Certified Nursing Assistant/Mental Health Aide

Ocean View Psychiatric Hospital; Long Beach (CA); On-site; USD 28,000 - 39,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision insurance

401(k) retirement plan

Growth opportunities

Night shift differential

Job summary

Ocean View Psychiatric Hospital in Long Beach seeks a compassionate Certified Nursing Assistant/Mental Health Aide to join a 24/7 inpatient psychiatric team. You will deliver frontline care to patients under involuntary holds, support crisis de-escalation, and ensure a safe therapeutic environment under supervision.

The role requires flexibility for rotating day/night shifts, weekend work, and strong teamwork. Prior CNA/behavioral health experience and CPR/BLS certification are preferred.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Associate or Bachelor's in psychology/behavioral health preferred.
• CNA/EMT or First Aid certifications are a plus.
• Minimum 1–2 years in behavioral health/hospital setting.
• Ability to read, write, and communicate in English.

Responsibilities

• Demonstrate understanding of Patients' Rights, LPS statutes, and Seclusion/Restraint protocols.
• Conduct and document safety checks.
• Maintain constant patient observation for high-risk watch.
• Use crisis prevention/de-escalation techniques as needed.
• Provide direct care and assist with ADLs and meals.
• Record vital signs and ensure accurate charting.
• Assist nursing staff with intake, searches, and discharge routing.

Skills

Crisis prevention

Teamwork

English fluency

CPR/BLS

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

CNA certification

EMT certification

First Aid certification

CPR certification

Tools

EHR systems

Job description

Certified Nursing Assistant/Mental Health Aide

About View Behavioral Health

We are proud to serve as a trusted resource for our community, providing high-quality mental health care with compassion and integrity. Our Long Beach facility currently operates as a 79-bed adult voluntary acute inpatient program, offering private rooms and individualized treatment delivered by a multidisciplinary team. We are dedicated to best practices and person-centered care, supporting each patient's journey toward stability and recovery. To promote continuity of care beyond inpatient treatment, we also offer Partial Hospitalization (PHP) and Intensive Outpatient (IOP) programs tailored to meet each individual's clinical needs. We are also actively expanding our services across Southern California, with our new San Bernardino campus expected to open later this year.

Department: Psychiatric Adult Inpatient
Position Type: Full-Time

Schedule & Hours:

• This position operates on a rotating 3-day, 12-hour shift schedule that includes a combination of weekdays and weekends. Reliability and flexibility for weekend rotations are required
• Shifts available are 7:00 AM - 7:30 PM and 7:00 PM - 7:30 AM

Position Summary

We are seeking a compassionate, vigilant, and qualified LPS Designated nursing assistants to join our psychiatric care team. In this role, you will provide direct, frontline care and monitoring for patients admitted under involuntary psychiatric holds (Lanterman-Petris-Short Act, e.g., 5150, 5250). Working under the supervision of the Mental Health Manager and in collaboration with the nursing and clinical teams, you will maintain a secure, therapeutic environment, execute crisis de-escalation, and assist individuals experiencing acute psychiatric crises.

Key Responsibilities

• Demonstrate understanding and be compliant with Patients' Rights, LPS Statutes, and Seclusion and Restraint Protocols.
• Conduct and document strict, timely safety checks.
• Maintain constant visual observation of patients on suicide or high-risk watch.
• Actively identify escalating behaviors. Utilize approved crisis prevention and de-escalation techniques to safely manage aggressive or self-harming behavior.
• Provide direct care and support to patients, promoting independence in hygiene, grooming, and other activities of daily living (ADLs).
• Assist in the daily preparation, portioning, and serving of patient meals and snacks. Ensure adherence to prescribed dietary restrictions, allergies, and nutrition guidelines while maintaining a safe environment around utensils.
• Obtain and record vital signs (e.g., blood pressure, pulse, temperature, respiration) in accordance with clinical protocols.
• Observe and accurately chart patient behavior, moods, nutritional intake, and vital signs in accordance with institutional policy and state regulations.
• Assist the nursing staff with intake processing, patient searches for contraband, inventorying personal belongings, and final discharge routing.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Associate or Bachelor's degree in psychology, behavioral health, or a related human services field is highly preferred
• Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), or Food Handler's Card is a major plus.
• Prior experience in caregiving and patient support roles.
• Minimum of 1-2 years of experience in a behavioral health, healthcare, or hospital setting
• Demonstrated ability to remain calm, composed, and effective in high-stress or crisis situations
• Strong trauma-informed care foundation, excellent verbal de-escalation skills, strict boundary-setting ability (especially regarding sharp kitchen utensils), emotional resilience, and deep knowledge of California patient rights guidelines.
• Strong teamwork and collaboration skills across disciplines and departments
• Proficiency in the use of computers and standard keyboard functions for data entry and electronic documentation
• Ability to read, write, and communicate fluently in English
• Ability to safely perform containment, escort, and physical intervention procedures with patients exhibiting assaultive or aggressive behavior, in accordance with facility protocols and training
• Prior experience using Electronic Health Records (EHR) systems for documentation and coordination of care
• Current CPR, BLS, and First Aid certification, or ability to obtain within 90 days of employment
• Crisis prevention/intervention training (e.g., HWC, CPI, PMAB) or de-scalation certification
• Knowledge of HIPAA, Title 22, and other applicable regulatory standards
• $2.00/hour shift differential for eligible NOC (overnight) shifts
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance for qualifying employees
• 401(k) retirement savings plan
• Supportive, team-oriented work environment
• Opportunities for professional growth, training, and advancement within the organization

Physical & Mental Requirements

• Ability to stand, walk, cook, and move about a locked unit for extended periods. Physical stamina to assist in patient containment or emergency restraints during acute behavioral crises.
• Independent body mobility to frequently stand, walk long distance corridors, descend and the ability to bend, stoop and sit for a prolonged time.
• May require significant strength and alertness in a crisis to apply non-violent crisis intervention to containment techniques, or to provide CPR.
• Ability to safely assist with the physical management, lifting, or repositioning of adult patients, including those who may be physically resistive or assaultive, potentially weighing 100 pounds or more, in accordance with facility safety protocols and training.

Depending on assignment of position may be required to work in a locked unit with juveniles, formerly incarcerated, and individuals assigned to guardianship who have complex social, and psycho-social needs; may be assigned to evening or night shift, assigned to work weekends, and to work holidays as needed as Ocean View is a 24-hour, 7 day a week facility and coverage is essential; environment can be noisy and sporadically chaotic, and may be exposed to hostile patients and profanity.

Special Conditions

• Employment is contingent upon successful completion of Live Scan fingerprinting, background check clearance, and verification of required licenses, certifications, and education
• Satisfactory completion of professional reference checks
• Must be legally authorized to work in the United States; Ocean View does not provide visa sponsorship for certain roles unless otherwise specified
• Availability to work evenings, weekends, holidays, or variable shifts as needed, based on operational or patient care needs.