Behavioral Health LVN / LPN
Sacramento, California
Sutter Health Center for Psychiatry

Job Opportunity: Behavioral Health LVN / LPN

Location: Sacramento, California
Employment Type: Travel/Contract
Contract Length: 13 weeks

Job Description

• Work with adult inpatient psychiatric patients.
• Patient diagnoses include ADHD, Bipolar Disorder, Autism Spectrum, Eating Disorder, PTSD, Anxiety Disorder, Depression, Major Depressive Disorder, Psychotic Disorder, Oppositional Defiant Disorder.
• Patient population may also include individuals with substance abuse disorder, alcohol or opiate withdrawal (usually stable on admission), hypertension, diabetes, geriatric patients at high fall risk, patients in pain, and occasionally patients with wounds.
• Use of electronic patient rounding tools and Rover system for documentation (pictures, vital signs, food intake).
• Use of ObservSmart equipment.
• Recent inpatient psychiatric experience preferred.
• No Return to Office (RTO) accepted for this position.

Shift Details

• Evening shift: 3:00 PM to 11:30 PM
• 5 shifts per week, 8 hours per shift
• Total 40 hours per week

Required Qualifications

• Valid LPN / LVN license in California.
• Minimum of 1 year of LPN / LVN experience, including experience within the last year.
• Current BLS certification (Basic Life Support) issued by the American Heart Association or American Red Cross.
• Certification in one of the following for Behavioral Health LVN/LPNs: Management of Assaultive Behavior (MAB), Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI), MOAB, Handle with Care, or ProAct.
• Behavioral Health experience.
• Experience with Epic electronic health record system.

Background and Compliance Requirements

• 7-year background check required within 6 months of start, including SSN trace with all aliases, county searches, nationwide sex offender search, education verification, and FACIS Level 3 screening.
• EPLS/GSA/SAM and HHS/OIG checks required and updated annually.
• Drug screen: Negative 9-panel drug screen within 6 months of start (excluding marijuana/cannabinoids due to California law).
• Employment application must include full 7 years of work history with no gaps.
• Work history verification for up to 7 years required; gaps over 30 days must be explained.
• Two professional references required within 3 years for clinical candidates.

Health and Immunization Requirements

• Physical exam within 1 year of start (must indicate cleared for work).
• Fit mask test within 1 year, renewed annually (specific mask types required).
• Adult TDAP vaccine within 10 years or lifetime TDAP with booster within 10 years.
• Negative TB test (QGold or TSPOT within 90 days) or 2-step PPD (1st within 1 year, 2nd within 90 days). Annual renewal required.
• Immunity or vaccination documentation required for:

  • Measles (Rubeola)
  • Mumps
  • Rubella
  • Hepatitis B (series or signed declination)
  • Varicella
• Seasonal flu vaccination required during flu season (Nov 1 - Apr 30) or signed declination with mask-wearing in patient care areas.
• Color blindness exam if applicable (in-person exam only).
• Respiratory safety clearance required and renewed annually (not required for some allied health roles).

Competency and Skills

• Medication test/pharmacology competency exam as applicable.
• Unit-specific skills checklist required, renewed annually.
• Dysrhythmia/EKG competency exam may be required for some telemetry units.

Facility-Specific Requirements

• Candidate must review and sign facility-specific documents prior to start, including:

  • Job description
  • Standards of Business Conduct
  • Code of Conduct
  • Overpayment Refund Policy
  • Vendor Training (2024 and 2025 versions depending on contract date)
  • Conditional Offer of Employment Attestation
  • TB Screening Questionnaire (signed by candidate and healthcare provider)
• Religious exemption forms required for facial hair (PAPR) and certain vaccine exemptions.

Additional Notes

• Prior inpatient psychiatric experience is preferred but not explicitly required.
• No prior travel experience requirement stated.
• This is a local travel assignment with no return to office option.

This summary includes all relevant information for healthcare recruiters and workers considering this Behavioral Health LVN/LPN travel contract position in Sacramento, CA.