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Mental Health Rn Jobs in Oregon (NOW HIRING)

RN - Home Health The Home Health RN provides essential medical care and support to patients in their homes, helping them recover or manage chronic conditions. Responsibilities include ongoing patient ...

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Mental Health Rn information

What are some common challenges Mental Health RNs face when working with patients in acute psychiatric settings?

Mental Health RNs in acute psychiatric settings often encounter challenges such as managing unpredictable patient behaviors, de-escalating crises, and maintaining a safe environment for both patients and staff. They also need to balance empathetic communication with clinical boundaries, and collaborate closely with multidisciplinary teams—including psychiatrists, social workers, and therapists—to create effective care plans. Adaptability, resilience, and strong teamwork are essential for navigating these dynamic and sometimes high-stress environments.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Mental Health RN?

To thrive as a Mental Health RN, you need a solid foundation in psychiatric nursing, crisis intervention, and patient assessment, supported by an active RN license and specialized mental health training. Familiarity with electronic health records (EHRs), behavioral health documentation systems, and de-escalation techniques is often required. Compassion, emotional resilience, and strong communication skills help build trust and effectively support patients facing mental health challenges. These skills are vital for ensuring patient safety, fostering therapeutic relationships, and delivering effective, holistic mental health care.

What is a Mental Health RN?

A Mental Health RN (Registered Nurse) is a licensed nurse who specializes in caring for patients experiencing mental health issues or psychiatric disorders. They work in settings such as hospitals, psychiatric facilities, outpatient clinics, and community health organizations. Their responsibilities include assessing patient needs, administering medications, developing care plans, providing therapeutic support, and collaborating with other mental health professionals. Mental Health RNs play a crucial role in promoting recovery, patient safety, and overall well-being for individuals struggling with mental health conditions.

What is the difference between Mental Health Rn vs Psychiatric Nurse?

AspectMental Health RnPsychiatric Nurse
CredentialsRegistered Nurse (RN) license, mental health certificationsRegistered Nurse (RN) license, psychiatric certifications
Work EnvironmentHospitals, clinics, mental health facilitiesPsychiatric hospitals, mental health units, community clinics
Employer & IndustryHealthcare providers, mental health organizationsPsychiatric hospitals, mental health clinics
Job FocusAssessing, treating mental health conditions, patient advocacyManaging psychiatric patients, administering medications, crisis intervention

Both roles require RN licensure and mental health training, but Mental Health Rns often focus on assessment and therapy, while Psychiatric Nurses may have a more clinical, medication management role. They work in similar environments and serve overlapping populations, making them closely related in the mental health field.

What cities in Oregon are hiring for Mental Health Rn jobs? Cities in Oregon with the most Mental Health Rn job openings:
Infographic showing various Mental Health Rn job openings in Oregon as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 65% Full Time, 30% Part Time, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 96% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 3% Remote job distribution.

Registered Nurse / Behavioral Health RN

Oregon Health & Science University

Portland, OR • On-site

Full-time

Re-posted 10 days ago


Oregon Health & Science University rating

8.1

Company rating: 8.1 out of 10

Based on 95 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

158th of 617 rated colleges and universities


Job description

Department Overview

About OHSULink www.ohsu.eduOHSU's singular focus on improving health starts with Oregonians and has global impact. We are the only academic health center in Oregon, but we're also nationally distinct as a university dedicated solely to advancing health sciences. This allows us to concentrate resources on research to prevent and cure disease, on education that prepares physicians, dentists, nurses and other health professionals to succeed in an evolving health care environment, and on patient care that incorporates the latest knowledge and discoveries. We have 18,000 employees and secure competitive research funding of more than $400 million a year. As a public organization, we provide community outreach and services for Oregon's most vulnerable populations. OHSU's stated mission to improve the health and quality of life for all Oregonians through excellence, innovation and leadership in health care, education and research.

 

About OHSU Doernbecher Children's HospitalLink https://www.ohsu.edu/doernbecherWith a strong tradition of teamwork, diversity and interdisciplinary care, we believe all children deserve the best. At Doernbecher, we built a hospital around that belief. It's why we have more specialists in children's health than anywhere else in the state. We offer the newest and most advanced treatments available, along with innovative collaborations and research opportunities. As Oregon's only academic health center, we strive to offer the best medical care to every child across Oregon, Southwest Washington and beyond.

 

About The Department of PsychiatryLink https://www.ohsu.edu/school-of-medicine/psychiatry

The fundamental purpose of OHSU and The Department of Psychiatry is to improve well-being.

The OHSU Department of Psychiatry is part of the OHSU Brain Institute, and focuses on providing excellent clinical treatment to our patients, leading innovative research, and offering hands-on training for the next generation of psychiatrists. Our specialists care for people of every culture and background and it is our mission to value and show appreciation for diversity, showing respect for all people who we treat, teach, and serve.

