Overview
The Arkansas State Hospital (ASH) is a psychiatric inpatient facility which is a component of the Division of Behavioral Health Services. The Mission of ASH is to provide psychiatric services that promote recovery in a safe and caring environment. ASH is licensed by the Arkansas Department of Health and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and is accredited by The Joint Commission (TJC). ASH operates a total of 226 patient beds in three service areas: General Adult, Forensic, and Adolescent. The Arkansas State Hospital has been providing quality psychiatric care to the citizens of Arkansas since 1873.
General Adult Service
The General Adult Service is comprised of three 30-bed units for persons 18 years of age and older. All admissions to these units must first be screened by one of the 15 community mental health centers (CMHC's) to assure appropriateness of admission, continuity of care, and treatment within the least restrictive setting. Each CMHC offers an array of services from brief intervention therapies to long-term community support services. The CMHC's offer 24-hour emergency care and persons in need of more restrictive care may be treated in a local hospital or crisis unit, where possible. It is the philosophy of the Division of Behavioral Health Services that responsibility, authority, and accountability for client services should be at the local level.
Forensic Service
The Forensic Service is comprised of four 20 to 24-bed adult units whose mission is to assess and treat individuals with mental illness who have allegedly committed a crime, and to consult with the Court of record and Law Enforcement. All persons treated on Forensic services are court-ordered for either an evaluation or treatment.
Adolescent Service
The Adolescent Service is comprised of three units: an 18-bed coeducational program for adolescents 13-17 years of age who are in need of acute or residential care; an 18-bed program for adolescent male sexual offenders 13-17 years of age; and a 8-bed program for adolescent males 13-17 years of age who have mental health problems and developmental disabilities. Patients may be referred by local CMHC's, other divisions of the Department of Human Services, private treatment providers, or the juvenile courts.
Education and Training
The Arkansas State Hospital is committed to the education of mental health providers and serves as a training site for nursing, medical, social work, and psychology students and trainees. Many members of our clinical staff serve on the faculties of UAMS and other local universities. Nursing students from several local schools spend clinical time at ASH, and social work graduate students participate in clinical rotations here. ASH has a psychology internship program with plans to initiate a Forensic Psychology Postdoctoral Program in 2010. ASH is a clinical site for UAMS's General, Child, and Adolescent Psychiatry Residencies, and is the primary clinical site for the UAMS Forensic Psychiatry Fellowship Program. In conjunction with UAMS, ASH served as a host site for the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology Part II Examinations June 4-6, 2010.
Nursing Department
The Arkansas State Hospital Nursing Staff includes 250-255 employees over half of the workforce at the hospital. This group is managed by the Administrator and the Director of Nursing. The nurse staffing office oversees the constant scheduling so that all areas are covered in the hospital at any given time during a 24 hour period.
If you seek excitement and a challenge, a career in psychiatric nursing is for you. Nursing personnel utilized to provide quality psychiatric care includes Registered Nurses (RNs), Licensed Psychiatric Technician Nurses (LPTNs), Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs), Mental Health Aides (MHAs) and Mental Health Workers (MHWs). The Arkansas State Hospital encourages its nurses to attend in-service trainings and offers paid time off to attend workshops designed to enhance nursing skills.
To learn more about the employment opportunities with the Arkansas State Hospital Nursing Department, please click here DHS Jobs. To apply for nursing positions at the Arkansas State Hospital, please click here State Application and follow the application and mailing instructions.
For a challenging and rewarding career in psychiatric nursing, come join the Arkansas State Hospital's family of skilled health care providers. For more information about the Arkansas State Hospital Nursing Department, please call 501-686-9400.