Supervising Behavioral Health Nurse

Supervising Behavioral Health Nurse

Location:

720 Wood Street, Eureka, CA.

Work Hours:

Sunday – Tuesday 07:00–19:30 (12‑hour shift) and Wednesday 07:00–11:00 (4‑hour shift).

• Provide ongoing clinical supervision to nursing staff; review assessments, treatment interventions, medication administration practices, and documentation to ensure safe, therapeutic, trauma‑informed care compliant with facility policies and regulatory standards.
• Support, mentor, and evaluate nursing staff; address performance concerns, facilitate education and competency development, and promote a professional, respectful, and accountable work environment.
• Oversee medication administration practices; ensure nursing staff adhere to medication orders, consent requirements, and safe administration protocols; monitor therapeutic effectiveness and adverse reactions; provide guidance and corrective action as needed.
• Organize, assign, direct, review, and evaluate the work of assigned staff and interdisciplinary treatment teams for delivery of patient care; maintain a safe and secure environment; serve as case coordinator for assigned patients or clients when required.
• Accept report of previous shift and update new admissions and medications; write nursing notes on patient charts; ensure accurate and complete documentation.
• Perform end‑of‑shift narcotics count and maintain medication records in compliance with regulations.
• Provide professional nursing care to patients; observe and chart vital signs including temperature, blood pressure, pulse, and respiration.
• Provide necessary equipment and supplies for patient examination or treatment.
• Administer oral and hypodermic medications; obtain and record all orders from physicians.
• Participate in preparation of nursing component of patient treatment plans and collaborative diagnostic and therapeutic activities.
• Perform crisis intervention in person and on the phone; manage assaultive behavior and provide general counseling; coordinate or arrange needed services, including emergency detention.
• Provide supportive services such as individual, group, or family counseling and activities like exercise and art.
• Consult with medical, behavioral health, and inter‑agency staff regarding client needs and improvement strategies.
• Conduct or arrange case conferences; facilitate decisions on difficult behavioral health cases; conduct chart audits and utilization review.
• Maintain prescribed standards of behavioral health treatment and ensure services conform to policy and procedural guidelines.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

Receives general direction from assigned supervisory or management personnel. Exercises direct supervision over professional, technical, and/or administrative support staff.

This is the full supervisory‑level class in the Behavioral Health Nurse series that exercises independent judgment on diverse and specialized nursing services in support of the County’s in‑patient behavioral health facility or out‑patient programs. Incumbents are responsible for planning, organizing, supervising, reviewing, and evaluating the work of assigned staff and for organizing and overseeing day‑to‑day nursing, behavioral health, and support services program implementation for hospitalized patients.

• Principles and practices of general behavioral health nursing care, as defined by the State of California licensing requirements.
• Principles and practices of employee supervision, including work planning, assignment review and evaluation, discipline, and training of staff in work procedures.
• Principles and practices of leadership.
• Practices and methods of community behavioral health treatment, including interviewing, assessment, and family and group counseling.
• Applicable guidelines for laws affecting behavioral health treatment, services, and reporting procedures.
• Medical and behavioral health terminology and first aid methods and procedures.
• Psychotropic medicines, including narcotics, and their effects on patients.
• Standard medical record‑keeping, including patient charting and the processing and maintenance of required documentation.
• Trauma‑I…