Entry Level Psychiatric Nurse Jobs
New grad psychiatric nurse jobs welcome recent graduates and entry level candidates with zero to two years of experience, where strong clinical internship work or a focused practicum can carry more weight than a lengthy resume. Most openings are on-site roles across Healthcare & Medical Services, Education, and Non-Profit & Social Services, with employers like LifeStance Health, Brightside Health, and American Traveler hiring at this level now.
Find JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 443+ Entry Level Psychiatric Nurse jobs
Monthly, First Wednesday, 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Monthly, First Wednesday, 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Walk-in Wednesdays
Open events at Mary Washington Hospital and Stafford Hospital.
Start the day excited to make a difference…end the day knowing you did. Come join our team.
Job Summary:The Level II Competent Registered Nurse is clinically able to care for patients. The Level II MWHC nurse demonstrates the ability to collaborate with the healthcare team to improve the quality of care in the designated clinical area by incorporating research and implementing evidenced-based knowledge into practice. The Level II Competent Registered Nurse assumes the accountability and responsibility as a professional nurse for providing total, comprehensive, continuous, and patient-centered care for an assigned group of patients. The RN is responsible for the delivery of patient care through the nursing process of assessment, diagnosing, planning, implementation, and evaluation.
Practice Standards for a Level II Registered Nurse:
In the MWHC Practice Standards, a Level II Registered Nurse is outlined in the following areas of:
- Exemplary Professional Practice Standards
- Structural Empowerment Practice Standards
- Transformational Leadership Practice Standards
- New Knowledge, Innovations, and Improvement Practice Standards
Essential Functions & Responsibilities:
- Direct and coordinate nursing care, including oversight of licensed and unlicensed personnel in any assigned or delegated tasks using the nursing process and interdisciplinary teamwork to achieve desired patient outcomes.
- Coordinate involvement of the patient, family and health team members in patient care, including patient/family teaching and discharge planning.
- Communicate and coordinate the plan of care and other pertinent information to/from other health care team members.
- Assist Leadership to define standards of excellence for patient care; participate in improvement of patient care services.
- Participate in, contribute to and integrate performance improvement into care delivery and participate in quality improvement activities.
- Participate in orientation of new permanent and temporary staff members.
- Act as point of contact on hospital and departmental policies and procedures to nurses and other health team members.
- Participate in daily operational activities necessary for safe patient/staff environment.
- Provide input to the Nurse Manager regarding unit needs.
- Participate in unit, departmental and hospital committees for formulation of nursing and hospital policies and procedures.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Qualifications:
- Graduate of an accredited nursing program and has experience as a Registered Nurse
- Valid RN License from Virginia or reciprocal compact state required.
- BSN is preferred.
- AHA BLS Provider CPR required at hire
- CPI required within 90 days
For those hired into the External Temporary RN Program:
- If job profile requires BLS, ACLS, PALS or NRP within any period of time, it is required at hire for an External Temporary RN.
- If job profile requires CPI, ONS or NIHSS within any period of time, it is required within 30 days for an External Temporary RN
- If job profile requires TNCC or ENPC within any period of time, it is required within 30 days or by the next available course for an External Temporary RN.
MWHC will not discriminate in its employment practices due to an applicant's race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, and veteran or disability status (EOE). We are also committed to equitable and transparent compensation practices and comply with all applicable pay transparency and pay equity laws.
Required
Physical Requirements: Constant (67-100% of workday) walking, standing, use of arms and hands; frequent (34-66% of workday) bending, stooping, kneeling, and squatting; ability to lift 35 lbs.; ability to push and pull 20 lbs.; auditory and visual skills to include color determination; ability to work in confined spaces; ability to reach above/overhead.
Mental Requirements: Possesses critical thinking and analytical skills. Ability to multi-task. Ability to communicate effectively and collaborate with a multi-disciplinary team. Capacity to cope with difficult situations. Ability to tolerate irregular hours including evenings, nights, and weekends.
Environmental Requirements and Exposure Hazards: Potential risk of exposure to radiation and toxic chemicals. Potential for exposure to bloodborne pathogens; must be able to wear appropriate personal protective equipment.
- Clinical positions in Mary Washington Home Health and/or Hospice must also meet driving requirements.
“It is the policy of Mary Washington Healthcare to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with a disability who are applicants for employment or Associates.”
Compensation Pay Range:
$40.59 - $53.86I’m here to help.
Let’s talk about your career plans and how we can make them a reality.
Amy Utley
Manager, Talent Acquisition
- amy.utley@mwhc.com
Due to the high volume of applications, we are unable to respond to individual status inquiries. Refer to the FAQs for more information.
All inquiries/CVs are kept strictly confidential.
See All 443+ Entry Level Psychiatric Nurse Jobs
Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find JobsEntry Level Psychiatric Nurse Job Market
Who's Hiring
- LifeStance Health53
- Brightside Health25
- American Traveler19
- Lavender Psychiatry13
- Two Chairs9
Top Industries Hiring
- Healthcare & Medical Services197
- Education18
- Non-Profit & Social Services18
- Government & Public Sector11
- Consulting & Professional Services7
Entry Level Psychiatric Nurse Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get an entry level psychiatric nurse job?
Employers hiring entry level psychiatric nurses prioritize clinical rotation experience in behavioral health or inpatient psychiatric settings, current RN licensure, and familiarity with de-escalation techniques. A practicum or internship completed in a mental health unit gives candidates a concrete edge at this stage. Highlighting coursework in psychopharmacology, patient assessment, and therapeutic communication also strengthens an application when direct experience is limited.
Which companies hire entry level psychiatric nurses?
Companies hiring entry level psychiatric nurses right now include LifeStance Health, Brightside Health, and American Traveler, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of July 2026. Hiring at this level tends to come from hospital health systems, inpatient behavioral health facilities, community mental health centers, and residential treatment organizations that build their psychiatric nursing teams through new graduate pipelines.
Are there remote entry level psychiatric nurse jobs?
Yes, though most psychiatric nursing roles involve direct patient contact and are on-site. About 37% of entry level psychiatric nurse openings are remote or hybrid as of July 2026, and these positions typically involve telehealth intake assessments, care coordination, or behavioral health case management rather than inpatient floor duties.
Are these new grad psychiatric nurse jobs?
Yes, these listings include new grad, recent graduate, and junior psychiatric nurse roles. A posting is new grad friendly when it welcomes zero to two years of experience, counts clinical rotations or supervised internships toward the requirement, or explicitly invites candidates without prior full-time nursing employment. Searching for openings that accept a practicum or portfolio demonstrates this level of openness.
Which industries hire the most entry level psychiatric nurses?
Entry Level psychiatric nurse roles concentrate in Healthcare & Medical Services, Education, and Non-Profit & Social Services, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of July 2026. Those sectors drive hiring at this level because they operate inpatient units, crisis stabilization programs, and outpatient behavioral health services that depend on a steady pipeline of newly licensed psychiatric nurses to meet patient care demand.