DSHS ESH Registered Nurse 2

State of Washington; Medical Lake (WA); On-site; USD 85,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Eastern State Hospital in Washington is seeking Registered Nurses to join our behavioral health team. You will work with psychiatric patients across Adult, Forensic, and Geriatric units, including the Habilitative Mental Health ward, in a fast-paced environment focused on trauma-informed, person-centered care.

Responsibilities include participating on interdisciplinary teams, educating patients, monitoring behavior, handling psychiatric and medical emergencies, evaluating patient status,

Qualifications

• Valid Washington State Registered Nurse license or compact RN license that allows practice in Washington State.

Responsibilities

• Participate as a member of an interdisciplinary team in the planning, delivery, and evaluation of patient care.
• Educate patients on social skills, functional skill development, and medications.
• Monitor patients' behavior and de-escalate high-risk situations when needed.
• Participate in the management of psychiatric and medical emergencies.
• Assess and evaluate patients who have behavioral health issues and chart significant changes in the patient's condition.
• Administer medications and treatments.
• Produce care plans and risk assessments for your patients.

Skills

Clinical judgment

Communication

De-escalation

Trauma-informed mindset

Cultural humility

Teamwork

Education

Washington State RN license or compact RN

Job description

Eastern State Hospital (ESH) is hiring Registered Nurses! As part of our behavioral health team, you’ll work alongside dedicated professionals who are committed to person-centered care, trauma-informed practices, and long-term recovery.

In addition to working with psychiatric patients within our Adult, Forensic and Geriatric units, we are seeking RN’s with empathy, patience, and flexibility to work with our patients diagnosed with mental illness and intellectual disabilities. The Habilitative Mental Health (HMH) ward is a fast-paced environment with many de-escalation opportunities to assist those patients on their road to recovery. We can serve folks suffering a variety of diagnoses that can limit their adaptive, coping, and learning abilities.

Eastern State Hospital hosts both the Eastlake and Westlake campuses. We are a 375-bed in-patient psychiatric hospital serving adults and are accredited by the Joint Commission and certified by the federal centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

Some Of What You'll Do

• Participate as a member of an interdisciplinary team in the planning, delivery, and evaluation of patient care.
• Educate patients' on social skills, functional skill development, and medications.
• Monitor patients' behavior and if needed, de-escalate high-risk situations.
• Participate in the management of psychiatric and medical emergencies.
• Assess and evaluate patients who have behavioral health issues and chart significant changes in the patient's condition.
• Administer medications and treatments.
• Produce care plans and risk assessments for your patients.

Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities We Are Looking For

• Clinical judgment – You make sound decisions based on assessment findings and treatment goals.
• Communication – You clearly share information with patients, peers, and health care providers to support effective care.
• De-escalation skills – You respond calmly and professionally during high-stress or crisis situations.
• Trauma-informed mindset – You recognize how trauma affects behavior and tailor your approach accordingly.
• Cultural humility – You support equity and inclusion by acknowledging and respecting individual lived experiences.
• Teamwork – You contribute to a collaborative and supportive treatment culture.

We are interested in applicants who meet the following qualifications

• Possess a valid Washington State Registered Nurse license or a compact RN license that allows practice in Washington State.

Additional Information

• We are offering full-time, part-time, all shifts, and on-call opportunities.
• On-Call employees are expected to work a minimum of 24 hours per week, all weekends and all holidays. We will also consider two 12 hour shifts per week depending on business needs.
• Evening and Night shifts include a $1.50 per hour shift differential, $2.50 per hour shift premium and additional $4.00 per hour for hours worked Friday Midnight through Sunday Midnight.
• Opportunities performed on-site at this work location at least three days a week may be eligible for an additional 5% premium pay in addition to the advertised salary.

More than Just a Paycheck!

Employee benefits are not just about the kind of services you get, they are also about how much you may have to pay out of pocket. Washington State offers one of the most competitive benefits packages in the nation.

We understand that your life revolves around more than just your career. Like everyone, your first priority is ensuring that you and your family will maintain health and financial security. That's why choice is a key component of our benefits package. We have a selection of health and retirement plans, paid leave, staff training and other compensation benefits that you can mix and match to meet your current and future needs.

Read About Our Benefits

The following information describes typical benefits available for full-time employees who are expected to work more than six months. Actual benefits may vary by appointment type or be prorated for other than full-time work (e.g. part-time); view the job posting for benefits details for job types other than full-time.

If the position offers benefits which differ from the following, the job posting should include the specific benefits.

Insurance Benefits

Employees and their families are covered by medical (including vision), dental and basic life insurance. There are multiple medical plans with affordable monthly premiums that offer coverage throughout the state.

