Registered Nurse Float - Behavioral Health - Neurobehavioral Unit - 32 Hours, Evenings

Location: Hospital for Special Care

About the Role

The Registered Nurse Behavioral Health Float functions within the team as a professional caregiver who assumes responsibility and accountability for providing quality care to patients and their families. Utilizing the nursing process, the Behavioral Health RN assesses, plans, implements, coordinates, and evaluates all aspects of patient care, considering the physical, psychological, environmental, and social needs.

Employees in this role may be required to float to other patient care units or departments based on operational and patient care needs, provided they possess the required competencies and qualifications for the assignment.

Qualifications

• Successful completion of an accredited school of nursing program
• Current licensure as a registered nurse in the State of Connecticut
• Demonstrated competence in the clinical setting
• Valid driver’s license (NBU only)
• Safety-Care® training is required within the established orientation period and must be maintained in accordance with organizational policy

Preferred:

• Valid/Current CPR (required within 3 months of employment)
• Bachelor's degree in nursing
• Previous experience in behavioral health, psychiatry, autism services, developmental and intellectual disabilities, or other related clinical settings

Responsibilities

• Performs comprehensive patient assessments within scope of practice
• Formulates, coordinates, and evaluates a goal-directed plan of care that is prioritized and based on patient outcomes, addressing the plan of care according to the ANA standards of practice
• Coordinates patient activities for assigned group of patients to facilitate patient care outcomes (e.g., admission, discharge, transfers) in collaboration with the treatment team
• Demonstrates competency in critical thinking
• Responds appropriately in an emergency situation as per Hospital for Special Care policies, protocols, and standards
• Provides individualized, culturally competent care
• Administers medications according to HSC policies and standards, including documentation of medication administration
• Performs the role of charge nurse after completion of the charge role orientation
• Documents accurately according to HSC policy and ANA standards of practice in a timely, thorough manner
• Participates in activities that promote interdisciplinary collaboration
• Demonstrates ability to utilize nursing and multidisciplinary standards, policies, protocols, and regulatory standards
• Demonstrates ongoing self-growth and professional development by attending educational in-services and/or conferences (internal/external)
• Maintains demonstrated competency to provide care on the Neurobehavioral Unit, the Autism Inpatient Unit, and at least one long-term care medical unit
• Demonstrates de-escalation techniques taught by the Hospital to minimize need for physical intervention
• Demonstrates ability to remain calm during a crisis situation as evidenced by the ability to make quick, rational decisions and prioritize immediate patient care needs to maintain a therapeutic environment and ensure safety

Physical Demands

• Continuous periods of walking, standing, bending, reaching, with periodic sitting
• Occasional climbing, squatting, and kneeling as related to patient care
• Ability to lift or carry objects up to 10 pounds continuously, 20 pounds frequently, and up to 40 pounds frequently for assisting with patient transfers and bed mobility
• Ability to push/pull up to 25 lbs. frequently for medication carts/equipment and 50 pounds occasionally for patient care and mobility activities
• Frequent use of gross, fine motor, and sensory skills in order to pass medications, perform assessments and treatments, and handle equipment used in patient care

Cognitive Demands

• Independent problem identification, abstract reasoning, and adaptability to changing environments and information
• Application of previously acquired knowledge, flexibility of thought, and organizational skills
• Quick decision-making
• High degree of selective attention, discernment, perception, and concentration
• Proficiency in English, including attention to detail, adherence to all elements of style, and ability to postulate
• Working knowledge and familiarity with professional/medical terms and definitions
• High degree of communication skills, including expression of abstract/complex ideas, use of negotiation and active listening, and ability to dialogue with multiple parties
• Reading and auditory comprehension of abstractions and ability to make inferences
• Working knowledge and familiarity with professional/medical documentation
• Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide with all units of measure, and perform these operations with common and decimal fractions
• Ability to compute ratio, rate, percent, and perform arithmetic operations involving units of weights, measures, and volume

Work Demands

• Working indoors in an occasionally noisy and distracting environment
• Occasional need to be outdoors
• Working continuously with others
• Occasional schedule fluctuation, at times unpredictable
• Possible exposure and handling of: bloodborne and/or airborne pathogens, body fluids, infections and contagious diseases, latex, antineoplastic and other hazardous drugs
• Response to emergencies is required

Scheduled Weekly Hours: 32
Work Shift: Second Shift