Registered Nurse II

About the role

The Registered Nurse II position at Western State Hospital, part of the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS), is a critical role providing direct patient care in a safe, therapeutic environment. The position is open to new hires to DBHDS or those with at least one year of experience.

Responsibilities

• Provides leadership in performance management by clearly communicating unit goals, coaching and mentoring staff, delivering constructive feedback, and addressing performance concerns in a timely and well-documented manner.
• Ensures staff competency by providing ongoing education, identifying training needs, documenting completed education, and collaborating with RNCB/RNC regarding staff performance and development.
• Demonstrates effective communication skills through clear, respectful verbal, written, and electronic communication; appropriately uses the chain of command; and collaborates with scheduling, shift leadership, and other unit RNs.
• Provides direct patient care using the nursing process and evidence-based practices, including medication administration, assessment of patient status, documentation of care, and active engagement in treatment planning.
• Maintains accountability in a safe, secure, and therapeutic environment by conducting monthly environmental rounds, monitoring safety issues, and modeling professional behavior and recovery-oriented principles.
• Participates in interdisciplinary collaboration by exchanging clinical information, contributing to patient education and clinical evaluations, and engaging in Psychosocial Rehabilitation programs through group leadership or curriculum support.
• Supports unit reliability and teamwork by maintaining dependable attendance, responding to emergencies, assisting coworkers, accepting pull assignments, and flexing schedule or working extended shifts to meet patient care needs.
• Upholds professional nursing standards by effectively delegating tasks, supervising staff, practicing trauma-informed care, and utilizing critical thinking skills to recommend improvements and problem-solve within the clinical setting.

Requirements

• Current licensure or eligibility for licensure as a Registered Nurse in the Commonwealth of Virginia/Compact licensure.
• Graduation from an accredited nursing program (BSN preferred).
• Ability to delegate and supervise nursing staff.
• Effective communication (written, verbal, and sign).
• Ability to participate in an interdisciplinary team.
• Experience with creating training material and maintaining a training program is preferred.
• Prior experience as a Nurse Supervisor or training is preferred.
• Familiarity with Nursing philosophy of care, to include trauma-informed, person-centered, and relationship-based tenets.
• Ability to work overtime due to staffing emergencies in a 24-hour, 7-day-per-week psychiatric hospital, which at times may mean working a 16-hour shift if and when necessary.
• Complete all annual competency training to include TO III with physical restraints.
• Complete and maintain Basic Life Support (BLS) certification for Healthcare Providers with the American Heart Association.
• Demonstrates knowledge of recovery/trauma informed care.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's and Masters Degree in Nursing from an accredited institution or higher education.
• Prior Psych Nursing Experience Preferred.
• Veteran or Spouse of Veteran.
• Bilingual - Spanish.

Skills

• Leadership and Performance Management.
• Staff Competency and Training.
• Effective Communication.
• Interdisciplinary Collaboration.
• Direct Patient Care.
• Environmental Rounds and Safety Monitoring.
• Interpersonal Interactions and Milieu Acuity.
• Documentation and Treatment Planning.
• Teamwork and Reliability.
• Professional Nursing Standards.
• Delegation and Supervision.
• Recovery-Oriented Principles.
• Emergency Response and Overtime Work.
• Annual Competency Training and BLS Certification.
• Knowledge of Recovery/ Trauma-Informed Care.

Benefits

• 13 paid holidays.
• 12+ paid vacation days.
• 9 paid sick days.
• 4+ paid family/personal days per year.
• Family Medical Leave.
• Short- and Long-term disability coverage.
• Low-cost, comprehensive Anthem or AETNA health insurance benefits.
• Group life and optional life insurance.
• Flexible Reimbursement accounts.

Pay

Competitive salaries starting at $84,418 and increasing to commensurate with experience, education, and credentials. Total compensation including paid time off and benefits begins at $120,408 for this role.

Schedule

This position works a set 12-hour shift on a two-week rotating schedule. Available shifts are 7:00 a.m.–7:30 p.m. or 7:00 p.m.–7:30 a.m.

Additional Considerations

• Bilingual - Spanish.
• Service-Connected Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation, if applicable, to DARS/DBVI.