Ventura County
Overview
Under general direction, provides clinical supervision and coordination of mental health nursing services for the Ventura County Inpatient Psychiatric unit. This role ensures patients receive appropriate, high-quality, and cost-effective mental health nursing care. It requires collaboration across multidisciplinary teams, adherence to regulatory standards, and active participation in quality and compliance efforts.
The Senior Registered Nurse-Mental Health is distinguished from Senior Registered Nurse-Mental Health Acute Care in that the latter supervises mental health nursing services on a 24-hour basis and coordinates nursing services with interdisciplinary functions during assigned shifts.
Ideal Candidate The ideal candidate is an experienced Mental Health Nurse with a background in utilization review and discharge planning, and extensive experience in an inpatient mental health hospital setting delivering care to patients with complex medical and mental health needs. They are compassionate, adaptable, and demonstrate sound clinical judgment. The candidate is an experienced leader competent in crisis intervention, medication management, and safety protocols, while consistently showing empathy and effective collaboration.
Payroll Title and Salary Senior Registered Nurse-Mental Health: $59.22 - $70.81 hourly
Benefits The County of Ventura offers a competitive compensation and benefits package. In addition to salary, eligible employees may receive additional incentives subject to the applicable Memorandum of Agreement. For more details, see the links below:
Regular
– Regular CNA Benefits
Agency/Department Health Care Agency - Ventura County Medical Center. Senior Registered Nurse-Mental Health is represented by the California Nurses' Association (CNA) and is eligible for overtime compensation. Salary placement will follow the current CNA memorandum of agreement. The eligible list may be used to fill current and future Regular (including Temporary and Fixed-Term), Intermittent, and Extra Help vacancies. There is currently one Regular vacancy. The shift for the vacancy will be determined by unit needs.
Schedule Tentative schedule information is provided below. Dates are subject to change based on business needs.
Opening Date:
September 22, 2025
Closing Date:
Continuous and may close at any time; the process depends on the number of qualified applications received.
First Review of Applications:
October 6, 2025
Duties
Provides direct, expert emergency mental health service to persons in crisis and their families.
Plans, with a multidisciplinary team, health service programs to meet needs and provide continuity of care for inpatients, including utilization management, transfer coordination, discharge planning, and securing necessary approvals for outside services.
Initiates and conducts regular evaluation and revision of nursing personnel and operations in the Inpatient Psychiatric unit.
Implements nursing processes: assessment, planning, implementation of care, evaluation of patient responses, and revision of plans as needed.
Recommends alternate levels of care when medical necessity for inpatient hospitalization is not met and ensures compliance with federal, state, and local requirements.
Adheres to regulatory, accreditation, and compliance guidelines, and Post Stabilization notifications.
Acts as liaison and case manager between the inpatient facility and referral agencies; refers patients to community resources for post-hospital needs; coordinates transfers and maintains documentation.
Assists with program planning, evaluation, and review; performs daily clinical reviews to support utilization and quality management across outpatient, emergency, inpatient, and non-KFH settings.
Adheres to internal and external regulatory and compliance guidelines; reports unusual occurrences.
Develops and assigns staffing patterns; educates team members on discharge planning and resource use.
Reviews and analyzes utilization patterns, contributes to data collection and analysis for studies, projects, planning, and monitoring.
Orients new nursing staff, students, volunteers, and other professional groups.
Evaluates and provides clinical supervision in staff development, work performance, treatment plans, medication procedures, equipment use, and inter-staff relationships.
Assists in budgetary planning and evaluation; supervises field placement of students; provides direct service to a regular caseload of patients and families.
Provides consultation and education to individuals, agencies, and community partners (including social services, law enforcement, and referral resources).
Performs other related duties as required.
These are entrance requirements to the examination process and do not guarantee continuance or placement on an eligible list.
Education, Training, and Experience
Requires four (4) years of full-time professional registered nursing experience, including two (2) years in mental health nursing.
One (1) of the four years must be in a charge nurse capacity.
Necessary Special Requirements
Must possess and maintain a current, valid license as a Registered Nurse issued by the State of California.
Must possess a current Basic Life Support (BLS/CPR) certification by the first day of employment and maintain it thereafter.
Must possess a current Crisis Intervention (CPI) certification within six (6) months of hire and maintain it thereafter.
Must possess a current Violence Prevention (AVADE) certification within six (6) months of hire and maintain it thereafter.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Thorough knowledge of professional nursing theories, mental health nursing practices, human growth and development, current mental health treatment approaches, resources and their interrelationships, mental health laws, and related patient care.
Ability to participate in comprehensive planning with a multidisciplinary team; make independent decisions for patients; provide effective supervision and leadership; maintain confidentiality; train and develop staff; establish and maintain professional relationships; communicate effectively in writing and verbally.
Supplemental information: Duties may be performed in a variety of inpatient settings; tasks may range from sedentary to crisis-response activities.
Final Filing Date This is a continuous recruitment and may close at any time. Applications must be received by 5:00 p.m. on the closing date. To apply online, visit www.ventura.org/jobs. For paper applications, contact County of Ventura Human Resources.
Transfers and Questions Lateral Transfer:
If currently employed in a similar public agency position, lateral transfer may be possible. More information is available online.
Note to Applicants Please complete all sections of the application and supplemental questionnaire thoroughly. A resume may be attached to supplement the information, but not in lieu of the application. All applicants must complete the supplemental questionnaire. Application evaluation will determine licensure and certification. The eligible list may be valid for one year. Pre-employment background investigation may be required.
