Hiring process at Napa State Hospital(NSH)

U.S.A. California

Published

Can anyone tell me if the California budget crisis(which happens every year) will affect planned new hires for California state facilities? I assume that there is still a hiring freeze but that we are replacing nurses that have been lost to retirement, etc. I guess I could just call the recruiter and ask....I was told I was a top candidate for a small number of positions at NSH for this fall's hiring and wondering if I should be celebrating or not.

Also, what is the actual hiring process, physical and orientation entail?

Specializes in SNF, Wound Care, Psychiatric.
AmsPRN, please email me asimolotu at gmail dot com. Just found out about NSH. Can you share the process?

Hey Jsqu! The process it long but worth it. I applied back in April you have to print out the application off their website (it is just a standard application) and mail it in (they do not use email only snail mail). After I did that it was about a month before they called me in for my first interview which is a verbal test. I can't get specific about the test, but brush up on your psychiatric nursing and you will do fine. After the verbal test you will get a score. Anything above a 78% is good, but if you get into the 90s it is best.

After you get your score they will ask you to re-apply to a specific position (not a specific unit) like RN permanent/temp and full-time, part-time or on-call. Another month went by and then I got a call for the second interview. This is a verbal one and written one. You do not get a score after this one, but you will get a letter if you are going to continue in the hiring process.

If they like you they will call you with a job offer and have you go get your physical and drug test done.

I would say from beginning to end it took about 6-7 months for me to get a job there. I am super excited to start there on November 1st and I even know where I am going to be working. In program 5.

If you have any other questions let me know.

I was wondering if any of you guys applied to work at the state hospitals BEFORE you got your nursing license? I'm graduating in Dec. and want to get a head start on the app process but don't want to ruin my chances since I don't have a license yet!

Specializes in SNF, Wound Care, Psychiatric.

I'm not sure what the rules are. But you can always call their nursing recruitment office it is on their website :-)

Specializes in Forensic Psych RN.

AmsPRN - I have a question for you. I took my physical and drug test exactly two weeks ago. I'm waiting to get a call to schedule my start date!! Can you tell me how long it was between your physical and when the recruiter called you to schedule your start date? Thanks.

Specializes in SNF, Wound Care, Psychiatric.

Hey derme2000 I did my physical on the 12th and drug test the same day... She called me on the 18th with my start date. You should first call the drug testing place to confirm that you passed then call the recruitment office.

Specializes in Forensic Psych RN.

Thanks for the info. I will do that. I was concerned that maybe the test results didn't even get to them. It was the place in Vallejo that is a part of Quest and I have had nothing but problems with them when using them for routine lab tests for my doctor. I didn't think they would talk to me regarding this matter....that they would just refer me to the employer asking for the test. There should be no problem with me passing, but I was worried when I walked in and saw the Quest sign that they may screw something up.

Specializes in SNF, Wound Care, Psychiatric.

I had them too. And only when I called them to confirm that I passed did they forward them to nsh. You should be fine. did you fax them or go in for your ppd test? If you didn't that might hold it up too. I know they hired 17 rns and each unit is having a different start date.

Specializes in Forensic Psych RN.

OMG! I'm so glad I asked you about this! I cannot believe that you had to ask the lab to send your results! I will be calling them first thing in the morning. Also, regarding the PPD, I had one done in June that they accepted the paperwork on for the first PPD. They gave me another test at the physical and called that the second PPD and allowed me to have an RN read it, sign a declaration for the results and fax it to them. Now I see that the PPD results could have not gotten into the right hands and could be a problem as well. All the paperwork is a weak link. I will call NSH Occupational Health tomorrow and the lab.

So are you saying you had to ask the lab to fax your results to NSH...they didn't automatically send it to them? That seems lame...?!

Specializes in SNF, Wound Care, Psychiatric.

Yeah it was weird. I called because I am on some prescribed meds(from a surgery a couple weeks ago) that im almost done with but might have tested positive. I thought I would call in to give my prescription numbers,but it turns out that I tested negative, however they never sent the results to NSH. So the guy said that he would fax them over, which means that either they must have forgotten or it takes them a long time to fax over...Lame. The recruitment office was surprised that the results got in so quick for me because usually they take a while. I hope things go better for you and you get your start date soon :-). I hope I will get to see you there. I am going to be in program 5 probably on pm shift. If you have any more questions email me at [email protected]

Hi AmsPRN how are you, congrats on your new job!!!! Like you said I waited for about 5 months after my QAP and now I'm waiting for the second interview, please help me out, I know you can't discuss the details of your interview, but at least any heads up or clues on what to study for the second interview? I really need to get this job I'm a single mother and I need to make it. Thanks any help is appreciated it :)

Specializes in SNF, Wound Care, Psychiatric.

Hey elcachijr. Like you said I'm not allowed to discuss the questions. I don't think it was any harder than the first interview :-). If you study your psychiatric nursing book and a little med/surg (basic stuff), you should be fine. Good luck on the second interview. I just started orientation and its pretty exciting.

Hello man-sd, any news from ur side. Just got an offer from coalinga state hospital.

Hi Maleinnursing,

I'd like to ask question about the hiring process in coalinga, I just passed the eligibility exam what am I gonna do next? call them or just wait...:confused: Thanks

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