Staff Nurse

About the role

Join The Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD as a Staff Nurse, RN and provide nursing care to individuals with mental and developmental disabilities in various settings. Utilize the nursing process to plan, implement, document, and evaluate care within the standards of practice and the Texas Nurse Practice Act.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to suicide care and prevention using a trauma-informed approach rooted in safety, trust, choice, collaboration, and empowerment.
• Utilize a five-step nursing process (assessment, analysis, planning, implementation, and evaluation) to deliver consumer services.
• Demonstrate clinically sound, systematic, and timely decision-making governed by state and agency practices.
• Perform technical nursing skills within the RN scope of practice, including diagnostic tests, medication administration, equipment setup, and therapeutic treatments.
• Document nursing care, consumer signs/symptoms, test results, behaviors, and responses to medications/treatments in compliance with agency policies and regulatory requirements.
• Educate consumers and family members about medications, treatments, and disease processes at an appropriate level.
• Provide nursing care with a focus on consumer, environmental, and technical safety.
• Assign and supervise tasks for RNs, LVNs, and unlicensed personnel for consumers with varied healthcare needs.
• Promote positive outcomes in professional nursing practice using a problem-solving approach.
• Report relevant information to the healthcare team and provide health education to address consumer needs.
• Adapt to changing work requirements and comply with agency policies and procedures.

Requirements

• Associate's degree in Nursing (ADN) from a two-year college or Bachelor’s degree in Nursing (BSN) from a four-year college/university.
• Active RN license.
• Minimum 1 year of nursing experience (excluding clinical hours required for education).
• For RNs with at least 2 years of experience, 1 year of mental health/behavioral health/intellectual/disability nursing experience is preferred.

Skills

• Knowledge of the Texas Board of Nurse Examiners Nurse Practice Act and Standards of Nursing Practice.
• Knowledge of pharmacy rules and regulations and basic pharmacology.
• Understanding of therapeutic communication, standard precautions, and infection control procedures.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills, data collection, and interpersonal skills.
• Strong organizational, prioritization, and time management skills.
• Ability to work independently, coordinate with teams, and use medical equipment and computers.
• Ability to establish therapeutic relationships with mentally ill or developmentally disabled consumers.
• Clinically sound decision-making in challenging situations, including interactions with emotional, hostile, or uncooperative individuals.

About Us

The Harris Center is the state-designated Local Mental Health Authority and Local Intellectual and Developmental Disability (IDD) Authority serving Harris County, Texas. As the largest behavioral and developmental disability care center in Texas, The Harris Center provides care to over 90,000 people annually with a budget exceeding $300 million. Services are delivered at 80 sites across Harris County in over 40 languages, including sign language, to meet the needs of a diverse community. The Harris Center is committed to transforming lives through the expertise of its 2,500+ employees.

Schedule

• Shift: 6:45 PM – 7:15 AM
• Hours: 36–48 hours per week (3–4 12-hour shifts)
• Rotating weekends required

Benefits

• Competitive salary
• Robust retirement plan with company matching and prior service credit
• Generous Paid Time Off accrual
• Cell phone discounts and entertainment deals through Tickets at Work
• Free Headspace subscription for mental wellness
• Employee Assistance Program for overall well-being
• Student loan forgiveness eligibility

Work Environment

• Based at 6160 S. Loop East, Harris County, Texas.
• Flexible scheduling with a commitment to ethical, confidential, and non-judgmental care.
• Occasional exposure to challenging situations, including unfavorable conditions or interactions with emotional, hostile, or uncooperative individuals.