Job Description

Position Title: Behavioral Health Nurse – Contract Position, Ventura, Ca

Department: Clinical Services / Recuperative Care

Reports To: Director of Nursing / Nursing Manager

Work Schedule: Contract Base Position

Do YOU meet the REQUIRED MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS for this position? If so, this is the PERFECT POSITION for you! APPLY NOW!

The Behavioral Health Nurse is responsible for supporting the mental, emotional, and behavioral health needs of guests within NHF recuperative care and supportive housing programs. This role provides trauma-informed nursing care, behavioral health support, crisis intervention, medication monitoring, and collaboration with interdisciplinary teams to promote guest stability, wellness, and successful program engagement.

The Behavioral Health Nurse plays a critical role in supporting guests experiencing mental health conditions, substance use disorders, behavioral challenges, and co-occurring medical conditions while ensuring a safe and therapeutic environment for guests and staff.

Work Environment:

This role operates within recuperative care and supportive service environments serving vulnerable populations, including individuals experiencing homelessness, behavioral health conditions, and complex medical and psychosocial needs.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

Behavioral Health Support

• Conduct behavioral health nursing assessments and ongoing monitoring of guests.
• Observe, document, and report changes in mental status, mood, behaviors, or emotional well-being.
• Support guests experiencing anxiety, depression, psychosis, trauma responses, substance use challenges, or behavioral crises.
• Utilize trauma-informed and de-escalation techniques during guest interactions.
• Assist with crisis intervention and behavioral stabilization efforts.

Medication Management

• Support in monitoring prescribed medications in accordance with physician orders and NHF protocols.
• Monitor guests for medication compliance, side effects, adverse reactions, and behavioral responses.
• Coordinate medication refills and behavioral health follow-up appointments.

Collaboration & Care Coordination

• Work closely with Social Services, Case Managers, Program Managers, and external behavioral health providers.
• Participate in interdisciplinary case conferences and discharge planning.
• Communicate behavioral health concerns and recommendations to leadership and treatment teams.

Safety & Compliance

• Maintain accurate and timely nursing documentation.
• Ensure compliance with HIPAA, infection control, and NHF policies and procedures.
• Support a safe environment by identifying behavioral risks and escalating concerns appropriately.
• Participate in incident reporting and follow-up investigations as needed.

Training & Support

• Provide behavioral health education and support to staff when appropriate.
• Assist with staff development related to de-escalation, trauma-informed care, and behavioral health awareness.
• Model professionalism, compassion, and appropriate guest boundaries at all times.

NHF Core Expectations:

Employees are expected to:

• Maintain professional boundaries with guests and staff.
• Support NHF’s mission, values, and culture.
• Demonstrate professionalism, accountability, teamwork, and compassion.
• Adhere to all NHF policies, safety standards, and confidentiality requirements.

National Health Foundation is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Requirements

Qualifications:

Required:

• Active California LVN or RN License in good standing.
• BSN
• Minimum of 2 years nursing experience.
• Experience working with behavioral health, mental health, substance use, homeless services, recuperative care, or crisis intervention populations.
• Knowledge of trauma-informed care and de-escalation techniques.
• Strong communication, documentation, and critical thinking skills.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced and diverse environment.

Required or Strongly Preferred Certifications

1. BLS (Basic Life Support) – Required

• American Heart Association (preferred)
• CPR certification for healthcare providers

2. CPI Certification (Crisis Prevention Intervention) or PMAB (Prevention & Management of Assaultive Behavior)

Training in:

• De-escalation
• Nonviolent crisis intervention
• Behavioral safety response

• Experience in community health, shelter services, or recuperative care settings.

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to stand, walk, bend, and move throughout the facility for extended periods.
• Ability to respond quickly during emergencies or behavioral incidents.
• Ability to lift up to 30 pounds occasionally.

Benefits

PROGRAMS

National Health Foundation is addressing the social determinants of health using several research-proven strategies. We are targeting Food Access, with an emphasis on increasing the availability of health and fresh foods in under-resourced communities, Housing, with a focus on providing shelter and care for individuals who have been released from the hospital, the Built Environment, prioritizing the removal of the barriers to health in the Historic South Los Angeles community, and Education, with a focus on risk prevention and support for pregnant and parenting teens to complete their education. For further details on the programs, please visit our site at: http://nationalhealthfoundation.org