Mental Health Registered Nurse - Oregon State Hospital Salem Campus

The Oregon State Hospital, a division of the Oregon Health Authority, has a fantastic opportunity for REGISTERED NURSES to join an excellent team working to help people recover from their illness and return to their lives in the community.

What you will do!

You will provide nursing care to individuals currently residing in the Oregon State Hospital, which is a forensic psychiatric facility. You will administer medications as ordered by the provider, develop nursing plans of care, complete assessments, and respond to emergent psychiatric situations that could potentially be dangerous. Additionally, you will monitor staff work assignments, and supervise staff to provide therapeutic, safe, and secure milieu.

What's in it for you?

We offer a workplace that balances productivity with enjoyment; promote an atmosphere of mutual respect, dedication, and enthusiasm. You will collaborate in an open office with a team of bright individuals to work with and learn from. Our Registered Nurse shifts are 10-hour shifts with 3 consecutive days off.

We offer full medical, vision, and dental, we pay 95% to 99% of medical insurance premiums for full-time employees, including mental health coverage. We also offer 8 hours per month of paid sick leave, 9.5 hours per month of vacation leave, 24 hours of personal leave each year, and eleven paid holidays per year plus pension and retirement plans. If you're driven by the passion to do something meaningful that changes lives, the Oregon Health Authority is the place for you.

We also have educational pay incentives for our Register Nurses

Bachelor’s degree +4.75% base rate

Master’s degree + 9.5% base rate

Doctorate degree +12% base rate

In additional we offer shift incentives for Weekends, Evenings, Nights as well as specialty differentials for additional continuing education.

If you have federal student loan debt or are thinking of going back to school, then you might benefit from the Student Loan Forgiveness Program. If you make 120 qualifying payments on your student loan while working full-time for a qualifying employer, your student loan debt may be forgiven.

This posting will be used to fill permanent positions located in Salem, OR (2600 Center St. NE). These positions are represented by AFSCME.

OHA values health equity, service excellence, integrity, leadership, partnership, innovation, and transparency. OHA’s health equity definition is “Oregon will have established a health system that creates health equity when all people can reach their full potential and well-being and are not disadvantaged by their race, ethnicity, language, disability, age, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, social class, intersections among these communities or identities, or other socially determined circumstances. Achieving health equity requires the ongoing collaboration of all regions and sectors of the state, including tribal governments to address: the equitable distribution or redistributing of resources and power; and recognizing, reconciling, and rectifying historical and contemporary injustices.” OHA’s 10-year goal is to eliminate health inequities. Click here, to learn more about OHA’s mission, vision and core values.

Minimum Qualifications:

Must possess and maintain a valid and unencumbered Oregon Professional Registered Nurse license during the entire length of their employment.

Desired Attributes:

Experience working in mental health

Experience in conflict and crisis management

Strong leadership skills

Experience in milieu management

Ability to manage multiple job responsibilities at one time

Additional Information

Please monitor your Workday account, as all communication will be sent to your Workday account. You must have a valid e-mail address to apply.

If you are a veteran, you may receive preference. Click here for more information about veterans’ preference. If you checked that you are a veteran, we will ask you for your documents later in the process.

We do not offer VISA sponsorships or transfers at this time – unless specifically noted. Within three days of hire, you will be required to complete the US Department of Homeland Security's I-9 form confirming authorization to work in the United States

If you are offered employment, the offer will be contingent upon the outcome of an abuse check, criminal records check and driving records check, and the information shall be shared with the Oregon Health Authority (OHA), Office of Human Resources (OHR). Any criminal or founded abuse history will be reviewed and could result in the withdrawal of the offer or termination of employment.

Candidates who are offered employment at the Oregon State Hospital must satisfactorily pass a pre-employment drug test.

Please only attach documents that are related to the position. Additional documents that are attached will not be reviewed.

Employees at the Oregon State Hospital may be exposed to the handling, administration, waste, and spill cleanup of hazardous medications, which may result in health impacts to the employee.

Applicants can review the Oregon State Hospital's anti-retaliation notice at

Applicant Help and Support webpage.

The Oregon Health Authority is committed to fair employment practices and non-discrimination, including pay equity for all employees. We do not discriminate on the basis of protected class (race, sex, veteran status, disability, age, color, religion, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation) in the payment of wages or screen applicants on the basis of their current or past compensation. We determine salary by completing a review of your application materials to evaluate your related education, experience, and training for this position. (Critical elements of the process).

The Oregon Health Authority is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer committed to work force diversity and anti-racism.