Psychiatric Nurse I/II (Bilingual)

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE 

The ideal candidate will be a dependable and skilled nursing professional who demonstrates sound clinical judgment, effective communication, and the ability to work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary treatment environment. This individual will be able to perform in a fast-paced acute psychiatric setting, maintain professionalism in challenging situations, and apply established nursing practices to support patient assessment, treatment, and stabilization. A strong candidate will demonstrate the ability to engage with patients respectfully, contribute to a safe and therapeutic milieu, and carry out assigned duties with accuracy, consistency, and adherence to established standards of care. 

TENTATIVE RECRUITMENT SCHEDULE

Application Deadline: May 4, 2026

Oral Examination: May 14, 2026

To learn more about Behavioral Health & Recovery Services, visit https://www.stancounty.com/bhrs/

THE POSITION 

We are looking for bilingual (English/Spanish) candidates who are skilled in providing compassionate psychiatric care in a fast-paced inpatient setting. Candidates who are passionate about serving diverse communities and committed to supporting the mental health needs of Stanislaus County are encouraged to apply.

This position will work as a multidisciplinary team and will engage clients regarding their mental health and physical health including psychoeducation and medication education. The eligibility list established will be used to fill Full-Time, Part-Time and Extra Help Psychiatric Nurse I/II positions throughout the Behavioral Health and Recovery Services department.

Stanislaus County Behavioral Health and Recovery Services (BHRS) is seeking qualified applicants for the position of Psychiatric Nurse I/II, serving children, adult and older adults in various outpatient program sites. Scope of services include outpatient psychiatric services, substance use disorder services, behavioral education and prevention, and advocacy. The Psychiatric Nurse I position is the entry level position in the series. The Psychiatric Nurse II position requires one year or more paid experience as a psychiatric nurse or trainee. This position is subject to overtime, shift work, working holidays and weekends, standby, and callback assignments.

Stanislaus County adheres to all Public Health Orders and is committed to providing a safe and healthy work environment. To view the current Public Health orders, please visit the California Department of Public Health website for more information at https://www.cdph.ca.gov/.

• Assist in the promotion and maintenance of quality of care through the review of clinical documentation
• Meet with clients to monitor for medication efficacy and side effects
• Follow through with recommendations from the physician in the medication management of clients
• Prepare clinical documentation on a daily basis on multiple clients
• May complete pharmacy orders
• May complete pre-authorizations for prescriptions
• Administer IM medications, also including charting responses and progress in accordance with treatment plans
• Provide education on the physical and psychological effects of medication and its relationships to the overall treatment plan
• May assist in completing referrals to other agencies
• Perform initial assessments, provide crisis intervention and follow-up communication
• Provide support to clients and their families
• May provide crisis assessments and 5150 referrals, as well as Lanterman-Petris Short (LPS) placement facilitation
• Utilize an electronic health record for documentation purposes
• Adhere to strict timelines with documentation through same day notification
• May provide community presentations and education
• Adhere to department and County confidentiality standards
• Participate on Quality Management teams with other disciplines and agencies
• Promote positive customer relations
• Work collaboratively as part of a multidisciplinary team
• Communicate with other health providers and community agencies to coordinate care
• Perform other duties as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE 

Psychodynamic procedures and fundamentals of psychotherapy

• Basic diagnostic categories of mental illness
• Psychopharmacology
• Disease entities, interventions, and nursing procedures.

SKILLS/ABILITIES

• Establish rapport with clients and communicate with empathy
• Establish and maintain effective communication/working
• relationships with other mental health/agency professionals
• Keep accurate records and prepare clear and concise nursing reports
• Provide consultation to colleagues and other participants in the program(s)
• Deal with people who may be combative.

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE

EDUCATION FOR ALL LEVELS

Psychiatric Nurse I/II

• Graduation from an accredited school or registered nursing program
• Valid License as a Registered Nurse issued by the State of California
• BLS CPR for Healthcare Providers

Psychiatric Nurse I

• No experience required

Psychiatric Nurse II

• One year or more of paid experience as a psychiatric nurse or trainee

Proof of education and certification(s) are required for verification purposes at the time of application. Applicants who are unable to submit proof must call 209-525-6112 to make other arrangements before 5 pm on the final filing date. Failure to submit proof or make other arrangements before the final filing deadline may result in disqualification. 

