Texas Health and Human Services
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Psychiatric Nursing Asst III
role at
Texas Health and Human Services
Date: Dec 24, 2025 Location: Vernon, TX, 76385
Functional Title: Psychiatric Nursing Asst III Job Title: Psychiatric Nursing Asst III Agency: Health & Human Services Comm Department: MaxSecPsych Psychology Posting Number: 11566 Closing Date: 02/23/2026 Posting Audience: Internal and External Occupational Category: Healthcare Support Salary Group: TEXAS-A-14 Salary Range: $3,649.83 - $4,594.50 Pay Frequency: Monthly Shift: Day Additional Shift: Evenings (Second); Days (First); Nights (Third) Telework: Not Eligible for Telework Travel: Up to 5% Regular/Temporary: Regular Full Time/Part Time: Full time FLSA Exempt/Non-Exempt: Nonexempt Facility Location: Vernon State Hospital Job Location City VERNON Job Location Address: 4730 COLLEGE DR Other Locations: Vernon MOS Codes: 4C0X1,68X,HM
Brief Job Description: Will you thrive in an environment where you learn and grow personally and professionally while helping make a positive impact on people’s lives? We welcome your application for this position—a Psychiatric Nursing Assistant III (PNA III) performs complex rehabilitative patient care services work under the clinical supervision of a Registered Nurse (RN) in an inpatient setting. Responsibilities include providing emergency, health, and personal care services; interacting therapeutically with patients; observing, reporting, and documenting patient conditions and behaviors in an electronic record; and participating in individualized and unit-based programming. The PNA III promotes living and social skills to encourage progress toward a less restrictive environment, documents patient behaviors and progress, participates in shift reports and recovery team meetings, performs delegated nursing duties, and may guide and oversee PNA I and II tasks.
Essential Job Functions:
Attend work regularly and work specific shift schedules, rotating schedules, extended shift, and overtime as required.
Implement individualized recovery plans and offer consistent ongoing support to assist patients reaching goals.
Use therapeutic, person-centered communication skills to engage patients promptly and effectively.
Assist with activities of daily living, hygiene, and eating to promote independence and self‑care.
Communicate effectively with team members to promote a positive workplace.
Serve as a participant in the recovery or admissions team, providing ongoing verbal and written communication concerning patients.
Use basic computer skills, documentation skills, and reporting procedures to communicate patient care information clearly and concisely.
Assist the licensed nurse in monitoring patients for medication administration or treatment, including taking vital signs and performing other assigned tasks within competency level.
Promote safety through continuous environmental awareness and positive engagement of patients to minimize unsafe situations and injuries.
Encourage patient participation in classes and programs offered, co‑facilitating groups as assigned or requested.
Respond to crisis or psychiatric emergency situations using least restrictive intervention, verbal de‑escalation under direct RN supervision, and apply Treatment Intervention Protection Strategies (TIPS).
Perform CPR/Heimlich techniques and use an Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) safely in accordance with American Heart Association specifications.
Provide RN with timely, clinically relevant patient information gained by direct observation/interaction with patients to promote safety.
Guide and supervise PNA I and II in performing RN‑assigned duties to maintain smooth patient care provision.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
Knowledge of patient care techniques and of treatment, therapy, developmental, and patient‑centered recovery programs.
Knowledge of basic computer skills.
Knowledge of effective interpersonal and leadership skills and ability to interact with other team members using effective interpersonal skills.
Skills in taking vital signs.
Ability to read, write and understand English to effectively communicate and carry out verbal and written instructions.
Ability to provide patient care, administer first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and conduct TIPS.
Ability to work with others and accept supervision.
Ability to train and provide guidance to others.
Registrations, Licensure Requirements or Certifications:
Valid Texas driver license, or obtain within 90 days of hire date.
CPR certification within first 60 days of employment.
Initial Screening Criteria:
At least two (2) years’ work experience.
One year of psychiatric patient experience or direct care required.
Additional Information:
Two years of patient experience or direct care preferred.
Applicants must pass fingerprint criminal background check, pre‑employment drug screen, and registry checks including CANRS, Nurse Aid, Medication Aide, and Employee Misconduct. Males 18‑25 must register with Selective Service.
All applicants must be at least 18 years of age for state‑operated facility employment. Waco Center for Youth applicants must be 21 years of age.
Flexibility in work hours may be required; overtime and extended hours are possible.
Compliance with HHSC immunization policy and state hospital operating procedures related to immunizations is required. Vaccination is mandatory for employees; if not vaccinated for influenza, a mask and protective measures may be required.
Active‑Duty, Military, Reservists, Guardsmen, and Veterans are invited to apply.
ADA accommodations will be provided as needed.
Background and eligibility checks will be required.
Legal Notice: Texas Health and Human Services is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or veteran status.
