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Director of Nursing - Behavioral Health (Youth Inpatient)

Firman Solution

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Full-time$120k-135k/year (USD)Bakersfield, CA
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Join an organization recognized as a “Great Place to Work” for 8 consecutive years, where your leadership will directly impact the lives of youth experiencing acute psychiatric challenges.

This opportunity offers a highly competitive starting salary, a $10,000 sign-on bonus, relocation assistance, and employer-paid medical, dental, and vision coverage.

You will lead a dedicated 16-bed inpatient psychiatric facility, helping shape clinical excellence while receiving strong support for your own professional growth, including paid CEU opportunities and BBS supervision support.

Position Overview

We are seeking an experienced and compassionate Director of Nursing (DON) to provide overall leadership, administration, and coordination of nursing services within a youth inpatient psychiatric healthcare facility. The Director of Nursing will oversee the nursing team, ensure compliance with clinical and regulatory standards, and champion safe, high-quality, individualized patient care in a fast-paced acute behavioral health environment.

Key Responsibilities

  • Lead the recruitment, onboarding, training, supervision, and performance management of nursing staff.

  • Establish, maintain, and enforce nursing standards, policies, and procedures.

  • Ensure compliance with applicable healthcare, nursing, and behavioral health regulations.

  • Oversee the delivery of direct nursing care and promote high standards of clinical practice.

  • Collaborate with physicians, therapists, clinical leadership, and other disciplines to support comprehensive patient care.

  • Protect and promote patient rights, safety, dignity, and treatment standards.

  • Ensure accurate, timely, and complete nursing documentation throughout all phases of care, including:

    • Admission
    • Patient engagement
    • Learning and treatment
    • Stabilization
    • Aftercare and discharge linkage
  • Monitor nursing performance and identify opportunities for continuous quality improvement.

Qualifications & Experience Required

  • Graduation from an accredited school of nursing.

  • Current, unrestricted Registered Nurse (RN) license in California.

  • Nursing administration experience based on highest nursing degree:

    • Associate’s Degree:  4+ years
    • Bachelor’s Degree:  2+ years
    • Master’s Degree:  1+ year
  • Minimum 1 year of psychiatric nursing supervisory experience within the past 6 years.

Preferred

  • Previous experience as a Director of Nursing.

Skills & Competencies

Technical Skills

  • Clinical nursing documentation

  • Behavioral health regulatory compliance

  • Acute psychiatric care protocols

  • Nursing administration and clinical operations

Leadership & Interpersonal Skills

  • Transformational leadership

  • Team building and staff development

  • Performance management

  • Cross-functional collaboration

  • Strong communication and interpersonal skills

  • Empathetic and patient-centered leadership

Compensation & Benefits

  • Starting Salary: $120,000 – $135,000 per year

  • $10,000 Sign-On Bonus, paid in 3 installments over 1 year

  • Relocation expense reimbursement

  • Employer-paid medical, dental, and vision coverage

  • Generous vacation and holiday pay

  • Paid CEU opportunities

  • Career development and professional growth programs

Why Join Us?

This is an opportunity to take on a meaningful nursing leadership role where your experience can directly influence the quality of care provided to youth experiencing acute behavioral health challenges.

You will have the opportunity to:

  • Lead a dedicated nursing team in a

16-bed inpatient setting

  • Drive clinical excellence and patient-centered care

  • Develop and mentor nursing professionals

  • Work collaboratively with an experienced multidisciplinary team

  • Grow professionally through continuing education and development opportunities

How to Apply

If you are an experienced nursing leader who is passionate about behavioral health and wants to make a meaningful impact on the lives of youth, we would welcome the opportunity to speak with you.

Point of Contact:

Mark Anderson

Senior Healthcare Recruiter

Firman Solutions

Phone:  +1 (409) 203-7554

Email:  mark.anderson@firman-solutions.com

Apply today to learn more about this opportunity.

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