Psychiatric Registered Nurse Manager at Wellness and Equity Alliance LLC – Indio, California

OUR MISSION

Wellness Equity Alliance (WEA) is a novel national public health organization comprised of a multidisciplinary team of population and public health experts with backgrounds in infectious disease, public health, emergency medicine, primary care, cardiology, pediatrics, psychiatry, community health work (CHW), nursing and advanced practice pharmacy. We work nearly exclusively with underrepresented communities, fundamentally addressing healthcare disparities and the social determinants of health (SDoH) that have been amplified during the COVID-19 pandemic, prioritizing the following:

• People experiencing homelessness
• Indigenous communities
• Immigrant communities
• Rural communities
• BIPoC communities
• LGBTQIA+ communities
• Justice-impacted communities

The WEA team is diverse, inclusive, and nimble enough to assemble teams of healthcare professionals within days using our proven local staff recruitment models to address population health crises and communicable disease outbreaks. Our partnership model is collaborative and enables hospitals, health jurisdictions, and state/local government agencies to deliver timely, equity-based care to marginalized populations.

Indio Crisis Walk-in Center

WEA’s Crisis Walk-In (CWI) Center, located on the behavioral health campus of Riverside University Health System in Indio, CA, offers 24/7 walk-in, voluntary crisis services for adults and children ages 5 and older. Designed to provide immediate, accessible care, the center serves up to 20 patients at a time, including both youth and adults.

Position Summary

The Psychiatric Registered Nurse (RN) Manager serves as the clinical and operational leader for nursing services within WEA’s Indio Crisis Walk-In (CWI) program. This role is responsible for overseeing psychiatric nursing practice, supporting a multidisciplinary care team, and ensuring safe, high-quality care delivery for youth and adults experiencing acute psychiatric crises.

Operating within a fast-paced, walk-in crisis setting, the RN Manager ensures effective triage, clinical response, patient flow, and stabilization in partnership with CWI leadership, to include the Site Director (Administrative) Psychiatric Provider (Prescriber). This role functions within a clinical–operational dyad model, aligning nursing care delivery with overall site operations and program goals.

The RN Manager provides clinical oversight of nursing staff, supports real-time crisis response, and contributes to quality improvement, staff development, and compliance efforts. While primarily a leadership role, this position is expected to have a presence on the floor and may provide direct patient care as-needed during high-acuity periods or to support team operations.

This is a high-impact role ideal for nurse leaders who thrive in dynamic, high-acuity environments and are passionate about building and supporting crisis care systems for underserved communities.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide day-to-day clinical leadership and supervision for Psychiatric RNs and clinical support staff, to include Licensed Psychiatric Technicians (LPT).
• Ensure high-quality nursing assessments, medication administration, crisis interventions, and documentation.
• Serve as the on-site clinical nurse leader during assigned shifts, supporting staff in psychiatric emergencies and complex cases.
• Guide nursing staff in triage, risk assessment, and monitoring of individuals in crisis.
• Support prescribers during psychiatric evaluations by coordinating care and providing clinical insight.
• Maintain nursing workflows aligned with program protocols, standardized procedures, regulatory requirements, and best practices.

• Lead nursing response to acute psychiatric crises, including agitation, safety concerns, and medical needs.
• Support rapid triage, stabilization, and throughput within a walk-in crisis model.
• Ensure safe and efficient patient flow in collaboration with clinical and operations leadership.
• Guide staff in de-escalation using trauma-informed, culturally responsive approaches.
• Support protocols for higher levels of care, including emergency transfers when needed.
• Ensure a safe therapeutic environment through active monitoring, situational awareness, and staff coordination in managing behavioral escalations and psychotic episodes.
• Oversee implementation of safety protocols including observation levels and incident response.

• Supervise nursing staff including onboarding, scheduling coordination, performance management, and professional development.
• Ensure staff competency in psychiatric nursing skills, medication administration, crisis intervention, and documentation standards.
• Support training in safety protocols (e.g., CPI/SAMA/MAB), infection control, and EHR workflows.
• Foster a collaborative, accountable, and mission-driven team culture.
• Partner with leadership to identify staffing needs and support workforce stability.

• Partner closely with the Site Director (Administrative) to align clinical operations with site workflows and operational priorities.
• Support daily huddles, staffing coordination, and real-time problem-solving across shifts.
• Ensure clinical readiness across all hours of operation, including evenings, weekends, and holidays.
• Collaborate on workflow optimization, supply management, and operational improvements.
• Maintain visibility into clinical operations to proactively identify and resolve issues.
• Provide utilization management, to include monitoring triage-to-provider time, length of stay, level of care accuracy, and throughput efficiency.

• Work collaboratively with behavioral health clinicians, peer support specialists, prescribers, and community partners.
• Participate in multidisciplinary care coordination, case discussions, and transition planning.
• Serve as the nursing liaison with hospitals, EMS, county partners, and community organizations.
• Communicate clinical updates, risks, and care plans clearly across teams.

• Own nursing-related quality improvement initiatives related to patient safety, clinical outcomes, and workflow efficiency.
• Ensure compliance with documentation standards, regulatory requirements, and internal policies.
• Support audit readiness and participate in county, state, and program reviews.
• Maintain oversight of medication management processes, including storage, handling, and reconciliation.
• Contribute to policy development and implementation of clinical protocols.

Key Highlights

• Compensation: The compensation range for this role is $125,000 - $145,000, with final compensation determined based on experience, qualifications, and role scope.
• Work Location & Expectations: This role requires daily in-person engagement at Indio Crisis Walk-in Center location.
• Benefits: Comprehensive benefits package including healthcare coverage, paid time off, and shareholder/equity options.
• Professional Development: Opportunity to collaborate with cross-functional leaders across Behavioral Health, Medical, Street Medicine, Public Health, Rural Health, and Tribal Health initiatives.

Required Qualifications

• Active, unrestricted California Registered Nurse (RN) license.
• 2+ years of experience in psychiatric, crisis, emergency, or behavioral health nursing.
• 1+ year of leadership experience (e.g., charge nurse, lead RN, or supervisory role).
• Advanced knowledge of psychiatric conditions, substance use disorders, and co-occurring medical conditions.
• Ability to assess suicide risk, psychosis, withdrawal, and acute behavioral instability.
• Strong crisis intervention, triage, and de-escalation skills.
• Experience working in high-acuity, fast-paced clinical environments.
• Current BLS certification.
• Proficiency with electronic health records (EHRs).

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) preferred.
• PMH-BC (Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse - Board Certified).
• Experience in crisis programs, CSU, ED, urgent care, or community behavioral health settings.
• Experience with care coordination and transitions of care.
• CPI, MAB, SAMA, or equivalent certification (or willingness to obtain upon hire).
• Familiarity with California behavioral health systems and community resources.

Key Competencies

• Strong clinical leadership and decision-making under pressure.
• Crisis assessment, triage, and stabilization expertise.
• Ability to manage patient flow in dynamic, high-acuity settings.
• Team leadership, coaching, and staff development.
• Interdisciplinary collaboration and communication.
• Trauma-informed and culturally responsive care.
• Systems thinking and continuous improvement mindset.