Registered Nurse II

Western State Hospital, part of the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS), is a 302-bed Joint Commission/CMS-accredited psychiatric facility located in the scenic Shenandoah Valley. The hospital serves adults with serious mental health needs and is nationally recognized for its Psychosocial Rehabilitation “Learning” programs. Employees enjoy a modern clinical setting, a therapeutic environment for patients, and the beauty of the Shenandoah Valley, with nearby cities offering dining, entertainment, and outdoor activities.

About the role

This position provides direct patient care in a safe, therapeutic environment for a specific patient population in a 24-hour, 7-day-a-week psychiatric hospital. Responsibilities include delivering quality care as part of an interdisciplinary team, maintaining accountability in a secure environment, and promoting mental wellness recovery through specialized training.

Responsibilities

• Provides leadership in performance management by communicating unit goals, coaching and mentoring staff, delivering constructive feedback, and addressing performance concerns.
• Ensures staff competency through ongoing education, identifying training needs, documenting completed education, and collaborating with RNCB/RNC regarding staff performance.
• Promotes a safe and therapeutic environment by conducting monthly environmental rounds, monitoring safety issues, and modeling professional behavior and recovery-oriented principles.
• Demonstrates effective communication skills through clear, respectful verbal, written, and electronic communication, 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, patient assessment, documentation, and treatment planning.
• Monitors patient and milieu acuity through regular rounding, reports significant clinical changes, and ensures accurate documentation on patient tracking tools.
• Participates in interdisciplinary collaboration by exchanging clinical information, contributing to patient education, and engaging in Psychosocial Rehabilitation programs.
• Demonstrates professional development by completing annual competencies, maintaining BLS certification, and providing in-service training to nursing staff.
• Supports unit reliability and teamwork by maintaining dependable attendance, responding to emergencies, assisting coworkers, and flexing schedules to meet patient care needs.
• Upholds professional nursing standards by delegating tasks, supervising staff, practicing trauma-informed care, and utilizing critical thinking skills.
• Safely implements the use of Seclusion/Restraints, including knowledge of physical/emotional risk factors of the patients served.

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.
• Ability to assess, plan, implement, and evaluate patient care.
• Familiarity with Nursing philosophy of care, including trauma-informed, person-centered, and relationship-based tenets.
• Ability to work overtime due to staffing emergencies, including potential 16-hour shifts.
• Completion of all annual competency training, including TO III with physical restraints.
• Maintain Basic Life Support (BLS) certification for Healthcare Providers with the American Heart Association.
• Demonstrates knowledge of recovery/trauma-informed care.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master's Degree in Nursing from an accredited institution.
• Psychiatric nursing experience.
• Experience creating training material and maintaining a training program.
• Prior experience as a Nurse Supervisor or training.
• Veteran or Veteran Spouse status.
• Bilingual in Spanish.

Pay

Salary range is a minimum of $84,418 up to a maximum of $116,497. Total compensation, including paid time off and benefits, begins at $120,408 for this role. A $7,500 sign-on bonus is available for new hires to state service with a one-year written agreement (available for those new to DBHDS or who have not worked for DBHDS for at least one year).

Shift differentials apply as follows:

• 1st shift weekend: $5.50 per hour
• 2nd shift weekday: $5.50 per hour
• 2nd shift weekend/holidays: $6.00 per hour
• 3rd shift weekday: $4.00 per hour
• 3rd shift weekend/holidays: $7.00 per hour

Schedule

This position works a set 12-hour shift on a two-week rotating schedule. Employees work 36 hours one week and 48 hours the following week (or vice versa). Available shifts are 7:00 a.m.–7:30 p.m. or 7:00 p.m.–7:30 a.m.

Benefits

• 13 paid holidays per year.
• 12+ paid vacation days, 9 paid sick days, and 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.
• Internships, career ladders, and continuing education opportunities.
• Referral bonuses and student loan repayment opportunities.
• Virginia 529 College Savings Plan eligibility.
• Relocation reimbursement may be available.
• State employee discounts and more.