ABOLISHED 02/05/2015 PER PAY LETTER 15-09 - Mental Health Nurse Series

California State Personnel Board Specification

Series established March 7, 1984

Scope

This series specification describes two Mental Health Nurse classes used in the Department of Mental Health.

Definition of Series

The Mental Health Nurse series of classes describes work concerned with mental health nursing consultation to individuals, and public and private mental health agencies on matters pertaining to the provision of mental health care services, the development of standards, the training and education of county provider staff who are responsible for providing mental health care services, and quality assurance program evaluation.

Entry Level

Entry into this series may be at any level.

Factors Affecting Position Allocation

Factors affecting position allocation include the size, scope and complexity of the program in which the Mental Health Nurse works, independence of action and responsibility for decisions, functional supervision received and functional supervision exercised.

Definition of Levels

Mental Health Nurse I

Under supervision of the utilization review and medical assistance section chief within an assigned service area, does consultation and training for local, public and private mental health care providers on mental health clinical care issues and quality assurance programs for part of or a total program; does quality assurance program evaluations and enforcement; and does other related work.

Mental Health Nurse II

Under general direction of the utilization review and medical assistance section chief within an assigned service area, exercises considerable independent judgment in the provision of complex consultation, training, mental health clinical program planning, design and implementation for local public and private mental health care providers on mental health clinical issues and quality assurance programs; does quality assurance program evaluations and enforcement; has lead responsibility over other Mental Health Nurses (I and II) in specific assignments; and does other related work.

Minimum Qualifications

Mental Health Nurse I

Experience: Two years of professional mental health nursing experience which must have included mental health clinical and quality assurance consultation, program planning, implementation and evaluation. and

Education: Possession of a master's degree from an accredited school in nursing supervision, education, administration, consultation, hospital administration, mental health or medical care administration. (Two additional years of general mental health nursing experience may substitute for possession of the required master's degree.)

Mental Health Nurse II

Either I

Two years of experience performing the duties of a Mental Health Nurse I in the California state service.

Or II

Experience: Three years of professional mental health nursing experience which must have included mental health clinical and quality assurance consultation program planning, implementation and evaluation. and

Education: Possession of a Master's Degree from an accredited school in nursing supervision, education, administration, consultation, hospital administration, mental health or medical care administration. (Two additional years of general mental health nursing experience may substitute for possession of the required master's degree.)

Knowledges

Mental Health Nurse I

Knowledge of: Principles, methods and procedures of nursing as applied to the delivery of mental health care; local public and private mental health programs; Mental Health Act, Short-Doyle and Short-Doyle medical programs; State and Federal mental health and quality assurance legislation; quality assurance program components and evaluation; current philosophies and patterns of mental health nursing; consultation techniques; principles of training.

Mental Health Nurse II

In addition to the above, principles of mental health clinical program planning, design and implementation methodology; current trends in mental health nursing education; principles and practices of effective leadership.

Abilities

Ability to: Establish and maintain cooperative relationships with department personnel, with local public and private mental health care providers and other social and mental health and health agencies; analyze situations accurately and take effective action; be flexible in approach to the solution of problems; communicate effectively; and prepare reports.

In addition, apply principles of administration and leadership in mental health clinical care; and assist local mental health care administrators and providers to plan with others in meeting community mental health care needs.

Class History