Psychiatric Registered Nurse (4 South)

About the role

Join Decypher and make a direct impact on the health and readiness of America's service members, veterans, and their families. Since 2008, Decypher has offered healthcare industry professionals careers where their expertise is valued, and their work makes a meaningful impact. Decypher partners with the Defense Health Agency to deliver professional services, technology, and management solutions.

Responsibilities

• Conduct patient assessments, develop and implement treatment plans, administer medications, and support crisis intervention within a multidisciplinary healthcare team.
• Maintain compliance with DoD and Joint Commission standards while delivering compassionate, age-appropriate patient care, education, and behavioral health support across the continuum of care.
• Attend and participate in patient nursing reports, patient care conferences, team/unit/clinic conferences, discharge planning, and staff conferences as deemed appropriate by unit, department and ATAMMC.
• Communicate pertinent patient data to the charge nurse and/or physician as appropriate.
• Operate defibrillator, EKG machine and cardiac monitor when appropriate.
• Functions as an integral part of the multi-disciplinary team, facilitating and monitoring the patients plan for care to ensure the best possible outcome.
• Respond to telephone inquiries regarding clinic services and/or follow-up ancillary reports.
• Perform nursing education groups and support therapeutic groups within scope of practice.
• Teaches and reinforces health promotion and safety patterns of living. Assist patients to integrate Health coping behaviors into life-style choices.
• Prepare all records and reports as may be required in support of services rendered and as required by MTF Standard Operating Procedures (SOP), Federal Law, or Service (Army, Navy, and Air Force) regulation.
• Take part in unit Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement initiatives as required for meeting The Joint Commission standards.

Requirements

• Education: Associates Degree of Nursing
• Certifications and licensure: RN with a current, active, full, and unrestricted license or registration as a professional nurse from a State, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or a territory of the United States. Basic Life Support (BLS) certification.
• Experience: Minimum of 2 years of experience in a psychiatric or substance abuse treatment setting. Contractor Psychiatric Nurse shall meet the qualifications for that specialty and perform essentially the same functions, within the scope of acceptable for their technical professional discipline and standard, as those required by military and/or government service technical professionals of similar experience and in similar duty assignments. Must be able to read, write, speak, and understand English well enough to effectively communicate with all patients and other health care providers. Possess basic knowledge of the Military Health Care System. Possess knowledge of computer operations and proficiency in the use of basic word processing, data entry and automated medical records.
• U.S. Citizenship is required.

Qualifications

• Possess the knowledge of interpersonal relationships and the ability to maintain composure and react appropriately while relating to patients, families and other staff members; to manage distraught, irritable, unreasonable or angry individuals; and to maintain positive rapport with all individuals involved in patient care.
• Identify impending or existing emotional or psychiatric crisis and provide appropriate intervention (de-escalation).
• Possess knowledge of the pharmacology of most commonly used emergency drugs, anticipated results, usual dosages, and their location on crash cart.
• Administer medications with the knowledge of actions and usual dosages of commonly used psychiatric drugs. Interpret pertinent lab values, notify physician of abnormalities.
• Implement prescribed physician orders and nursing care and documents in patient medical record.
• May be assigned to serve as Lead Shift Nurse duties, acting as a clinical and operational resource for the unit during a specific shift. This role does not include formal supervisory authority (e.g., disciplinary action, performance evaluation).

Skills

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Knowledge of psychiatric and behavioral health principles and practices.
• Basic knowledge of the Military Health Care System.
• Proficiency in computer operations and word processing.

Benefits

• Equal opportunity and affirmative action employer.

Pay

• Commensurate with experience.

Schedule

• Onsite, Monday through Sunday, varying between the hours of 6:45am to 7:15pm and 6:45pm to 7:15am hours not to exceed 40 hours per week, to include an unpaid 30 min or 1 hour lunch.
• The clinics are closed on Sundays and Federal Holidays, no overtime.
• RNs will normally work six (6) twelve (12) hour shifts and one (1) eight (8) hour shift in a two-week period.
• This role is considered Mission Essential. Contractors are required to report to work in the event of adverse weather conditions or Mass Casualty Scenarios.