Equal Employment Opportunity The County of Ventura is an equal opportunity employer and prohibits discrimination on the basis of age, ancestry, color, disability, gender, gender identity, marital status, medical condition, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status.
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The Senior Registered Nurse-Mental Health is distinguished from Senior Registered Nurse-Mental Health Acute Care in that the latter supervises mental health nursing services on a 24-hour basis and coordinates nursing services with interdisciplinary functions during assigned shifts.
Ideal Candidate The ideal candidate is an experienced Mental Health Nurse with a background in utilization review and discharge planning, and extensive experience in an inpatient mental health hospital setting delivering care to patients with complex medical and mental health needs. They are compassionate, adaptable, and demonstrate sound clinical judgment. The candidate is an experienced leader competent in crisis intervention, medication management, and safety protocols, while consistently showing empathy and effective collaboration.
Payroll Title and Salary Senior Registered Nurse-Mental Health: $59.22 - $70.81 hourly
Benefits The County of Ventura offers a competitive compensation and benefits package. In addition to salary, eligible employees may receive additional incentives subject to the applicable Memorandum of Agreement. For more details, see the links below:
Regular
– Regular CNA Benefits
Agency/Department Health Care Agency - Ventura County Medical Center. Senior Registered Nurse-Mental Health is represented by the California Nurses' Association (CNA) and is eligible for overtime compensation. Salary placement will follow the current CNA memorandum of agreement. The eligible list may be used to fill current and future Regular (including Temporary and Fixed-Term), Intermittent, and Extra Help vacancies. There is currently one Regular vacancy. The shift for the vacancy will be determined by unit needs.
Schedule Tentative schedule information is provided below. Dates are subject to change based on business needs.
Opening Date:
September 22, 2025
Closing Date:
Continuous and may close at any time; the process depends on the number of qualified applications received.
First Review of Applications:
October 6, 2025
Duties
Provides direct, expert emergency mental health service to persons in crisis and their families.
Plans, with a multidisciplinary team, health service programs to meet needs and provide continuity of care for inpatients, including utilization management, transfer coordination, discharge planning, and securing necessary approvals for outside services.
Initiates and conducts regular evaluation and revision of nursing personnel and operations in the Inpatient Psychiatric unit.
Implements nursing processes: assessment, planning, implementation of care, evaluation of patient responses, and revision of plans as needed.
Recommends alternate levels of care when medical necessity for inpatient hospitalization is not met and ensures compliance with federal, state, and local requirements.
Adheres to regulatory, accreditation, and compliance guidelines, and Post Stabilization notifications.
Acts as liaison and case manager between the inpatient facility and referral agencies; refers patients to community resources for post-hospital needs; coordinates transfers and maintains documentation.
Assists with program planning, evaluation, and review; performs daily clinical reviews to support utilization and quality management across outpatient, emergency, inpatient, and non-KFH settings.
Adheres to internal and external regulatory and compliance guidelines; reports unusual occurrences.
Develops and assigns staffing patterns; educates team members on discharge planning and resource use.
Reviews and analyzes utilization patterns, contributes to data collection and analysis for studies, projects, planning, and monitoring.
Orients new nursing staff, students, volunteers, and other professional groups.
Evaluates and provides clinical supervision in staff development, work performance, treatment plans, medication procedures, equipment use, and inter-staff relationships.
Assists in budgetary planning and evaluation; supervises field placement of students; provides direct service to a regular caseload of patients and families.
Provides consultation and education to individuals, agencies, and community partners (including social services, law enforcement, and referral resources).
Performs other related duties as required.
These are entrance requirements to the examination process and do not guarantee continuance or placement on an eligible list.
Education, Training, and Experience
Requires four (4) years of full-time professional registered nursing experience, including two (2) years in mental health nursing.
One (1) of the four years must be in a charge nurse capacity.
Necessary Special Requirements
Must possess and maintain a current, valid license as a Registered Nurse issued by the State of California.
Must possess a current Basic Life Support (BLS/CPR) certification by the first day of employment and maintain it thereafter.
Must possess a current Crisis Intervention (CPI) certification within six (6) months of hire and maintain it thereafter.
Must possess a current Violence Prevention (AVADE) certification within six (6) months of hire and maintain it thereafter.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Thorough knowledge of professional nursing theories, mental health nursing practices, human growth and development, current mental health treatment approaches, resources and their interrelationships, mental health laws, and related patient care.
Ability to participate in comprehensive planning with a multidisciplinary team; make independent decisions for patients; provide effective supervision and leadership; maintain confidentiality; train and develop staff; establish and maintain professional relationships; communicate effectively in writing and verbally.
Supplemental information: Duties may be performed in a variety of inpatient settings; tasks may range from sedentary to crisis-response activities.
Final Filing Date This is a continuous recruitment and may close at any time. Applications must be received by 5:00 p.m. on the closing date. To apply online, visit www.ventura.org/jobs. For paper applications, contact County of Ventura Human Resources.
Transfers and Questions Lateral Transfer:
If currently employed in a similar public agency position, lateral transfer may be possible. More information is available online.
Note to Applicants Please complete all sections of the application and supplemental questionnaire thoroughly. A resume may be attached to supplement the information, but not in lieu of the application. All applicants must complete the supplemental questionnaire. Application evaluation will determine licensure and certification. The eligible list may be valid for one year. Pre-employment background investigation may be required.
Equal Employment Opportunity The County of Ventura is an equal opportunity employer and prohibits discrimination on the basis of age, ancestry, color, disability, gender, gender identity, marital status, medical condition, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status.
#J-18808-Ljbffr