotherapy
• Procedures and organization of mental health treatment facilities and multi-disciplinary treatment teams
• Symptoms and behavior patterns of emotionally disturbed and mentally ill patients
• Standard professional methods of physically restraining psychiatric patients
• Medical and social community resources available to patients
• First aid

• Distribute direct and review the work of subordinates according to supervisors instructions
• Ensure staff compliance with quality assurance standards
• Participate in plan and carry out training and in-service education
• Instruct other staff in specific tasks and job techniques
• Develop and implement job procedures for nursing staff in accordance with management goals policies and procedures
• Participate in and recommend employee selections promotions status changes and other personnel actions
• Follow established rules in resolving informal complaints of employees
• Apply professional psychiatric nursing care principles and practices in the evaluation and treatment of psychiatric patients
• Communicate with and gain the cooperation of patients
• Keep accurate written charts and records of patient activities and progress
• Use professional judgment to determine direct and apply appropriate intervention techniques with patients in crisis
• Work cooperatively with other mental health treatment practitioners to provide an integrated treatment plan
• Conduct interviews of patients to evaluate their condition and determine the circumstances causing them to seek or require mental health treatment services
• Conduct and assist in formal and informal individual and group counseling
• Assist in and physically subdue resisting patients with a minimum of force necessary to effect a restraint
• Communicate effectively orally and in writing with patients their families facility and clinic personnel and others
• Maintain patient confidentiality

Minimum Qualifications

Either: One year experience in the class of and performing the full scope of work of a Psychiatric Nurse in Sacramento County service.

Or: Two years of experience as a registered nurse performing psychiatric nursing and/or mental health counseling in an acute care or out-patient setting. A masters degree from an accredited college or university in psychiatric nursing or a related mental health field may be substituted for one year of this experience.

Note: Experience requirements are stated as full-time work; to convert part-time to full-time equivalency: 173.6 hours 21.7 days 1 work month.

License and Certificate Requirements
All persons appointed must possess and maintain a current Registered Nurse license issued by the State of California. Failure to maintain such license may be cause for disciplinary action in accordance with Civil Service Commission Rules.
All persons appointed will be required to have or obtain and maintain a valid CPR certificate.

Note: Individuals who do not meet these requirements due to a physical disability will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

Note: The word experience referenced in the minimum qualifications means full-time paid experience unless the minimum qualification states that volunteer experience is acceptable. Part-time paid experience may be accumulated and pro-rated to meet the total experience requirements.

Note: If the minimum qualifications include an educational or certificate/license requirement applicants must submit proof of requirements with the application. Failure to submit proof of requirements may result in disqualification from the examination. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable. For guidelines on submitting acceptable proof of educational requirements please click here or speak to someone in our office before the cut-off date listed in this notice.

Special Requirements

Criminal History and Background Checks:
The County may access criminal history information on all candidates who have accepted a conditional offer of appointment for the above job class consistent with the provisions of the Board of Supervisors Resolution No. 82-602 Personnel Policies and Procedure B-5 and applicable federal and state law. The County shall not consider for employment any candidate who has been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor that relates to or impacts the candidates ability to perform the job duties of this class unless it is determined that mitigating circumstances exist. For purposes of accessing criminal history information the candidate will be fingerprinted. A subsequent arrest notification may be obtained.

The County may also conduct a background check on the candidate prior to appointment to a position within this class. The background check may include personal and professional reference checks credit history check Social Security Number verification professional license/registration verification military service information and driving history. Information obtained in the course of this background check will be considered by the appointing authority in the selection obtaining such information the County will comply with applicable consent and disclosure practices in the Fair Credit Reporting Act and the California Investigative Consumer Reporting Agencies Act.

Other Requirements:
All persons appointed must be physically able to restrain and assist in restraining patients.
Persons appointed may be required to work evenings nights weekends and holidays.
Psychiatric health facilities such as the Countys Mental Health Treatment Center are licensed and regulated by the California State Department of Mental Health Services; such regulations include staffing and personnel standards which may apply to the class and may supersede the above minimum qualifications.

Child and Elder Abuse Reporting:
Persons selected for employment must as a condition of employment sign a statement agreeing to comply with Section 11166 and 11160 of the California Penal Code relating to child and elder abuse reporting.

How to Apply

The County of Sacramento application form and responses to the Supplemental Questions are to be completed and submitted online.

Please remember:

• If you have previously applied online for a County job you must use the same Username account.
• Do not share your Username account with anyone else.
• If any additional documentation (such as copies of transcripts etc.) is required you will be contacted.
• Resumes may be attached to your submitted application however a notation of See Resume will not be accepted for the information requested on the application or the Supplemental Questions.
• Your application will be considered incomplete if the required information is not filled out in its entirety.
• Any notifications from the Employment Office about your Transfer application will be sent to you by email. Notices can also be accessed in your inbox.