Please note: Effective October 1, 2025, the Ohio Department of Mental Health & Addiction Services has transitioned to its new name—the Ohio Department of Behavioral Health. This change reflects our continued commitment to providing comprehensive, person-centered care that addresses the full range of behavioral health needs for Ohioans. All positions and services now fall under the Ohio Department of Behavioral Health as we move forward in serving individuals, families, and communities across the state.

What you’ll do at DBH:

This position focuses on supporting adults in a residential setting to develop essential independent living and social skills. The staff member will work directly with assigned consumers, implementing personal and behavior plans and helping with skills such as hygiene, medication management, food preparation, budgeting, and social interactions. The role involves maintaining a safe and supportive environment, de-escalating crises, modeling professional behavior, and transporting consumers to appointments as necessary. Staff will work closely with team members to develop individualized service plans, document progress, and maintain the facility’s cleanliness, contributing to a structured and supportive community. Additional duties include:

• Administers oxygen; applies sterile dressing; adheres to infection control practices; inserts catheters; reinserts gastrostomy tubes, suctions, irrigates wounds; collects specimens; assists physicians with physical exams, treatments &/or laboratory tests; assists in emergencies by administering first-aid, performing cardio-pulmonary resuscitation; restrains patients as necessary; administers controlled drugs [e.g., narcotics, minor tranquilizers] & non-controlled medication in oral, rectal, topical or injectable form [i.e., intramuscular & subcutaneous injections only] & provides medication instructions to patients).

• Maintains medication accountability records (e.g., charts patient records, prepares & counts medication, maintains medication stock & medical equipment & supplies); observes, documents & reports patient conditions (e.g., medication reactions, treatment responses, patient behavior & progress) & prepares &/or maintains related reports & records (e.g., unusual incident reports, patient records, medication reports, seclusion/restraint logs, treatment plan). 

• Provides general nursing, direct care &/or programming assistance (e.g., takes patient vital signs; assists with personal grooming & hygiene, bathing, or daily living activities; administers topical ointments & solutions, eye, ear &/or nose drops; responds to patient codes; escorts patients & assists with recreational activities & scheduled appointments; provides one to one &/or group intervention & patient therapeutic education as stated in the treatment plan).

• Provides assistance (i.e., provides work direction, orientation & training) to lower-level direct care staff (e.g., therapeutic program workers, psychiatric attendants) in providing general unskilled nursing care (e.g., dressing, bathing, feeding) to patients; precepts & provides direction to new LPN staff as assigned; attends & participates in various meetings (e.g., staff conferences, committees, interdisciplinary team meetings, in-service training programs, meetings) as required.

• Orders medication & medical supplies; cleans nursing station & medication room/medication cart (e.g., cleans, sterilizes & restocks cart; defrosts & cleans medication refrigerator) & performs clerical tasks (e.g., answers phone, files); ensures security of ward unit. 

This is an hourly position covered by the OCSEA/AFSCME bargaining unit (Chapter 560), with a pay range of # 10 on the OCSEA Pay Range Schedule. Normal working hours are 1st shift (6:30am to 3:00pm), 2nd shift (2:30pm to 11:00pm), and 3rd shift (10:45pm to 6:45am) and may work weekends and holidays as needed. This position is located within Appalachian Behavioral Healthcare Campus at 100 Hospital Drive, Athens, Ohio 45701.

Unless required by any applicable union contract and/or requirements of the Ohio Revised Code, the selected candidate will begin at Step 1 of the pay range schedule listed above, with an opportunity for pay increase after six months of satisfactory performance and then a yearly raise thereafter.

Additional Salary / Appointment Information:

• Must be able to complete a 4 week full time orientation (Will include 1st, 2nd, 3rd shifts, and weekends)
• May work weekends and holidays; may be exposed to communicable diseases and unpredictable patient behavior
• Training and development required to remain in the classification after employment

At DBH we strive to attract and sustain a diverse workforce by recruiting, hiring, developing and retaining high-performing employees who work collaboratively to balance efforts toward providing prevention and recovery supports and fostering inclusion that inspires innovation, encourages respect and promotes unlimited success.

To learn more about our agency, please visit our website at www.dbh.ohio.gov/

*Applications of those who meet the minimum qualifications will be further evaluated against the following criteria:

License to practice nursing as a licensed practical nurse issued by Ohio Board of Nursing pursuant to Section 4723 Ohio Revised Code & proof of completion of an approved course in medication administration.

Note: Licensed Practical Nurses who administer dialysis treatment must possess Certification in IV Therapy pursuant to Section 4723.17 Ohio Revised Code.
 

Job Skills: Nursing

All eligible applications shall be reviewed considering the following criteria: qualifications, experience, education, and active disciplinary record. ***(OCSEA) 

Required Educational Transcripts

Official transcripts are required for all post-secondary education, coursework, or degrees listed on the application. Applicants must submit an official transcript before receiving a formal employment offer. Failure to provide transcripts within five (5) business days of the request will result in disqualification from further consideration. Transcripts printed from the institution’s website will not be accepted. DBH reserves the right to evaluate the academic validity of the degree-granting institution.