psychiatric technician

psychologist

music therapist

Napa State Hospital

What is the best part of working at the company?
The benefits and retirement are great, have to put in your time to maximize 

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
Mandates, paperwork - utilizing paper charting, high quality expectations with minimal upper management support 

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
It depends on where you are placed for assignment, luck of the draw some work as a team others you are on your own- clicky environment 

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
AM shift, receive report, tx and medication immediately after, help with meals for patients, finish tx begin charting, morning huddle, appointments, assist ancillary with their needs more paper charting. Afternoon tx and medication, assist with meals more charting, prepare for PM hand off report. Be prepared for behavioral or medical  emergency and charting at any point of the day and still keep up with your share of work.

Wonderful in terms of professional colleagues, except for the social work dept., which is strained by poor administration. Hospital cultural climate is still reeling from 6 years of court monitoring paranoia and inept leadership, starting with the Executive Director who was picked up one day in 2010 and hauled off by the police on charges of child sexual abuse dating back 25 years (he is currently serving a life term for these offenses). New Executive Director is doing her best to make changes, but is hampered by the massive state bureauocracy that finally rules. Wonderful patient population as well, challenging but inspiring, and locus of care staff is also inspiring to work with. For an associate social worker, a good place to get your supervision hours and test preparation, as long as you keep your mouth shut and have good coping skills: most leave as soon as possible.

Level of job satisfaction seems to vary by discipline. The Psychology department has solid senior supervisors and the culture of the department is generally positive and healthy. The same cannot be said for all other disciplines. The environment is supportive and there are alot of professional trainings and opportunities available at no cost. However there are limited opportunities for advancement, psychologist pay is lower than comparable workplaces, and much of the burden of team leadership falls on psychologists while they are compensated less than half of their psychiatry counterparts. Burn out happens quickly, which leads to many decreasing their work quality and staying in favor of the benefits.

Napa State Hospital was once a very congenial and collaborative work setting. Administration allowed safety and security to decline and one staff member was murdered by a patient, while many others were seriously injured. The physical plant is deteriorating and not designed for safety with its current population of forensic patients. The administrators responsible for the unsafe conditions remained, while one in particular, who had no control over the safety was made the sacrificial lamb. There is a very incestuous aspect to hiring decisions.

Napa State Hospital is an interesting and challenging institution to gain psychiatric nursing experience. Their training department is innovative and stays abreast of the changing environment of the State Hospital system. Nurses must be able to function independently for assessments yet maintain the ability to pull together to meet individuals needs in the event of crisis. Reporting of patients conditions are essential for maintaining pertinent information in shift change.

My typical day started and ended with a team meeting.  It included providing 4 hours of groups per day.  As a member of an interdisciplinary treatment team, I cooperatively formulated treatment plans with individual client and the rest of my team.  I wrote court letters, and communicated client progress to the various representatives of the forensic mental health system.  I enjoyed the cohesion of my interdisciplinary treatment team, but didn't enjoy when people got hurt in this dangerous forensic setting.

Job security is just about Napa. Supported by labor union. But I guess to each it’s own. RN pay not at par with other companies. Retirement benefits is good I think only if you’re vested for 20 years. New nurses will not have the same vesting as before so better off with other companies. This is not a place for Rn to climb the professional ladder. Might be if you know some people. This is a place where Psych techs has more opportunities to be promoted. 

I have many good memories of my career as a custodian at Napa State Hospital and I,m grateful they gave me a chance!My timeas a hospital Worker and custodian was very rewarding and my relationships with my coworkers were a big plus. Working there made me who I am today. I did take pride in myjob and my shiny floors ! Ed Cook tausht me that! Now Im retired and trying something different but it was  Napa State that gavce me the experience and I look back lovingly.

What is the best part of working at the company?
Serving food and working in the kitchen

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
When assigned in other kitchen as floater

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
Friendly , welcoming, they help one another and even different cultures they work as one cooperate as one team.

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Weekdays like  Monday thru Thursday employees are on their job doing thier assigned task

The best part of working at Napa State Hospital was the stability and benefits including a good retirement pension. One of the worst things was the mandatory overtime requirement As an RN I worked nights in the float-pool usually as a Health Service Specialist which is primarily a supervisory role requiring auditing of patient records and patient care with regard to restraint protocols and acute medical conditions.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Psychiatric technician 3 salaries reported	$5,007 per month
Psychologist 1 salary reported	$124,000 per year
Music therapist 1 salary reported	$62,000 per year

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