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Highlands Behavioral Health System

Engaged employer

Dysfunctional and Dangerous - Registered Nurse Highlands Behavioral Health System Employee Review

1.0
6 Nov 2021
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Great co-workers, ability to pick up tons of extra hours, fairly decent training in the onboarding process.

Cons

This is a wonderful place to learn about the dark underbelly of mental health treatment in the United States. First and foremost, this place is dangerous, both for staff and patients. I was in fear on every shift. Patients are mostly held on 72-hour mental health holds against their will and given no information from their doctors, which invokes violence, anxiety, agitation, and unpredictability. I was afraid on every shift. Some of the psychiatrists can be borderline sadistic in their approach to patient care. There are CONSTANT changes in management, meaning that the leadership is ill-prepared to lead and inexperienced in the workings of the facility. There are CONSTANT staff shortages, because it's such a terrible facility, therefore we are short-staffed on almost every shift. Additionally, the staffing ratios are unsafe to begin with, therefore when short-staffed it's even more dangerous than it would be otherwise. The workload for RNs is absolutely ridiculous; no human being can get all the work done or do it well. Nothing is streamlined, tons of wasted time and energy on basic tasks like copying vital signs onto one piece of paper and then entering them onto another piece of paper so a psychiatrist can glance at them (maybe).

Explore other reviews about Highlands Behavioral Health System

5.0
1 Apr 2020
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Flexible hours and ability to pickup OT

Cons

Understaffed and some are burnt out

1.0
2 Dec 2025
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Any position within the company comes with a lot of autonomy and not many real responsibilities or consequences. In many ways, it’s an easy paycheck—especially for someone who isn’t deeply invested in the work. However, if you truly care about helping people and want to feel that your efforts matter, this structure can feel frustrating and misaligned with your values.

Cons

There is a significant lack of transparency starting as early as the initial interview process. Leadership is highly ineffective, contributing to ongoing health, safety, and regulatory violations. The organization is almost always under investigation by the state, yet meaningful corrective action never seems to occur. The work environment is not conducive to growth—especially for employees with genuine talent or ambition. Overall, the facility has operated below basic professional, regulatory, and safety standards for years, and it’s difficult to understand how it has remained open this long.

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