Licensed Vocational Nurse (Sacramento) at Northern California Behavioral Health System

POSITION TITLE: Float Pool Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) / Licensed Psychiatric Technician (LPT)

REPORTS TO (TITLE): Chief Nursing Officer (CNO)

DESCRIPTION OF POSITION

The Float Pool Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) / Licensed Psychiatric Technician (LPT) is a flexible clinical role that supports hospital operations across multiple units based on staffing and patient care needs. The employee is not assigned to a single unit and provides direct inpatient psychiatric care and related admission or referral support as assigned.

The LVN/LPT assists in assigned elements of patients' treatment plans, monitors and reports changes in behavior or condition, administers prescribed medications within applicable scope and policy, and collaborates with registered nurses and the interdisciplinary team. Assignments and clinical supervision are determined by hospital needs and applicable licensure requirements.

This is an in-person, patient-facing role requiring flexibility, sound judgment within scope, and the ability to transition between unit assignments. RN-level assessments, clinical decisions, and functions outside the LVN/LPT scope are referred to the RN or appropriate provider.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Admission and Referral Support

• Support admission processes by orienting new patients to the unit, program, and milieu, and promptly relay patient needs and observations to the RN.
• Accompany and transport patients as assigned, following applicable patient-safety procedures.
• Observe patients' behavior, progress, and safety; promptly communicate changes, concerns, and strengths to the treatment team.
• Participate in treatment planning by sharing observations and implementing assigned interventions under appropriate clinical supervision.
• Assist patients with activities of daily living in accordance with the treatment plan and each patient's needs, age, and developmental level.
• Encourage and facilitate participation in therapeutic activities and co-facilitate educational or community groups as assigned.
• Help maintain a safe, orderly, and therapeutic milieu, including community meetings and observation rounds as assigned.
• Assist Dietary staff in identifying patients with special diets and supporting compliance with dietary orders.
• Provide general nursing care assistance appropriate to assigned patients, within licensure, competency, and charge-nurse direction.

Inpatient Psychiatric Care Duties

• Provide direct patient care under appropriate clinical supervision and within applicable scope of practice and demonstrated competency.
• Administer medications as prescribed and within scope, policy, and competency; observe and promptly report patient response or concerns.
• Monitor assigned patients and report changes in condition, behavior, withdrawal indicators, or safety risks to the RN or charge nurse.
• Participate in treatment planning by communicating patient observations and implementing assigned elements of the treatment plan under supervision.
• Participate in treatment team meetings, shift reports, and hand-offs, providing clear and timely observations about assigned patients.
• Respond to psychiatric crises using approved de-escalation practices and current Handle with Care training; promptly notify the RN or House Supervisor and follow emergency procedures.
• Maintain timely patient, program, and department documentation and complete required incident reports.

Float Pool Expectations

• Adapt to assignments across hospital units and changing patient-care needs for each shift.
• Transition between admission/referral support and inpatient unit care as assigned and within applicable scope.
• Complete orientation and required competency assessments before performing assigned duties independently.
• Collaborate with RNs and interdisciplinary staff, and seek direction when an assignment is outside scope, training, or demonstrated competency.

Requirements

POSITION REQUIREMENTS

Education & Licensure

• High school diploma, General Educational Development (GED), or equivalent.
• Current California Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) or Licensed Psychiatric Technician (LPT) license in good standing.
• Current CPR certification, or obtained during the initial orientation period.
• Handle with Care (HWC) certification, or obtained during the initial orientation period.

Knowledge & Experience

• High school-level reading and writing skills, including legible handwriting.
• Familiarity with medical and psychological terminology and principles of human behavior preferred.
• Ability to identify signs of withdrawal from major classes of abused substances and apply this knowledge in patient care; when needed, develop these skills through orientation and training within a reasonable time frame.
• Ability to complete assigned patient-care, documentation, observation, and milieu responsibilities in accordance with orientation and competency assessments.
• Ability to communicate patient observations and concerns promptly to the RN and other appropriate members of the treatment team.
• Understanding of confidentiality and the need to maintain patient, program, and department records accurately.
• Ability to support treatment-plan implementation and patient participation in therapeutic activities under appropriate supervision.

Skills & Abilities

• Maintain patient confidentiality at all times.
• Interact respectfully and sensitively with people from diverse social, cultural, economic, and educational backgrounds.
• Use strong interpersonal and communication skills with patients, families, and team members.
• Work independently on assigned duties and collaboratively as part of the treatment team.
• Use sound judgment and problem-solving within scope, and seek RN or provider direction when needed.
• Work effectively in a fast-paced environment and maintain concentration amid noise, conversation, and other distractions.
• Maintain self-control in potentially volatile situations and follow approved de-escalation and safety procedures.
• Manage frequent interruptions, shift between tasks and unit assignments, and remain flexible when priorities change.
• Complete observation rounds as assigned and contribute to a safe, therapeutic milieu.

Physical Requirements

While performing the duties of this job, this position is frequently required to do the following:

• Stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, reach, stand, walk, push, pull, lift, and grasp.
• Perceive attributes of objects, such as size, shape, temperature, and texture, by touch, particularly with the fingertips.
• Express and exchange ideas verbally and convey details and instructions accurately, sometimes quickly and loudly.
• Hear sounds with no less than a 40 dB loss at 1000 Hz and 2000 Hz, with or without correction, and make fine discriminations in sound.
• Perform repetitive motions with the wrists, hands, and fingers.
• Exert up to 100 pounds of force occasionally and lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects.
• Have visual acuity, with or without correction, sufficient to complete clerical tasks and observe patients and therapeutic activities.
• Work predominantly indoors; occasional temperature changes may occur, but substantial exposure to adverse environmental conditions is not typical.
• Communicate and perceive detailed information through oral communication as required to perform patient-care and administrative duties.

Benefits

Eligible employees receive holiday premium pay, health, dental & vision insurance, 401(k), healthcare & dependent care spending accounts, generous paid time off, life insurance, company-paid short and long-term disability coverage. Whether you are in intern looking to earn licensing hours, a health care worker looking for PRN work or a professional looking for a career, the opportunities are abundant at Sacramento Behavioral Healthcare Hospital.