Psychiatric/DD Nurse - Established Term Appointment (ETA)

About the role

At the Ohio Department of Behavioral Health (DBH), we strive to exemplify The Heart of Hope for individuals and families affected by mental health and substance use disorders. We proudly employ over 2,800 dedicated employees across our six inpatient behavioral health hospitals, Ohio Pharmacy Services, Ohio's prison systems, and the central office in Columbus. DBH values: Service‑Oriented (Person Centered, Solution Oriented, Customer Service Focused), Collaborative (Approachable, Reasonable, Transparent), Value Driven, Innovative (Yes Before No), Strong Sense of Urgency. Our team advances a critical system of behavioral healthcare in Ohio that helps people be well, get well, and stay well. DBH is an Ohio Recovery Friendly Workplace, committed to supporting the health and well‑being of all employees, including those in recovery, fostering an inclusive, stigma‑free environment with wellness, second‑chance hiring, and recovery‑informed policies.

Work location: 100 Hospital Drive, Athens, Ohio 45701. Contact: Alaina Bare, (740) 592‑4099. This is an hourly position covered by the Ohio Health Care SEIU/1199 bargaining unit (union). Classified indicator: Unclassified.

Responsibilities

• Support adults in a residential setting to develop essential independent living and social skills; work directly with assigned consumers implementing personal and behavior plans.
• Assist with hygiene, medication management, food preparation, budgeting, and social interactions.
• Maintain a safe and supportive environment; de‑escalate crises; model professional behavior; transport consumers to appointments as necessary.
• Collaborate with team members to develop individualized service plans, document progress, and maintain facility cleanliness.
• Assess and evaluate nursing and medical needs of hospitalized clients (admissions, ongoing treatment, discharges); initiate and direct implementation of nursing care plans.
• Observe, evaluate, and record client behavior, condition, and response to medication, treatments, and therapeutic activities.
• Provide professional nursing care: administer medications and treatments as ordered by physician, educate clients on medications, assist with physical examinations, take and record vital signs, perform venipuncture.
• Respond to emergency situations (codes, suicide, assault).
• Direct delivery and evaluate psychiatric and nursing care provided by professional and non‑professional staff (LPNs, therapeutic program workers) on assigned shift; monitor LPN medication administration, documentation, client care, and operation of medical equipment (stethoscope, blood pressure monitor, glucometer).
• Precept and provide support for nursing staff as assigned.
• Prepare, review, implement, and update records/reports/plans (individual treatment plans, incidents, restraints/seclusions, nursing care plans, shift reports, transfers, admissions, discharges); transcribe and/or verify doctors' orders; write nursing summaries; participate in ongoing performance improvement/quality assurance.
• Serve as interdisciplinary treatment team member; perform miscellaneous duties (light housekeeping in patient areas and living quarters; identify and report safety concerns; attend and complete required trainings and educational programs; schedule unit shift breaks/lunch).

Requirements

• Current license as a registered professional nurse in the state of Ohio as issued by the Board of Nursing per Section 4723.03 of the Revised Code.
• Official transcripts required for all post‑secondary education, coursework, or degrees listed on the application; must be submitted before a formal employment offer. Transcripts printed from the institution’s website are not accepted. Failure to provide transcripts within five (5) business days of request results in disqualification.
• Must be able to complete a 4‑week (business days Monday–Friday) full‑time orientation.
• May work weekends and holidays; may be exposed to communicable diseases and unpredictable patient behavior.
• Training and development required to remain in the classification after employment.
• Final candidate must undergo a criminal background check (Rule 5122‑7‑21 outlines disqualifying offenses); individual assessment of prior convictions will be made.
• All final applicants tentatively selected must submit to urinalysis to test for illegal drug use prior to appointment; a positive test precludes employment.

Skills

• Technical Skills: Mental Health, Behavioral Health, Communications, Direct Support/Care, Nursing
• Professional Skills: Attention to Detail, Building Trust, Conflict Management, Critical Thinking, Confidentiality, Emotional Intelligence, Written Communication

Benefits

• Medical coverage
• Free Dental, Vision, and Basic Life Insurance premiums after completion of eligibility period
• Paid time off, including vacation, personal, sick leave, and 11 paid holidays per year
• Childbirth, Adoption, and Foster Care leave
• Education and Development Opportunities (Employee Development Funds, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, and more)
• Public Retirement Systems (OPERS, STRS, SERS, HPRS) & Optional Deferred Compensation (Ohio Deferred Compensation)

Benefits eligibility depends on a number of factors; the agency contact can provide specific information for this position.

Pay

Hourly rate: $36.01. Pay range: Level 13 on the Ohio Health Care SEIU/1199 Pay Range Schedule.

Schedule

Temporary – Part Time; work hours vary. Established Term Appointments (ETA) are scheduled to meet hospital needs with no guarantee of hours, shifts, or assignment location; ETA length does not exceed ten (10) consecutive months. Normal shifts are 12‑hour and 8‑hour shifts totaling 80 hours per pay period:

• 1st shift: 6:30 am – 3:00 pm & 6:30 am – 7:00 pm
• 2nd shift: 2:30 pm – 11:00 pm & 10:30 am – 11:00 pm
• 3rd shift: 10:45 pm – 6:45 am & 6:30 pm – 7:00 am

Every other weekend and holiday off.