Job Description

Posting number: 2026-05807

Department: Dept. of Social and Health Services

Division: BHHA

Job classification: REGISTERED NURSE 4

Posting type: Open & Promotional

Categories: Nursing, Medical

Summary

DSHS WSH – Clinical Risk Management Director (Registered Nurse 4)

Join our team as the Clinical Risk Management Director (Registered Nurse 4) at Western State Hospital's Gage Center of Excellence in Lakewood, where you will lead the development and oversight of a comprehensive clinical risk management program that promotes patient safety, quality care, and regulatory compliance.

In this critical leadership role, you will proactively identify and mitigate clinical risks, oversee investigations of serious reportable events, guide Root Cause Analyses, and provide data-driven recommendations that strengthen patient care and organizational decision-making. Working collaboratively with executive leadership and multidisciplinary teams, you will foster a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and harm prevention to support safe, high-quality psychiatric care.

Some of what you'll do:

• Lead and oversee the Clinical Risk Management program, establishing policies, procedures, goals, and best practices that support patient safety and organizational priorities.
• Direct proactive and reactive reviews of patient safety events, injuries, allegations of abuse or neglect, sentinel events, and other clinical risks to improve quality of care.
• Conduct comprehensive risk assessments, analyze trends, and provide evidence-based recommendations to executive leadership to reduce risk and strengthen clinical outcomes.
• Lead and facilitate Risk Management Committee meetings and coordinate Root Cause Analyses for serious reportable events, ensuring timely reporting and corrective action.
• Collaborate with executive leadership, quality improvement, investigations, patient rights, and multidisciplinary clinical teams to ensure regulatory compliance and coordinated risk response.
• Ensure compliance with state and federal reporting requirements, including reporting credible findings of abuse or neglect and Serious Reportable Events to the Washington State Department of Health.
• Supervise, mentor, and develop Clinical Risk Management staff while overseeing onboarding, training, workload distribution, and standardized review processes.
• Prepare and present comprehensive reports, data analyses, and performance metrics that inform leadership decisions, policy development, and continuous quality improvement initiatives.

Desired skills, knowledge, and abilities:

• Demonstrated experience leading Clinical Risk Management programs within healthcare or inpatient psychiatric settings.
• Strong knowledge of Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), Washington Administrative Code (WAC), Revised Code of Washington (RCW), and other applicable regulatory requirements for inpatient psychiatric hospitals.
• Proven leadership, supervisory, and team-building skills with the ability to guide multidisciplinary teams and drive organizational improvements.
• Experience conducting medical record reviews, clinical investigations, Root Cause Analyses, and evaluating patient safety events.
• Knowledge of clinical risk management principles, quality improvement methodologies, and evidence-based decision-making practices.
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills with the ability to present complex information to clinical staff and executive leadership.
• Ability to analyze, interpret, and communicate clinical risk data and trends.

Who should apply?

We are searching for professionals who have:

• Graduated from an accredited school of professional nursing
• AND
• Have at least four (4) years of professional nursing experience, including two (2) years serving in a lead capacity over other nursing personnel.

Note: Applicants must also possess a valid Washington State license to practice as a Registered Nurse.

Substitutions:

• A bachelor's degree or higher in nursing may substitute for two (2) years of non-supervisory nursing experience.
• One (1) year of full-time nursing instruction may substitute for one (1) year of supervisory experience.

Additional information:

• Work schedule: 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday
• Pierce County employees are eligible to receive an Orca Card for transportation needs.
• Opportunities performed on-site at this work location at least three days a week may be eligible for an additional 5% premium pay in addition to the advertised salary.

About Western State Hospital

Located in Lakewood, Washington, Western State Hospital is one of the largest psychiatric hospitals in the state, providing inpatient mental health treatment for individuals with serious or long-term psychiatric conditions. Established in 1871, the hospital has a long history of serving Washington communities by offering comprehensive psychiatric care, treatment, and rehabilitation services. As part of the Department of Social and Health Services, Western State Hospital plays a vital role in helping patients stabilize, recover, and reintegrate into the community whenever possible. Our dedicated healthcare professionals work in a collaborative environment to provide compassionate, evidence-based care, making a meaningful difference in the lives of those we serve.

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Ready to start a rewarding career? Apply today!

Along with your application, please include:

• An updated resume
• Three professional references with contact information

Questions?

Please reach out to DSHS Recruiter Ricky Luna at ricky.luna@dshs.wa.gov and reference job number #05807.

The Department of Social and Health Services’ (DSHS) vision that people find human services to shape their own lives requires that we come together with a sense of belonging, common purpose, shared values, and meaningful work. It is crucial to our agency’s vision that you bring a fairness, access, and social justice commitment to your work with DSHS. We strive to support all Washingtonians, including Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, people with physical, behavioral health, and intellectual disabilities, elders, LGBTQIA+ individuals, immigrants and refugees, and families building financial security.

Supplemental information

Prior to a new hire, a background check including criminal record history may be conducted. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant’s suitability and competence to perform in the job. This announcement may be used to fill multiple vacancies. Employees driving on state business must have a valid driver's license. Employees driving a privately owned vehicle on state business must have liability insurance on the privately owned vehicle.

Washington State Department of Social and Health Services is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in any area of employment, its programs or services on the basis of age, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity/expression, marital status, race, creed, color, national origin, religion or beliefs, political affiliation, military status, honorably discharged veteran, Vietnam Era, recently separated or other protect­ed veteran status, the presence of any sensory, mental, physical disability or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability, equal pay or genetic information. Persons requiring accommodation in the application process or this job announcement in an alternative format may contact the Recruiter at (360) 725-5810. Applicants who are deaf or hard of hearing may call through Washington Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6384.

Relationship and Reporting Structure (Nepotism) Disclosure: If you are selected for hire, you must disclose whether you have a relative, household member, close friend, or romantic partner within your potential supervisory chain of command. DSHS has a Relationships and the Reporting Structure policy that prohibits nepotism and can be reviewed here. Applicants whose appointment would result in a prohibited reporting relationship are not eligible for appointment to that position.

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