Nurse Manager

Location

Vernon, TX – Vernon State Hospital, 4730 College Dr.

Nurse Manager (Nurse III / Nurse Manager) – Day shift, Monthly salary $7,532.75–$8,886.16. Regular, Full‑time, Exempt.

100% paid employee health insurance, defined‑benefit pension plan, paid time off, and career‑advancement opportunities.

• Plan, develop, coordinate, and evaluate nursing care on a 24‑hour basis across assigned units.
• Direct daily operations, enforce standards of practice, and ensure compliance with HHSC, State Hospital rules, TAC, and the Texas State Board of Nursing.
• Provide clinical direction, supervise staff, and facilitate staff competency through training, education, and performance‑improvement activities.
• Develop and oversee nursing policies and procedures, including program‑specific standards and response to adverse events.
• Collaborate with recovery teams, leadership, and external partners to promote patient‑centered, trauma‑informed care.
• Support budgeting and admissions planning to maintain adequate staffing and patient safety.
• Participate in committees, task forces, and QAPI initiatives to identify and implement quality improvements.
• Assist with disaster response and continuity‑of‑operations activities as needed.

• Attend work regularly, often on rotating or extended schedules per agency policy.
• Serve as spokesperson for nursing practices, conduct audits, peer reviews, and death reviews.
• Develop and implement hospital‑based standards and maintain alignment with professional bodies and regulatory requirements.
• Provide resource support for nursing education programs and clinical rotations.
• Maintain current reports on nursing activities, staffing, and quality metrics.

• Knowledge of Texas Nurse Practice Act, peer review, recovery model of care, and psychiatric rehabilitation standards.
• Ability to plan, evaluate, and manage nursing operations and budgets.
• Strong leadership, coaching, and interpersonal skills for team development.
• Proficiency in computer systems and clinical documentation.
• Competence in administering restraints, seclusion, CPR, and first‑aid procedures.
• Ability to communicate effectively in writing and orally, develop training objectives, and provide patient/family education.

• Registered Nurse (RN) license in Texas or a reciprocity‑recognized state via Nurse Licensure Compact.
• Ability to perform CPR, Heimlich maneuver, AED, and basic first aid.

• Graduation from an accredited four‑year college/university with a major in nursing or a nursing program, and at least one (1) year of RN experience in a recognized health agency or hospital; OR
  three (3) years of RN experience in a recognized health agency or hospital.
• Pass a fingerprint criminal background check, pre‑employment drug screen, and registry checks (e.g., CANRS, LEIE).
• Compliance with HHSC immunization policy for hepatitis B, measles, mumps, rubella, varicella, tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis, and influenza.
• Eligibility to work overtime, nights, weekends, and maximum‑security locations as required.

All applicants must be at least 18 years of age;
Waco Center for Youth applicants must be at least 21. Military personnel and veterans are encouraged to apply if qualified.