Inpatient Registered Nurse (Behavioral Health RN) AM Shift

About the role

The Psychiatric Registered Nurse (RN) will provide professional nursing care to patients according to hospital policy and procedure; will assess patient care needs, plan and implement nursing care procedures, evaluate patient progress and modify care plans as necessary; will provide teaching to patients and their families; will direct the work of nursing support staff through the use of appropriate delegation and supervision skills.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct care to patients, which includes facilitating social and emotional needs, supervising medication schedules and evaluating patient progress
• Collaborate with a variety of interdisciplinary professionals to determine and provide the best possible care for their patients
• Maintain a safe environment
• Provide social support for patients by creating and encouraging patients to take advantage of opportunities such as support groups, social activities and other therapeutic measures
• Conducts intake assessments through interviews with patients and relatives to gather case history
• Plans and provides nursing care for patients
• Makes nursing diagnosis of the medical and emotional status of patients and recommends treatment options
• Consults with psychiatrists and other behavioral health staff in designing appropriate treatment plans for clients
• Administers and notes reactions to psychotropic drugs and other medications
• Arranges further medical attention when necessary
• Aids the client in understanding the nature of emotional disturbances and accepting the need for treatment
• Keeps accurate written charts and records of patient activities and progress
• Complies with laws, rules, regulations, protocols, and procedures
• Uses professional judgment to ascertain and to apply appropriate intervention techniques with patients in crisis
• Aids in maintaining a safe and secure environment for staff and patients
• Tests for vital signs of pain and ensures treatments of pain
• Documents all patient information on medical charts and follows physician's written orders
• Maintains patient confidentiality
• Maintains accurate records and documentation of patient treatments, immunizations and laboratory results according to standard medical record keeping
• Performs administrative assignments such as filing, answering phones, typing, and completing progress notes in the computer system
• Performs related duties, as requested
• Upholds the Organization's ethics and customer service standards

Requirements

• Education: ADN or BSN from an accredited college or university
• CPR, Behavior Managing Program (obtained within 30 days upon hire) Required
• Licenses: Valid Texas RN license in good standing required. BLS, ACLS, CPI certifications a plus
• Experience: Minimum of 2 years clinical experience, preferably in a behavioral healthcare setting, phone triage, tele-health or case management or combination of education and experience
• Must be 21 years old or older
• Additional: Bi-lingual (English/Spanish) a plus

Qualifications

• Knowledgeable of patient rights and laws pertaining to mental health and regulations pertaining to psychiatric nursing and the treatment of the mentally and emotionally disturbed patients
• Theories, principles, and techniques of group and individual psychotherapy
• Symptoms and behavior patterns of emotionally disturbed mentally ill patients
• Advanced knowledge and clinical skills in diagnosis and treatment of mental health
• Professional nursing principles, procedures, and techniques used in the care and treatment of psychiatric patients
• Social, psychological, and physical factors of mental and emotional disorders
• Medical and psychological terminology
• Medications, including psychotropic drugs, and effects on psychiatric patients
• Control, preparation and administration of medications
• Demonstrates sound leadership skills and utilizes these skills in organizing the activities and schedules for medical and/or non-medical tasks of the Child, Adolescent and Adult for a given shift
• Record of consistently high quality of clinical and interpersonal skills to be an exemplary role model to others
• Displays basic knowledge of treatment procedures; interventions common to acute psychotic as well as non-violent crises intervention practice, medical and psychiatric emergency procedures
• Basic knowledge of abnormal psychology as typically found in the child or adolescent psychiatric population
• Thorough familiarity of psychopharmacy and the use of psychotropic medications with child, adolescent or adult psychiatric population
• Basic teaching and training skills helpful
• Problem-solving; organizational and time management; crisis intervention skills
• Provides prompt, efficient, and responsive service
• Exercises appropriate judgment in answering questions and releasing information; analyzes and projects consequences of decisions and/or recommendations
• Excellent written and oral communication skills; skills in facilitating and/or co-facilitating process-oriented and didactic groups

Skills

• Knowledgeable of patient rights and laws pertaining to mental health and regulations pertaining to psychiatric nursing and the treatment of the mentally and emotionally disturbed patients
• Theories, principles, and techniques of group and individual psychotherapy
• Symptoms and behavior patterns of emotionally disturbed mentally ill patients
• Advanced knowledge and clinical skills in diagnosis and treatment of mental health
• Professional nursing principles, procedures, and techniques used in the care and treatment of psychiatric patients
• Social, psychological, and physical factors of mental and emotional disorders
• Medical and psychological terminology
• Medications, including psychotropic drugs, and effects on psychiatric patients
• Control, preparation and administration of medications
• Demonstrates sound leadership skills and utilizes these skills in organizing the activities and schedules for medical and/or non-medical tasks of the Child, Adolescent and Adult for a given shift
• Record of consistently high quality of clinical and interpersonal skills to be an exemplary role model to others
• Displays basic knowledge of treatment procedures; interventions common to acute psychotic as well as non-violent crises intervention practice, medical and psychiatric emergency procedures
• Basic knowledge of abnormal psychology as typically found in the child or adolescent psychiatric population
• Thorough familiarity of psychopharmacy and the use of psychotropic medications with child, adolescent or adult psychiatric population
• Basic teaching and training skills helpful
• Problem-solving; organizational and time management; crisis intervention skills
• Provides prompt, efficient, and responsive service
• Exercises appropriate judgment in answering questions and releasing information; analyzes and projects consequences of decisions and/or recommendations
• Excellent written and oral communication skills; skills in facilitating and/or co-facilitating process-oriented and didactic groups

Benefits

• Full-time employees are eligible for medical, dental, vision, company paid disability, 401(k) and a generous amount of paid time off