Registered Nurse I (Nights)

DHRM•Danville, VA

3d•Onsite

About The Position

This is an entry-level Registered Nurse position for new graduates or nurses with minimal RN experience, working in the float pool at Southern Virginia Mental Health Institute, a 72-bed Joint Commission-accredited state mental health facility in Danville, Virginia. The nurse assesses patients’ physical and mental conditions and collaborates with patients and the care team to identify needs and develop individualized, person-centered plans aimed at strengthening psychosocial and recovery skills for people with mental illnesses and dual disorders. The role includes safely implementing seclusion and restraints, with attention to patients’ physical and emotional risk factors. The position is on the night shift, 7:00 p.m. to 7:30 a.m., working 12-hour shifts on a non-rotating Pitman schedule. Weekend work is required on a rotating basis, and overtime may be required. New employees complete a consecutive four-week orientation: Week 1 runs 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. with a one-hour lunch, and Weeks 2–4 are scheduled by the Nurse Educator and include some day and night shifts. The facility offers a sign-on and retention bonus to eligible new hires to state service, subject to written agreements, as well as shift differentials. The position is part of the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, which provides structured services for individuals with mental illness, intellectual disability, or substance use service needs.

Requirements

Graduate of a Registered Nurse program.
Current, good-standing Registered Nurse license to practice in Virginia, or license eligibility; a multistate compact endorsement is accepted.
Valid driver’s license that remains active throughout employment.
Knowledge of nursing and psychiatric nursing theory and practice.
Knowledge and skills related to psychosocial rehabilitation and recovery models.
Demonstrated effective interpersonal communication, team-focused care, and a professional approach.
Ability to plan, implement, and evaluate care using knowledge of pharmacology, psychiatric and physical disorders, and the cultural needs of individual psychiatric patients.
Ability to delegate, supervise, and evaluate nursing processes to help solve complex problems.
Successfully complete BLS, Therapeutic Options (TO), and other required training upon employment.
Complete the consecutive four-week new employee orientation.
Successful fingerprint-based criminal history check, drug screen, and reference checks.

Nice To Haves

Experience as a Registered Nurse in a psychiatric, healthcare facility, acute care, long-term care, or correctional setting.
Veteran status or National Service experience.
Bilingual fluency in Spanish and English.

Responsibilities

Assess patients’ physical and mental conditions.
Collaborate with patients and other team members to identify needs and develop individualized, person-centered plans of care.
Support patients in increasing psychosocial and recovery skills.
Safely implement seclusion and restraints, taking patients’ physical and emotional risk factors into account.
Plan, implement, and evaluate nursing care using knowledge of pharmacology, psychiatric and physical disorders, and patients’ cultural needs.
Serve as a clinical resource to staff.
Delegate, supervise, and evaluate nursing processes to help solve complex problems.
Complete required facility training, including BLS and Therapeutic Options.

Benefits

Up to $25,000 in bonuses for eligible Registered Nurses who are new to state service and remain with the facility for two years: a $15,000 sign-on bonus with a one-year written agreement and an additional $10,000 retention bonus paid one year after hire with a one-year written agreement.
Shift differentials: first-shift weekends $5.50 per hour; second-shift weekdays $5.50 per hour and weekends/holidays $6.00 per hour; third-shift weekdays $4.00 per hour and weekends/holidays $7.00 per hour.
13 paid holidays, 12 or more paid vacation days, 8 paid sick days, and 4 or more paid family personal days per year.
Family Medical Leave.
Short- and long-term disability coverage.
Low-cost comprehensive Anthem or AETNA health insurance.
Group life and optional life insurance.
Flexible reimbursement accounts.
Internships, career ladders, and continuing education opportunities.
Referral bonuses.
Student loan repayment opportunities.
Virginia 529 College Savings Plan may be available for this role.
State employee discounts.