Arlington County's Department of Human Services (DHS) is seeking an experienced Psychiatric Nurse in the Client Services Entry (CSE) Bureau of the Behavioral Healthcare Division (BHD). The Psychiatric Nurse will work both independently and as part of a cooperative team, collaborating with doctors, nurses, police, and deputies. The position will support office-based crisis stabilization services, mobile crisis response, assist with medical triage and monitoring, as well as serve as a liaison with on-call medical and psychiatric providers. Additionally, it will also lend support to the Arlington co-responder model to prevent unnecessary hospitalizations and lengthy emergency department stays to de-escalate crisis situations and prevent future crises. Services are offered which are trauma-informed, culturally competent, strengths-based, needs-driven, and are responsive, adaptive, and respectful. 

To learn more about our services, please visit Emergency Services (ES). 

Specific Duties include:

• Overseeing the monitoring, medication administration, and medical services provided to clients while in the crisis intervention center and/or admitted to office-based crisis stabilization services;

• Performing comprehensive clinical diagnostic assessments and risk analysis to coordinate primary care integration using evidence-based models;

• Conducting Preadmission Screening assessments for admission and referral purposes as well as point of care testing including vital signs, urine drug screens, and breathalyzer tests;

• Facilitating psychiatric and medical treatment with on-call medical providers;

• Providing assessments and interventions in multiple settings including home, schools, juvenile justice settings, community organizations, hospital inpatient units and emergency departments;

• Referring clients to community-appropriate resources for further assessment and to promote client well-being;

• Riding along with ES, Arlington County Police Department (ACPD), and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) staff to respond to and prevent behavioral health crises;

• Serving as a resource person in crisis management for DHS and community agencies;

• Documenting client online records, clinical logs, and diagnostic reviews to meet local, state, federal, and agency requirements; and

• Organizing clinical material for peer review and supervisory discussions.

The successful candidate will have a desire and ability to work under uncertain conditions and for unknown hours; possess assessment skills, critical thinking, and a working knowledge of comorbid medical conditions in the chronically mentally ill and/or dual diagnosed; proven success working both independently and as part of a team; and outstanding communication skills to work under extreme stress with behaviorally dysregulated clients and confused and overwhelmed families.

Arlington County DHS is committed to delivering client services in an effective, equitable, respectful, and trauma-informed manner. Our staff is dedicated to ensuring our clients are approached, engaged and cared for in ways that demonstrate competency, sensitivity and awareness of factors which impact the client experience including but not limited to: cultural identity, gender, racial, and ethnic diversity, religious/spiritual ascription, physical capability, cognitive and literacy levels, sexual orientation, and linguistic needs. People with lived experience and expertise of homelessness or other affordable housing or housing subsidy programs are encouraged to apply.

Minimum: 

• Bachelor’s degree in Nursing from an accredited college or university;

• Considerable experience providing nursing care in a psychiatric setting serving clients with mental health, substance abuse, or developmental disabilities that demonstrates knowledge of the impact they have on physical health; and

• Must be licensed as a Registered Nurse in the Commonwealth of Virginia or by endorsement from another state to practice professional nursing in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Substitution: Education may be substituted by additional directly related experience on a year-for-year basis.

Desirable: Preference may be given to candidates with one or more of the following:

• Community or inpatient psychiatric experience;

• Experience performing technical nursing procedures, administering medications, and developing solutions that integrate the client's primary care status with the client's psychiatric treatment goals; and/or

• Emergency Services prescreen certification. 

Driver’s License: Applicant must possess, or obtain by time of appointment, a valid driver license, or the ability to use alternative methods of transportation to perform duties at other locations and if applicable, must provide or authorize Arlington County to obtain a copy of official driving record. Any offer of employment may be contingent upon favorable review of the applicants driving record.

Work Hours: 40 hours per week including evenings, holidays, and weekends depending upon the needs of the agency. Multiple shifts available: 7:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., 3:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m., and 11:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m.

Your responses to the Supplemental Questionnaire are considered part of the selection process. Please do not enter "see resume" as a response to the questions. 

Each section of the application must be completed. A resume may be attached; however, it will not substitute for the completed application. Incomplete applications will not be considered. 

All Psychiatric Nurses are eligible for County government employee benefits that include health, dental, vacation and sick leave, commuter transportation subsidies, tuition reimbursement, as well as a generous retirement plan.

For more information on Arlington County’s generous benefits and retirement plan, click here.

Arlington County is committed to advancing diversity, equity, access, and inclusion across all our services, activities, and programs. Learn more about our commitment.

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