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Psychiatric Nursing Asst III
role at
Texas Health and Human Services
Date: Dec 24, 2025 Location: Vernon, TX, 76385
Functional Title: Psychiatric Nursing Asst III Job Title: Psychiatric Nursing Asst III Agency: Health & Human Services Comm Department: MaxSecPsych Psychology Posting Number: 11566 Closing Date: 02/23/2026 Posting Audience: Internal and External Occupational Category: Healthcare Support Salary Group: TEXAS-A-14 Salary Range: $3,649.83 - $4,594.50 Pay Frequency: Monthly Shift: Day Additional Shift: Evenings (Second); Days (First); Nights (Third) Telework: Not Eligible for Telework Travel: Up to 5% Regular/Temporary: Regular Full Time/Part Time: Full time FLSA Exempt/Non-Exempt: Nonexempt Facility Location: Vernon State Hospital Job Location City VERNON Job Location Address: 4730 COLLEGE DR Other Locations: Vernon MOS Codes: 4C0X1,68X,HM
Brief Job Description: Will you thrive in an environment where you learn and grow personally and professionally while helping make a positive impact on people’s lives? We welcome your application for this position—a Psychiatric Nursing Assistant III (PNA III) performs complex rehabilitative patient care services work under the clinical supervision of a Registered Nurse (RN) in an inpatient setting. Responsibilities include providing emergency, health, and personal care services; interacting therapeutically with patients; observing, reporting, and documenting patient conditions and behaviors in an electronic record; and participating in individualized and unit-based programming. The PNA III promotes living and social skills to encourage progress toward a less restrictive environment, documents patient behaviors and progress, participates in shift reports and recovery team meetings, performs delegated nursing duties, and may guide and oversee PNA I and II tasks.
Essential Job Functions:
Attend work regularly and work specific shift schedules, rotating schedules, extended shift, and overtime as required.
Implement individualized recovery plans and offer consistent ongoing support to assist patients reaching goals.
Use therapeutic, person-centered communication skills to engage patients promptly and effectively.
Assist with activities of daily living, hygiene, and eating to promote independence and self‑care.
Communicate effectively with team members to promote a positive workplace.
Serve as a participant in the recovery or admissions team, providing ongoing verbal and written communication concerning patients.
Use basic computer skills, documentation skills, and reporting procedures to communicate patient care information clearly and concisely.
Assist the licensed nurse in monitoring patients for medication administration or treatment, including taking vital signs and performing other assigned tasks within competency level.
Promote safety through continuous environmental awareness and positive engagement of patients to minimize unsafe situations and injuries.
Encourage patient participation in classes and programs offered, co‑facilitating groups as assigned or requested.
Respond to crisis or psychiatric emergency situations using least restrictive intervention, verbal de‑escalation under direct RN supervision, and apply Treatment Intervention Protection Strategies (TIPS).
Perform CPR/Heimlich techniques and use an Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) safely in accordance with American Heart Association specifications.
Provide RN with timely, clinically relevant patient information gained by direct observation/interaction with patients to promote safety.
Guide and supervise PNA I and II in performing RN‑assigned duties to maintain smooth patient care provision.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
Knowledge of patient care techniques and of treatment, therapy, developmental, and patient‑centered recovery programs.
Knowledge of basic computer skills.
Knowledge of effective interpersonal and leadership skills and ability to interact with other team members using effective interpersonal skills.
Skills in taking vital signs.
Ability to read, write and understand English to effectively communicate and carry out verbal and written instructions.
Ability to provide patient care, administer first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and conduct TIPS.
Ability to work with others and accept supervision.
Ability to train and provide guidance to others.
Registrations, Licensure Requirements or Certifications:
Valid Texas driver license, or obtain within 90 days of hire date.
CPR certification within first 60 days of employment.
Initial Screening Criteria:
At least two (2) years’ work experience.
One year of psychiatric patient experience or direct care required.
Additional Information:
Two years of patient experience or direct care preferred.
Applicants must pass fingerprint criminal background check, pre‑employment drug screen, and registry checks including CANRS, Nurse Aid, Medication Aide, and Employee Misconduct. Males 18‑25 must register with Selective Service.
All applicants must be at least 18 years of age for state‑operated facility employment. Waco Center for Youth applicants must be 21 years of age.
Flexibility in work hours may be required; overtime and extended hours are possible.
Compliance with HHSC immunization policy and state hospital operating procedures related to immunizations is required. Vaccination is mandatory for employees; if not vaccinated for influenza, a mask and protective measures may be required.
Active‑Duty, Military, Reservists, Guardsmen, and Veterans are invited to apply.
ADA accommodations will be provided as needed.
Background and eligibility checks will be required.
Legal Notice: Texas Health and Human Services is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or veteran status.
#J-18808-Ljbffr