Psychiatric Licensed Practical Nurse

About the Role

The incumbent works under the direction of the Director of Nursing or designee, providing professional psychiatric nursing care to acutely and chronically ill patients and assisting in the direction and training of other Community Mental Health Center (CMHC) staff.

Responsibilities

• Review treatment plans, implement instructions, processes, and protocols; assist with ongoing patient assessment and reevaluation of patient problems or needs.
• Establish and maintain effective work relationships with clients, supervisors, County employees, elected officials, attorneys, law enforcement, judges, other agencies, and the public.
• Comply with Civil Service policies and regulations, collective bargaining agreements, County policies, department policies, and laws to create a cooperative, safe, respectful, and quality work environment.
• Collect clinical data (e.g., observations/assessments of biophysical, psychosocial, environmental, progress status, educational, discharge planning), record/report patient conditions.
• Identify and document patients’ physical and emotional status and/or patterns, consulting the treatment team to identify appropriate treatment strategies and provide information regarding treatment/process plan outcomes (e.g., goal status).
• Administer medication therapy and treatment regimens (e.g., monitor response, document observations), educate patients on medication (purpose, dosage, side effects), and assist patients with compliance.
• Provide quality care (e.g., health, nutrition, clothing needs) and recognize each patient's individuality and need for specialized treatment.
• Provide non-judgmental, non-discriminatory care sensitive to the patient's/family's diversity, preserving autonomy, dignity, and rights.
• Accompany physicians on rounds, assisting with examinations and ordered treatments.
• Educate patients and family members regarding the treatment plan, psychiatric care, continuation of treatment, and related patient care issues.
• Ensure cleanliness of equipment and environment; provide general direction and education to psychiatric technicians.
• Participate or lead individual/group counseling sessions, family conferences, and recreational/social therapy sessions, assisting patients in understanding emotional and physical problems and the need for treatment.
• Admit and assess patients, obtain new patient history (e.g., medical, psychiatric, social, family), obtain lab specimens, schedule applicable tests, and perform basic procedures (e.g., catheterizations, respiratory therapy, blood draws, ostomy care).
• Complete/update patients’ assessments in the medical record, documenting interventions and reports, and preserve paper forms for patients’ charts (e.g., treatment condition, financial eligibility, citizenship, voter registration).
• Conduct and communicate shift-change reports to ensure continuity of care.
• Recognize and intervene during acute episodes utilizing crisis intervention.
• Comply with and ensure staff adherence to CMHC procedures and protocols.
• Assist patients in obtaining proper follow-up during acute hospitalization and at discharge; identify community agencies/resources for transition and stabilization of living in the community.
• Recognize individuals with co-occurring disorders and welcome them into treatment.
• Develop therapeutic relationships with patients, maintaining a professional attitude toward clients and treating them with empathy and respect.
• Participate in department team meetings discussing patient care, progress, and policies/procedures.
• Maintain competency in psychiatric/mental health nursing care and specific nursing procedures (e.g., research, webinars, seminars, classroom training).
• Handle, use, and dispose of hazardous chemicals and infectious materials.
• Recommend changes to nursing services and clinic activities; assist in developing and implementing policies, procedures, and protocols.
• Participate in quality improvement activities.
• Provide and promote a positive image of CMHC (e.g., professionalism, pride, cooperation, trust).
• Interact with staff from various community medical facilities, courts, and County and State agencies; testify in court regarding a patient's mental and physical condition.
• Safely operate a County motor vehicle when traveling on County business.
• Perform other duties as assigned and directed.

Requirements

• Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) with a current Nebraska Nursing license or a compact state recognized by the Nebraska Board of Nursing upon hire and in good standing throughout employment.
• Graduate of an accredited school of nursing.
• One (1) year of acute care experience preferred.
• Basic life support/cardiopulmonary resuscitation (BLS/CPR) certification and completion of CPI training within 6 months of hire.
• Completion of a pre-employment criminal record check and conditional offer drug screen and physical assessment required.

Physical Requirements & Working Conditions

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Work is generally performed in a locked psychiatric facility or detoxification center. Noise level is usually moderate and at times extreme.
• Work hours are assigned shift hours; however, the schedule may vary (e.g., days, shifts, weekends, holidays, overtime/extra hours, emergency call-in).
• Work involves potential exposure to biohazards and potential risk of injury from assaultive/abusive patients who may be psychotic, under the influence of alcohol, or other mood-altering substances.
• Work may be stressful when dealing with time constraints, multiple/changing priorities, limited resources, uncooperative/irate individuals, and emergency situations.
• Work requires physical activity including extended periods of standing and walking, frequent sitting and bending, and occasional kneeling, climbing, stooping, crouching, reaching, and balancing.
• Work also requires the ability to frequently lift/carry objects independently weighing up to 50 pounds, push 35 pounds, and occasionally pull up to 75 pounds.
• Required sensory abilities include vision, hearing, and touch. Visual abilities, correctable to normal ranges, include close, distance, and color vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
• Communication abilities include the ability to talk and hear within normal ranges. The incumbent must have hand-eye coordination and manual dexterity necessary to operate computers and other equipment.