Psych Jobs in Portland

[TXRustyWalls]

I am currently an LPN in Texas and just had my license endorsed in Oregon and look forward to moving there this summer. I have worked my entire 8 year career in Behavioral Health (inpatient psych and medical detox). I currently work in Texas as a charge nurse in a 30 day drug and alcohol rehab/detox).

My question is what are the job prospects for psych LPNs in oregon?

A preliminary online job search in the Portland area has led to few results. It seems that a similar position to what i currently work is staffed by RNs. LPN behavioral health jobs seem to be primarily methadone clinics. Do short-term psych facilities or rehabs hire LPNs?

[verene, MSN]

Thanks to a quirk in Oregon law BSN level RNs are considered "qualified mental health professionals" and thus able to complete suicide assessments and place director's holds in psychiatric care settings (after on-the-job training) - which means many organizations have a preference for hiring BSN level RNs in the Oregon psych world. While some of the short-term, sub-acute, and residential facilities hire LPNs, it usually isn't into a LPN role, but some sort of adjacent mental-health-assistant position (QMHA level).

In Portland I think the only hospital that really utilizes LPNs is Cedar Hills and everything I've heard suggests they are NOT a good place to work. There are also occasionally LPN openings at the VA hospital.

I do know that the State Hospital in Salem (about an hour south of Portland) DOES hire LPNs and is almost always looking - they also have a second campus in Junction City (outside of Eugene OR).

It may also be easier to get into a LPN position in some of the smaller community hospital and behavioral health centers (e.g. Klamath Falls, Coos Bay, etc) as there simply isn't the same competition for jobs as in Portland.