Title: LPN, 2nd Shift Monday-Friday

State Role Title: Licensed Practical Nurse

Hiring Range: $53,564 Salary commensurate with experience

Pay Band: 4

Agency: Dept Behavioral Health/Develop

Location: Western State Hospital

Agency Website: https://dbhds.virginia.gov/facilities/wsh/

Recruitment Type: General Public - G

Job Duties

Interested in a Monday–Friday Schedule and up to a $3,000 sign on bonus?

Western State Hospital is hiring Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) for Monday through Friday, 3:00 PM – 11:30 PM shift! No Weekends, No Mandatory Overtime.

Offering following Shift Differential:
2nd shift weekdays $3.50/hr., and weekend/holidays $3.50/hr.

Join our dedicated team and provide high-quality patient care in a safe, therapeutic environment at a state psychiatric facility that operates 24/7. This is a great opportunity to work consistent weekday hours while making a meaningful impact.

Location Western State Hospital
103 Valley Center Drive, Staunton, VA 24401.

Who We Are
Western State Hospital, part of the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS), has been a leader in psychiatric treatment since 1828. WSH is a 302-bed Joint Commission/CMS-accredited psychiatric facility located in the scenic Shenandoah Valley. Just 30 minutes from vibrant university towns, our hospital serves adults with serious mental health needs and is nationally recognized for our Psychosocial Rehabilitation “Learning” programs.

WSH provides a modern clinical setting and a therapeutic environment for patients, supported by highly qualified staff. Employees also enjoy the beauty and tranquility of the Shenandoah Valley, with nearby cities such as Charlottesville and Harrisonburg offering dining, entertainment, and outdoor activities, making Staunton an attractive place to live and work.

Position Overview
LPN will provide direct patient care in a safe, therapeutic environment for a specific patient population in a 24/7 psychiatric hospital that conforms to care and treatment policies and procedures and demonstrates knowledge of population specific needs and competencies.

• Providing quality care as a part of an interdisciplinary team
• Provide work direction to PNA staff, under supervision of an RN
• Maintaining accountability in a safe, secure, and therapeutic environment
• Creating healthy interpersonal interactions on adult acute admissions unit, geriatric unit, and extended rehabilitation service unit
• Observing and reporting feedback regarding interventions, treatments, behaviors, physical and emotional wellbeing, and other situations
• Documenting and communicating
• Using specialized training for promoting mental wellness recovery
• Prioritizes time to meet patient’s needs and provides direct patient care duties as assigned and when finished with medication administration.
• Implements all individual treatment plans as written.
• Administer medications, does treatments, and reports and documents patient education and response according to policy and procedure

The Nursing Department provides 24-hour direct care services to psychiatric patients. The goal of care is to facilitate discharge to a less restrictive setting by assisting patients to improve and/or maintain their physical, mental and social functioning. This nursing care goal is achieved in collaboration with the multidisciplinary team.

Key Responsibilities
- Communicate clearly and respectfully using written, verbal, and electronic methods while following the chain of command.
- Demonstrate openness to feedback by listening, asking clarifying questions, and applying suggestions.
- Provide direct patient care by assessing needs, implementing treatment plans, and prioritizing care tasks.
- Administer medications and treatments accurately, follow medication policies 100% of the time, and document education, responses, and any errors.
- Deliver patient care using recovery-oriented and trauma-informed principles.
- Support unit milieu management by applying TOVA principles, assisting the RN, and guiding PCTs in daily care needs.
- Participate in psychosocial rehabilitation malls and maintain medication room supplies, equipment checks, and documentation per policy.
- Utilize the Electronic Health Record effectively and provide patient medication information under RN supervision.
- Complete all required in-services, annual competencies, and training in a timely manner.
Demonstrate reliability by following attendance policies, flexing schedules as needed, assisting coworkers, responding to duress alarms, and completing assignments thoroughly.

Benefits Includes
• Health, vision, and dental insurance
• Retirement with cash match
• 13 paid holidays
• Paid time off (annual, sick, family/personal, and community service)
• Life insurance
• Potential eligibility for the Virginia Behavioral Health Loan Repayment Program (BH-LRP), subject to program criteria and restrictions.

Minimum Qualifications

• Current Virginia or Compact RN licensure (or eligibility).
• Knowledge of mental illness, treatment modalities, and safe medication administration.
• Ability to assess, plan, implement, and evaluate patient care, and implement nursing care plans.
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to delegate, supervise, and guide nursing staff.
• Effective communication skills (written, verbal, and sign) and ability to work collaboratively on interdisciplinary teams.
• Knowledge and application of recovery-oriented and trauma‑informed care principles.
• Ability to work overtime or extended shifts in a 24/7 psychiatric hospital when required.
• Completion of all mandatory annual competencies, including TOVA III with physical restraints.
• Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification for Healthcare Providers (AHA).

Additional Considerations

Psych Nursing experience
Veteran or Veteran Spouse
Bilingual in Spanish

Special Instructions

You will be provided a confirmation of receipt when your application and/or résumé is submitted successfully. Please refer to “Your Application” in your account to check the status of your application for this position.

Application Requirements: Applications and résumés for this position are accepted electronically through the Commonwealth of Virginia’s Electronic Recruitment System only. Interview decisions will be based solely on the information provided in your electronic application and/or résumé. Please ensure you clearly and specifically detail all relevant work experience; we will not make assumptions about your qualifications.

Background Investigation: All applicants are subject to an extensive background investigation and a pre-employment drug screening. This investigation may include fingerprint checks (State Police, FBI), local agency checks, Department of Social Services/Child Protective Services checks, employment verification, and verification of education relevant to the position.

Under Virginia Code §§ 37.2-314 and 37.2-408.1, the Department of Behavioral Health & Developmental Services (DBHDS) cannot employ or utilize as volunteers, individuals convicted of specific ("barrier") crimes or those with pending "barrier" charges.

Reasonable Accommodations: Reasonable accommodations are available to individuals with disabilities during the application and/or interview process in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. If you require assistance or accommodation, please notify Human Resources at (540) 332-8300 during business hours (8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.).

Equal Opportunity: The Commonwealth of Virginia is committed to conducting all aspects of human resource management without regard to race (or traits historically associated with race, including hair texture, hair type, and protective hairstyles such as braids, locks, and twists), sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, veteran status, political affiliation, disability, genetic information, and pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions.* There shall be no retaliation against anyone making allegations of violations of this policy.

Veteran Preference: DBHDS is a Virginia Values Veterans (V3) certified employer and provides hiring preference to qualified veterans and service members. We strongly encourage veterans, active members of the Virginia National Guard, and U.S. Military Reserve members to apply to the state application and respond accordingly.

Contact Information

Name: Elizabeth Weber

Phone: 540-332-8056

Email: elizabeth.weber@dbhds.virginia.gov

In support of the Commonwealth’s commitment to inclusion, we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity, applicants will need to provide their AHP Letter (formerly COD) provided by the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS), or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI). Service-Connected Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation, if applicable, to DARS/DBVI to get their AHP Letter. Requesting an AHP Letter can be found at AHP Letter or by calling DARS at 800-552-5019.

Note: Applicants who received a Certificate of Disability from DARS or DBVI dated between April 1, 2022- February 29, 2024, can still use that COD as applicable documentation for the Alternative Hiring Process.