Location & Practice Overview

This Registered Nurse role is based at Georgia Regional Hospital at Savannah, a state-operated inpatient psychiatric facility serving Southeast Georgia. The hospital functions as a multi-service behavioral health center within the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities system.

Facility Type State psychiatric hospital
Care Setting Inpatient behavioral health
Service Area 34-county catchment in Southeast Georgia
Address 1915 Eisenhower Drive, Savannah, GA 31406
Practice Model Interdisciplinary inpatient teams

Responsibilities

  • Assess client health problems and needs, then develop and implement individualized nursing care plans while maintaining accurate medical records.
  • Administer prescribed medications or initiate intravenous fluids and document times and amounts on client charts.
  • Monitor, record, and report symptoms and changes in clients’ conditions; modify treatment plans according to responses.
  • Consult and coordinate with interdisciplinary health care team members to assess, plan, implement, and evaluate care.
  • Prepare clients for examinations and treatments, maintain sterile instruments and supplies, and provide education to clients and families.
  • Observe nursing care delivery and visit clients to ensure proper standards are met; provide first aid, immunizations, and support during convalescence and rehabilitation as needed.

The role centers on direct nursing care within an inpatient psychiatric environment, emphasizing continuous assessment, medication administration, and team-based coordination.

Qualifications & Requirements

Candidates must hold current licensure authorizing practice in Georgia and meet the educational baseline for the Registered Nurse classification. Behavioral health experience is preferred but not mandatory.

License
Valid Georgia RN license or Nurse Licensure Compact multi-state license
Education
Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in nursing from an accredited college or university
Experience
Any related professional nursing experience; behavioral health setting preferred
Background Check
National and state background check required as a condition of employment
Screenings
Drug screening, TB evaluation, and annual influenza vaccination (limited exemptions available)

Compensation & Benefits

This full-time position offers a defined annual salary range and eligibility for the standard State of Georgia benefits package available to DBHDD employees.

  • Salary: $72,000–$94,000 per year
  • Medical, dental, and vision insurance options
  • Georgia State Pension plus 401(k) or 457 plan options
  • Paid annual leave, sick leave, and 13 paid holidays
  • Parental leave and educational leave provisions

Schedule & Work Environment

Employment Type Full-time
Shift Hours 7:00 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Work Setting On-site inpatient hospital
Coverage Model Day-shift nursing support within 24-hour facility operations

Patient Population & Clinical Setting

Nurses provide care to adults admitted for psychiatric treatment, including those with serious mental illness and individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities. The hospital also maintains forensic units serving clients referred through the criminal justice system.

Primary Population Adults with mental illness
Additional Population Adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities
Forensic Services Clients referred from corrections and criminal justice systems
Care Context Inpatient units including acute care, recovery care, and secure forensic units

Clinical Focus & Key Services

The clinical core of this position is comprehensive psychiatric nursing care delivered on a continuous basis within an inpatient state hospital environment. Nursing services support interdisciplinary treatment planning, medication administration, and client stabilization.

Primary Focus Comprehensive psychiatric nursing care
Care Continuum Acute stabilization through recovery-oriented support
Key Service Area Medication administration and monitoring within prescribed treatment plans
Team Context Nursing contribution to interdisciplinary psychiatric treatment teams

Role Highlights

This position is distinguished by its placement within a state psychiatric hospital that combines adult mental health, recovery, and forensic services under one roof.

  • State hospital environment serving both civil and forensic adult populations
  • Integration of nursing into established interdisciplinary treatment teams led by psychiatrists
  • Focus on longer-term recovery and skill-building units in addition to acute care
  • Opportunity to work within a Joint Commission-accredited psychiatric facility operated by DBHDD

About Georgia Regional Hospital at Savannah (DBHDD)

Georgia Regional Hospital at Savannah is a state-funded multi-service psychiatric facility operated by the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities. Opened in December 1970, the hospital was designed to decentralize mental health services and treat individuals closer to their homes and families. It serves a 34-county catchment area in Southeast Georgia and maintains accreditation by The Joint Commission. The facility operates adult mental health acute care, recovery care, and forensic services units and functions as a psychiatric emergency receiving facility with 24-hour admitting capability.

Organization Type State psychiatric hospital
Parent Agency Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities
Opened December 1970
Accreditation The Joint Commission
Primary Programs Adult mental health, recovery care, forensic services

Frequently Asked Questions

Is behavioral health experience required for this Registered Nurse position?
No. Experience in a behavioral health setting is preferred but not required. Candidates meeting the education and licensure requirements are eligible to apply.
Does the hospital serve forensic clients?
Yes. Georgia Regional Hospital at Savannah operates forensic services units that serve adults referred through the criminal justice system in addition to civil adult mental health and recovery units.
What screenings are required before employment?
Positions within DBHDD may require drug screening, TB evaluation, and annual influenza vaccination. Limited exemptions may be available for documented medical contraindications or religious beliefs. A national and state background check is also required by state law.
Is this position eligible for State of Georgia benefits?
Yes. This is a full-time position eligible for State Benefits, which include health, dental, and vision insurance options, retirement plans, paid leave, and holidays.
What is the catchment area served by the hospital?
The hospital serves a 34-county catchment area in Southeast Georgia, providing evaluation and treatment to clients from that region.
Are multi-state compact licenses accepted?
Yes. A valid Georgia RN license or a Nurse Licensure Compact multi-state license authorizing practice in Georgia is accepted.

Registered Nurse in Savannah, GA

This full-time Registered Nurse position is located at Georgia Regional Hospital at Savannah, a state psychiatric facility operated by the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities. The role centers on providing comprehensive inpatient nursing care to adults with mental illness and individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities, including those on forensic units. Nurses assess client needs, develop and implement care plans, administer medications, monitor condition changes, and collaborate with interdisciplinary teams that include psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, and activity therapists. The position operates on a 7:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. day shift and offers a salary range of $72,000 to $94,000 per year along with eligibility for State of Georgia benefits. Candidates must hold a current Georgia RN license or a Nurse Licensure Compact multi-state license and an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in nursing from an accredited program. Behavioral health experience is preferred but not required. The hospital, which opened in 1970 and is accredited by The Joint Commission, serves a 34-county area of Southeast Georgia and maintains acute care, recovery, and secure forensic units. This opportunity is suited for nurses seeking inpatient psychiatric practice within a public-sector behavioral health system.

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