Psychiatric RN

Responsibilities

• Performs initial nursing evaluation, including behavioral health/psychiatric nursing needs.
• Observes and evaluates the physical and mental status of the patient for complications and medication side effects.
• Maintains awareness for indicators in patients' behavior that call for change in the treatment modality (crisis, suicidal ideation) as well as other medical signs and symptoms.
• Instructs patient/caregiver in cognitive and technical aspects of care, medication regimes, disease processes, safety interventions, ADL care, coping skills, symptom management and other interventions.
• Administers IM medications, performs lab draws and specimen collections.
• Acts as a case manager in coordinating care for patients as assigned.
• Completes documentation timely and accurately.
• Supervises LPNs and HHAs.
• Regularly communicates patient progress to the clinical manager, psychiatrist and care team.

Qualifications

• Current RN license, specific to the state(s) you are assigned to work.
• Must have one of the following to meet CMS requirements for psychiatric nursing in the home care setting:
• An RN with a master's degree in a mental health nursing or psychiatric specialty.
• An RN with a bachelor's degree in nursing.
• An RN with a diploma or associate's degree in nursing.
• Must have nursing experience in an acute treatment unit or other psychiatric setting.
• Must have one year of recent nursing experience in an acute treatment unit or other psychiatric setting.
• Must have two years of recent nursing experience in an acute treatment unit or other psychiatric setting.
• Please note: Experience must have been within the last three to five years. If not, documentation must support psychiatric retraining or classes or CEUs to update psychiatric knowledge.
• Current CPR certification.
• Valid driver's license, reliable transportation and liability insurance.