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

In addition to the minimum qualifications, applicant screening will focus on the following desirable qualifications. Please list any of these qualifications you may have within the "Duties" section of the online application.

• Bilingual proficiency in English/Spanish; ability to pass a certification of oral testing, OR;
• Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing Certification (PMH-BC)

APPLICATION PROCEDURES/FINAL FILING DATE

Applications cannot be submitted later than 5:00 p.m. on the final filing date. Make your online application as complete as possible so a full and realistic appraisal may be made of your qualifications. 

Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of a completed application.

Attaching your resume and cover letter are an optional feature for those who wish to do so in addition to completing the required application. Information on your resume and cover letter will not substitute for the education, work experience and required fields on the County application. The online County application is the primary tool used to evaluate your job qualifications.

EXAMINATION PROCESS
 Most County recruitments consists of the steps detailed below and are governed by Merit Principles. The examination process ensures that all applicants are given the same opportunity to gain employment within Stanislaus County.

• Application Review and Screening. Applications are carefully screened based on information provided. Those who submit incomplete applications that lack relevant qualifications or do not submit all required documents will not be invited to move on. 
• Written Examination. Applicants will be invited to participate in a written exam that tests knowledge for the position. 
• Oral Examination. Applicants are invited to a panel interview in which they will be evaluated by County subject matter experts. 
• Eligible Lists. Candidates who pass the examination will be placed on an eligible list for that classification.  Eligible lists are effective for six months but may be extended up to eighteen months.

GENERAL INFORMATION

CLASSIFICATION INFORMATION

Unless otherwise provided, this position is part of the Classified Service of the County and is assigned to the California Nurse's Association bargaining unit for labor relations purposes.

The Job Task Analysis provides information detailing the physical and functional demands of the classification. For the complete job task analysis, visit the Risk Management website at http://www.stancounty.com/riskmgmt/ under the "Disability" tab.

Note: The eligible list generated from this recruitment may be used to fill future extra-help, part-time and full-time vacancies throughout Stanislaus County.

Incumbents may also be subject to overtime, standby, callback, weekend, holiday and shift assignments as identified in their MOU (Memorandum of Understanding).

RECRUITMENT ACCOMMODATIONS

Arrangements may be made to accommodate disabilities and religious convictions. Applicants requiring testing accommodations are required to complete and submit the Testing Accommodations Request Form prior to the test administration date. Special arrangements for religious convictions should be included in the "Additional Information" section of the application form.

GENERAL QUALIFICATIONS

• Pass County-paid pre-employment job-related background investigation.
• Perform job duties in a manner assuring a safe working environment for oneself and others.
• Maintain confidential information according to the legal standards and/or County regulations as required.
• Some positions may be required to possess and maintain a valid California Driver’s License and meet County insurability requirements.

APPLICATION AND/OR EXAMINATION APPEAL RIGHTS

Application and/or examination results may be appealed by applicants presenting facts alleging irregularity, fraud and/or error in application screening or in exam scoring. Appeals must be in writing and submitted to the Chief Executive Officer within seven (7) days after the examination results are emailed.

DISCLAIMER

Stanislaus County reserves the right to revise the examination plan described in this flyer to better meet the needs of County service. The provisions of this bulletin do not constitute an express or implied contract. Any provision contained in this bulletin may be modified or revoked without notice. The information contained in the bulletin is information which sets forth a general summary of benefits for this respective position. This information is not legally binding. The benefits and other information regarding this position may be found in the Stanislaus County Code, the Stanislaus County Personnel Policies manual, or in the applicable Memorandum of Understanding(s), and such information prevails over information contained in this flyer. Questions regarding this bulletin may be directed to the Stanislaus County Chief Executive Office/Human Relations.

Salary : $94,162 - $121,472