Staff are eligible to enroll each year in a medical flexible spending account which enables them to use tax-deferred dollars toward their health care expenses. Employees are also covered by basic life and long-term disability insurance, with the option to purchase additional coverage amounts.

To view premium rates, coverage choice in your area and how to enroll, please visit the Public Employees Benefits Board (PEBB) website. The Washington Wellness program from the Health Care Authority works with PEBB to support our workplace wellness programs.

Dependent care assistance allows the employee to save pre-tax dollars for a child or elder care expenses.

Other insurance coverage for auto, boat, home, and renter insurance is available through payroll deduction.

The Washington State Employee Assistance Program promotes the health and well-being of employees.

Retirement And Deferred Compensation

State Employees are members of the Washington Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS). New employees have the option of two employer contributed retirement programs. For additional information, check out the Department of Retirement Systems' web site.

Employees also have the ability to participate in the Deferred Compensation Program (DCP). This is a supplemental retirement savings program (similar to an IRA) that allows you control over the amount of pre-tax salary dollars you defer as well as the flexibility to choose between multiple investment options.

Social Security

All state employees are covered by the federal Social Security and Medicare systems. The state and the employee pay an equal amount into the system.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness

If you are employed by a government or not-for-profit organization, and meet the qualifying criteria, you may be eligible to receive student loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.

Holidays

Full-time and part-time employees are entitled to paid holidays and one paid personal holiday per calendar year.

Note: Employees who are members of certain Unions may be entitled to additional personal leave day(s), please refer to position specific Collective Bargaining Agreements for more information.

Full-time employees who work full monthly schedules qualify for holiday compensation if they are employed before the holiday and are in pay status for at least 80 nonovertime hours during the month of the holiday; or for the entire work shift preceding the holiday.

Part-time employees who are in pay status during the month of the holiday qualify for the holiday on a pro-rata basis. Compensation for holidays (including personal holiday) will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status in the month to that required for full-time employment, excluding all holiday hours. Pay status includes hours worked and time on paid leave.

Sick Leave

Full-time employees earn eight hours of sick leave per month. Overtime eligible employees who are in pay status for less than 80 hours per month, earn a monthly proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full-time employment. Overtime exempt employees who are in pay status for less than 80 hours per month do not earn a monthly accrual of sick leave.

Sick leave accruals for part-time employees will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full-time employment. Pay status includes hours worked, time on paid leave and paid holiday.

Vacation (Annual Leave)

Full-time employees accrue vacation leave at the rates specified in WAC 357-31-165(1) or the applicable collective bargaining agreement (CBA). Full-time employees who are in pay status for less than 80 nonovertime hours in a month do not earn a monthly accrual of vacation leave.

Part-time employees accrue vacation leave hours in accordance with WAC 357-31-165(1) or the applicable collective bargaining agreement (CBA) on a pro rata basis. Vacation leave accrual will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full-time employment.

Pay status includes hours worked, time on paid leave and paid holiday.

As provided in WAC 357-58-175, an employer may authorize a lump-sum accrual of vacation leave or accelerate the vacation leave accrual rate to support the recruitment and/or retention of a candidate or employee for a Washington Management Service position. Vacation leave accrual rates may only be accelerated using the rates established WAC 357-31-165.

Note: Most agencies follow the civil service rules covering leave and holidays for exempt employees even though there is no requirement for them to do so. However, agencies are required to adhere to the applicable RCWs pertaining holidays and leave.

Military Leave

Washington State supports members of the armed forces with 21 days paid military leave per year.

Bereavement Leave

Most employees whose family member or household member dies, or for loss of pregnancy, are entitled to five (5) days of paid bereavement leave. In addition, the employer may approve other available leave types for the purpose of bereavement leave.

Additional Leave

Leave Sharing

Parental Leave

Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)

Leave Without Pay

Please visit the State HR Website for more detailed information regarding benefits.

Updated 01-07-2026

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Washington State Department of Social and Health Services is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in any area of employment, its programs, or services on the basis of age, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity/expression, marital status, race, creed, color, national origin, religion or beliefs, political affiliation, military status, honorably discharged veteran, Vietnam Era, recently separated or other protected veteran status, the presence of any sensory, mental, physical disability or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability, equal pay or genetic information. Persons requiring accommodation in the application process or this job announcement in an alternative format may contact the Recruiter at [phone]. Applicants who are deaf or hard of hearing may call through Washington Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6384.

Relationship and Reporting Structure (Disclosure): If you are selected for hire, you must disclose whether you have a relative, household member, close friend, or romantic partner within your potential supervisory chain of command. DSHS has a Relationships and the Reporting Structure policy that prohibits nepotism and can be reviewed here. Applicants whose appointment would result in a prohibited reporting relationship are not eligible for appointment to that position.