Clinical Nurse - Behavioral Health - Chula Vista - Psych Empath- CSU- Part-time NOC

Shift: 7:00 PM – 7:30 AM, 12-hour shifts on a 12/36 schedule (every other weekend required). No on-call duty.

Pay

Hourly pay range: $61.74 – $90.16. The scale is set by the collective bargaining agreement between Sharp HealthCare and the Sharp Professional Nurses Network (UNAC/UHCP, NUHHCE, AFSCME, AFL-CIO). Placement within the range is based on years of RN experience.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct and indirect nursing services to patients and families.
• Use systematic planning, timely information exchange, and coordination with the multidisciplinary team and patient/family to deliver individualized, goal-directed care.
• Apply the nursing process and critical thinking to address mind, body, and spirit; tailor care to current safety standards.
• Identify actual or potential patient risks, continuously evaluate interventions, and adjust the plan as needs evolve.
• Determine when referrals are needed and collaborate with the team to develop a comprehensive care plan.
• Prioritize resource requests and collaborate to meet individualized patient needs.
• Act as a preceptor/teacher for other nurses on unit-specific populations.
• Make appropriate referrals based on ongoing assessments.
• Deliver safe, therapeutic, and efficient care for patients with complex, multi-system conditions.
• Document care per department and organizational guidelines, ensuring a detailed, concise, and problem-oriented record.
• Serve as a resource for staff on unit-specific documentation issues.
• Delegate tasks and communicate clear expectations to team members, ensuring follow-through and appropriate supervision.
• Assess the appropriateness of physician orders and question them when necessary.
• Support coworkers by offering assistance, constructive feedback, and opportunities for improvement.
• Provide unit-specific orientation to students, float, travel, and registry personnel, documenting as required.
• Teach and mentor team members to enhance clinical practice.
• Identify and implement process improvements for work systems.
• Establish and maintain a therapeutic relationship with patients and families, adapting to cultural, spiritual, or communication barriers.
• Advocate for patients by removing obstacles, supporting needs, and facilitating communication between patients and physicians.
• Provide age-appropriate education to facilitate recovery, self-care, health maintenance, and wellness.
• Coordinate transfer and discharge planning and teaching with the healthcare team.
• Develop, revise, and adapt patient education materials in collaboration with the team.
• Demonstrate flexibility in teaching based on learner needs and adult learning principles.

Requirements

• Graduate of an accredited nursing school.
• Minimum of 1 year of clinical experience (RNs with less than 12 months experience will complete new graduate requirements).
• Current California Registered Nurse (RN) license – required.
• American Heart Association Basic Life Support for Healthcare Professionals (AHA BLS Healthcare) certification – required.

Skills

• Independently perform the nursing process (assessment, planning, implementation, evaluation) for patients with overt and subtle needs across the care continuum.
• Deliver safe nursing care for patients in complex situations with some assistance and supervision.
• Demonstrate competency in unit-specific skills and some advanced skills; may teach skills competencies.
• Coordinate patient care administered by other team members.
• Assume responsibility as a relief charge nurse and assist with preceptorship and professional development of new nurses and students.
• Use common equipment and medications safely; consult others when unfamiliar.
• Recognize inconsistencies in patient care and manage potential complications.
• Organize and prioritize workload effectively; manage emergency situations confidently.
• Participate in quality improvement initiatives and comply with regulatory and accreditation standards.
• Demonstrate professional behavior through participation in unit activities and committees.
• Delegate tasks, communicate expectations, and teach skills as necessary.
• Coordinate care among nursing staff and utilize teaching/coaching strategies to assist families through the disease process.
• Promote clinical effectiveness, efficient resource use, and quality care.
• Transfer knowledge and mentor others to improve clinical practice.
• Demonstrate complex problem-solving and critical thinking skills.