Function/Duties of Position

The Outpatient Behavioral Health Registered Nurse (BH RN) is an integral member of the Adult Outpatient Psychiatry Clinic, working within a multidisciplinary team that includes psychiatrists, psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners, physician associates, psychologists, care coordinators, social worker, and Patient Access Specialists. This role is designed to strengthen clinical operations, enhance patient access, and support high-quality behavioral health care delivery across a growing and dynamic outpatient setting. The BH RN plays a central role in bridging clinical care and operational workflows, ensuring patients receive timely, coordinated, and clinically appropriate support throughout their care journey.

The BH RN is responsible for managing and supporting key clinical workflows, including MyChart message management, triage, medication refills, prior authorizations, medication clarification, referral coordination, and care navigation to support timely patient access, strengthens care coordination, and ensures continuity across care transitions, including hospitalization follow-up and coordination of IOP admissions when appropriate.

As a core member of the care team, the BH RN contributes to a therapeutic, collaborative, and patient-centered environment. This role requires strong clinical judgment, clear communication, and the ability to navigate complex patient needs within an ambulatory behavioral health setting.

The Adult Outpatient Psychiatry Clinic includes multiple specialty areas, including Psycho-Oncology, Electroconvulsive Therapy, and the Resident Outpatient Psychiatry Clinic, with continued growth planned through the expansion of Interventional Psychiatry services. The BH RN role is foundational to supporting this expansion, helping to build sustainable workflows and ensuring readiness for increasing clinical complexity and volume.

Required Qualifications

Education:

  • BSN Graduates: Baccalaureate Degree in Nursing from a program accredited by Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) or Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation (CNEA) 30 days before start date.

Experience:

  • Minimum 2 Years RN Experience in an inpatient or outpatient Behavioral health setting.

Job Related Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (Competencies):

  • Basic medical terminology understanding.
  • Demonstrated ability to work with a wide variety of diverse customers in difficult situations.
  • Experience with an electronic health record. 
  • Strong problem solver who can evaluate a situation and ask the critical questions to understand the problem and then select a solution resulting in problem resolution.
  • Strong interpersonal skills.
  • Clear verbal and written communication skills. 
  • Active listening skills; ability to deal with customers in stressful situations; ability to remain calm under pressure. 
  • Excellent customer service skills both in person and on the telephone. 
  • Intermediate proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Access. 
  • Attention to detail.
  • Ability to complete multiple tasks within inflexible and rapidly changing deadlines.
  • Good organization, follow through and time management skills; ability to prioritize. 
  • Ability to create and maintain quality working relationships with staff and faculty at all levels of the organization, using good judgment in recognizing the scope of authority.

Performance Factors:

  • Attendance and dependability:  Consistent and regular attendance to work. 
  • Can be depended upon to complete work in a timely, accurate and thorough manner and is conscientious about assignments. 
  • Willing to work overtime as necessary depending on volume of work.

Registrations, Certifications and/or Licenses:

  • Current, unencumbered Oregon State Registered Nurse License.
  • BLS at time of hire and must be issued by the American Heart Association (AHA)
  • BLS must not expire during orientation.
  • Must be able to perform the essential functions of the position with or without accommodation.
Preferred Qualifications
  • Experience with Epic.
Additional Details

Apply here online:

Upload cover letter and resume.  Please be sure to include months and years (MM/YYYY format) to the resume for jobs/work experience.

*OHSU Employees be sure to apply using your OHSU email.*

Why apply to OHSU?We are Oregon's only public academic health center. In addition to caring for patients, we lead groundbreaking research. We also train the next generation of health care professionals. As Portland's largest employer, we give you opportunities to learn and advance in a system of hospitals and clinics across Oregon and Southwest Washington. All are welcome. OHSU welcomes people of all ages, ethnicities, genders, national origins, religions and sexual orientations. We are striving to build an anti-racist, multicultural institution and encourage people with diverse backgrounds to apply. To request reasonable accommodation, contact askhr@ohsu.eduEmployment Type: FULL_TIME

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About Oregon Health & Science University

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) is a distinguished institution under the industry of higher education and healthcare, specifically in the field of medical science. Based in Portland, Oregon, US, it maintains a reputation for promoting research, teaching, patient care, and outreach. Established in 1887, OHSU has continually sought to redefine the parameters of healthcare delivery and biomedical discovery through its expansive catalog of programs and initiatives. A galvanizing mission drives OHSU: to improve the health and quality of life for all Oregonians through excellence, innovation, and leadership in health care, education, and research.

Industry

Colleges, universities, and professional schools

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Portland, OR, US

Year founded

1887