Behavioral Health Job Application Questions

[HarperEvan]

Hi,

I am a new RN looking for employment. I'm doing a round of behavioral health applications and have a couple of questions:

1) The applications I've been filling out explicitly ask if I've had at least one year of behavioral health experience. What counts as behavioral health experience? Previous to being an RN I worked as a caregiver with a patient population with behavioral health needs and was responsible for things like client safety, redirecting behaviors, monitoring / assessing mental health, and following behavioral health plans developed by the patients and their healthcare providers. I also worked one-on-one as a PCA for a client with a complex mental and cognitive health history, and many of my responsibilities were directly related to monitoring mental health and promoting positive behaviors. These were not "official" behavioral health positions.

2) The PCA position was with a private family. Can I list the client's guardian as my supervisor, or is that a HIPAA violation? If it is, what are my alternatives?

3) I'm applying to a major hospital system. Many of the positions are on the same floor, with the same shifts and required qualifications, but the job number is different. Do I apply to all open positions that I'm interested in even if the job listings are identical, or just select one?

Thanks in advance.

[Sour Lemon]

Hi,

I am a new RN looking for employment. I'm doing a round of behavioral health applications and have a couple of questions:

1) The applications I've been filling out explicitly ask if I've had at least one year of behavioral health experience. What counts as behavioral health experience? Previous to being an RN I worked as a caregiver with a patient population with behavioral health needs and was responsible for things like client safety, redirecting behaviors, monitoring / assessing mental health, and following behavioral health plans developed by the patients and their healthcare providers. I also worked one-on-one as a PCA for a client with a complex mental and cognitive health history, and many of my responsibilities were directly related to monitoring mental health and promoting positive behaviors. These were not "official" behavioral health positions.

2) The PCA position was with a private family. Can I list the client's guardian as my supervisor, or is that a HIPAA violation? If it is, what are my alternatives?

3) I'm applying to a major hospital system. Many of the positions are on the same floor, with the same shifts and required qualifications, but the job number is different. Do I apply to all open positions that I'm interested in even if the job listings are identical, or just select one?

Thanks in advance.

1. When you're applying for a nursing job, they're usually interested in nursing experience ...but there may be exceptions out there in the big world. Only they know what they mean, for sure.

2. I would simply ask the family for permission to use them as a reference.

3. Select one if they're identical.

[HarperEvan]

Thank you! I applied with your advice and was contacted for an interview the next day. Now I'm reading up on psychiatric nursing interview questions so I can ace it.

[JackMo]

How was your interviews?