Staff Nurse

Your Texas Benefits; Kerrville (TX); On-site; USD 64,000 - 76,000; Full time

Job summary

Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) seeks a Nurse I at Kerrville State Hospital. The role focuses on entry‑level to routine nursing in a secure psychiatric facility, under supervision of the Charge Nurse or Nurse Manager, performing comprehensive patient assessments and implementing care plans.

You will administer medications, document in MAR, and help maintain a safe, therapeutic environment while training staff and supporting disaster response efforts as needed.

Qualifications

• Entry-level to routine nursing work under supervision.
• Comprehensive assessments of patients’ nursing care needs.
• Development of individualized recovery plans in collaboration with the team.
• Administration of medications and maintenance of MAR records.
• Training of other staff in psychiatric nursing principles.
• Ability to work under moderate supervision and follow policy.
• Participation in disaster response and COOP activation.

Responsibilities

• Attend regular and possibly rotating shifts, overtime as needed.
• Perform comprehensive assessment of patients’ nursing care needs (physical, behavioral, psychiatric, social).
• Document observations in medical records and report to team members including the psychiatrist.
• Contribute to development of the individualized recovery plan.
• Provide patient education and coping strategies to patients and families.
• Administer medications and maintain MAR records.
• Maintain a safe, therapeutic milieu and train staff as needed.
• Participate in disaster response/COOP and possible shift/location changes.

Skills

Nursing techniques

Patient care

Observation and assessment

Documentation

Team collaboration

Computer skills

Tools

EMR (Electronic Medical Records)

Job description

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Join the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) and be part of a team committed to creating a positive impact in the lives of fellow Texans. At HHSC, your contributions matter, and we support you at each stage of your life and work journey. Our comprehensive benefits package includes 100% paid employee health insurance for full-time eligible employees, a defined benefit pension plan, generous time off benefits, numerous opportunities for career advancement and more. Explore more details on the Benefits of Working at HHS webpage .

Functional Title: Staff Nurse

Job Title: Nurse I

Agency: Health & Human Services Comm

Department: PsychSecurity Direct Care

Posting Number: 19854

Closing Date: 11/08/2026

Posting Audience: Internal and External

Occupational Category: Healthcare Support

Salary Range: $5,746.66-$6,779.25

Pay Frequency: Monthly

Salary Group: TEXAS-B-20

Shift: Day

Additional Shift:

Telework: Not Eligible for Telework

Travel: Up to 5%

Regular/Temporary: Regular

Full Time/Part Time: Full time

FLSA Exempt/Non-Exempt: Exempt

Facility Location: Kerrville State Hospital

Job Location City: KERRVILLE

Job Location Address: 721 THOMPSON DR

Other Locations: Kerrville

MOS Codes: 290X,46AX,46FX,46NX,46PX,46SX,46YX,66B,66C,66E,66F,66G,66H,66N,66P,66R,66S,66T,66W

Brief Job Description:

Would you thrive in an environment where you learn and grow personally and professionally all while helping make a positive impact on people’s lives? Do you appreciate being around others like yourself who are dependable, trustworthy, hard workers who believe in the value of teamwork? HSCS is dedicated to building an atmosphere where employees feel valued and supported while providing specialized care for Texans in need. HSCS is comprised of ten psychiatric hospitals, two youth residential treatment facilities, and thirteen state supported living centers. Psychiatric hospitals are a hub of excellence for forensic mental health and complex psychiatric care, with all facilities accredited by The Joint Commission. They provide state-of-the-art treatment that is recovery-oriented and science-based. If providing hope and healing through compassionate, innovative, and individualized care interests you, we welcome your application for the position below.

The Nurse I (Staff Nurse) performs entry-level to routine (journey-level) nursing work at a competent level in the state hospital under the supervision of the Charge Nurse or Nurse Manager (Nurse II/III). Conducts comprehensive assessments of patients nursing care needs using specialized skills in an inpatient psychiatric setting. Identifies nursing diagnoses or problem lists and formulates an initial plan of care based on assessment data. Establishes unit routines and develops and maintains the therapeutic milieu. Makes observations of patient behavior and status and reports to the psychiatrist, other recovery team members, and supervising nurse, as appropriate. Carries out nursing interventions as identified in the multidisciplinary recovery plan. Administers medications as ordered and maintains medication administration and controlled drug records according to facility policy. Trains other staff members as necessary, or as requested. Works under moderate supervision, with limited latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgement.

Performs other duties as assigned. Other duties as assigned include but are not limited to actively participating and/or serving in a supporting role to meet the agency’s obligations for disaster response and/or recovery or Continuity of Operations (COOP) activation. Such participation may require an alternate shift pattern assignment and/or location.

This position may be eligible to earn additional pay for work performed in the evenings, nights and/or weekends.

This position may also be eligible to earn additional pay for work performed on maximum security locations.

Essential Job Functions (EJFs):

• Attends work on a regular basis and may be asked to work a specific shift schedule or, at times, even a rotating schedule, extended shift and/or overtime in accordance with agency leave policy and performs other duties as assigned.
• Performs comprehensive assessment of patients’ nursing care needs including physical, behavioral, psychiatric, and social needs.
• Observes and analyzes patient behavior and status, and documents in the medical record or reports, as needed, to other team members, including the attending psychiatrist.
• Develops or contributes to the development of the individualized recovery plan in collaboration with other recovery team members, based on data obtained from the assessment.
• Provides comprehensive individual or group health teaching and coping strategies to patients and/or families in order to meet patient/family needs.
• Utilizes one-to-one counseling skills in therapeutic interactions with patients to assist them in identifying anxiety and developing coping strategies.
• Initiates and implements population-specific nursing interventions based on appropriate standards of care for the assigned patient population.
• Administers medications and treatments as ordered by the physician and maintains medication administration (MAR) and controlled drug records according to facility policy.
• Establishes and monitors the therapeutic milieu assuring a safe and therapeutic environment for the patients.
• Provides training to other staff in psychiatric nursing principles, unit routines, and milieu management.
• Initiates and monitors the appropriate use of restraint or seclusion to ensure the safety of the patient and staff members.
• Performs other duties as assigned. Other duties as assigned include but are not limited to actively participating and/or serving in a supporting role to meet the agency’s obligations for disaster response and/or recovery or Continuity of Operations (COOP) activation. Such participation may require an alternate shift pattern assignment and/or location.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs):

• Knowledge of nursing techniques and procedures
• Knowledge of medical diagnoses and procedures
• Knowledge of accepted medical treatment programs
• Knowledge community health and nursing care principles, practices, and procedures
• Skills in the care and treatment of patients
• Skills in the use of a computer and applicable software
• Ability to provide patient care.
• Ability to prepare and maintain records.