Psychiatric Nurse

Sacramento County; Sacramento (CA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

A governmental health department is seeking a Public Health Nurse Level I/II – Psychiatric Nurse responsible for providing care to mentally ill patients and collaborating with treatment teams. The ideal candidate must hold a valid California RN license and demonstrate strong communication and crisis intervention skills. This position may require evening or weekend shifts and offers various compensation adjustments. Join a dedicated team committed to mental health support in Sacramento.

Qualifications

• Possession of a current Registered Nurse license issued by the State of California.
• Ability to apply professional psychiatric nursing care principles in evaluations.
• Capacity to maintain accurate patient records and charts.

Responsibilities

• Perform professional nursing duties for mentally ill patients.
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams for treatment planning.
• Assist in various mental health program activities.

Skills

Professional nursing principles

Communication skills

Crisis intervention techniques

Team collaboration

Patient confidentiality

Education

Registered Nurse license issued by the State of California

Job description

Position Title

Public Health Nurse Level I/II – Psychiatric Nurse

Next Filing Cut‑offs

5:00 PM on 3/16/26, 5/18/26, 7/20/26, 9/14/26, 11/16/26

Compensation

Vacancies may be permanent or intermittent on‑call (per‑diem). Shift differential may be available in addition to base salary:

• PM (swing) shift – 5%
• NOC (grave) – 10%
• Weekend – $1.00 per hour worked

Job Overview

Psychiatric Nurse performs professional nursing duties in the care of mentally ill and emotionally disturbed patients; advises and collaborates with other staff and interdisciplinary health treatment teams in diagnosis and treatment planning for such patients; and assists and participates in various administrative and mental health program activities.

Examples of Knowledge and Abilities

Knowledge

• 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 medications
• State of California laws and regulations on nursing practices
• Basic laws and regulations pertaining to psychiatric nursing and treatment of the mentally ill
• Basic theories, principles, and techniques of group and individual psychotherapy
• Basic general procedures and organization of mental health treatment facilities and multidisciplinary 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

Ability

• 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
• Learn and comply with laws, rules, regulations, protocols, and procedures, including security requirements, applicable to the work unit
• Use professional judgment to determine and apply appropriate intervention techniques with patients in crisis
• Work cooperatively with other mental health treatment practitioners to provide an integrated treatment plan
• Conduct and review reports of interviews of patients to evaluate their condition and determine the circumstances causing them to 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

Employment Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

Possession of a current Registered Nurse license issued by the State of California.

General Qualifications

• All persons appointed must possess and maintain a current Registered Nurse license issued by the State of California. Failure to maintain such a 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.

Special Requirements

• Background/Criminal History: 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 applicable policies and law.
• Physical Abilities: 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.
• 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.

Probationary Period

Six (6) months.

Application and Testing Information

Qualified applicants are encouraged to apply immediately. All applicants must complete and submit an online County of Sacramento employment application by 5:00 PM on the posted cut‑off date.

County of Sacramento
Department of Personnel Services
Employment Services Division
700 H Street, Room 4667
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone [phone]; 7‑1‑1 California Relay Service
Email [e-mail]
Inter‑Office Mail Code: 09‑4667

Submission Instructions

• Employment applications and all documentation requested in this announcement must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. on the cut‑off date.
• Employment Services is not responsible for any issues or delays caused by an applicant's computer or web browser. Applicants will be automatically logged out if they have not submitted their applications and all documentation prior to 5:00 p.m. on the cut‑off date.
• Your application should highlight all relevant education, training, and experience, and clearly indicate how you meet the minimum qualifications for the position as of the cut‑off date.
• Application information must be current, concise and related to the requirements in this job announcement. Duplicate and incomplete applications will be disqualified.
• A resume may be included with your application; however it will not substitute for the information requested on the application.

Supplemental Questionnaire

Applicants are required to provide a full and complete response to each supplemental question. The Supplemental Questionnaire is located in the tab marked "Supplemental Questions." Please be descriptive in your response.

Responses of "See Resume" or "See Application", or copy and paste of work experience are not qualifying responses and will not be considered.

Formula Rate Examination (Weighted 100%)

All candidates meeting the minimum qualifications by the cut‑off date will have their Supplemental Questionnaire scored in the Formula Rate Examination. The examination will evaluate the relevance, level, recency, progression and quality of candidate's education, training and experience. The score from the Formula Rate Examination will determine the ranking on the eligible/employment list for this job.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

We are a proud equal opportunity employer. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability for any phase of the hiring process, contact our Disability Compliance Office at [e-mail] or 916‑874‑7642, CA Relay 711.

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