Registered Nurse (RN) - Nights

About the Role

At Oceans Behavioral Hospital Alexandria, the Registered Nurse assumes primary leadership accountability and responsibility for milieu management and directing patient care activities of other nursing staff. The role maintains standards of professional nursing practice in accordance with facility policy and procedures, governing bodies, performance improvement standards, and psychiatric nursing standards. The Registered Nurse assesses patients using the nursing process to formulate individualized plans of care, implements interventions, and evaluates outcomes to promote, maintain, and restore physical and mental health while preventing illness.

Responsibilities

• Utilizes the nursing process—assessment, planning, intervention, implementation, and evaluation—to formulate nursing interventions and develop individualized plans of care.
• Identifies risk levels, precautions, and expected outcomes, including discharge planning; prescribes and evaluates interventions to attain outcomes.
• Conducts ongoing patient assessments from admission to discharge and initiates crisis intervention as needed.
• Demonstrates knowledge of psychiatric disorders and implements appropriate nursing interventions tailored to patient needs.
• Administers medications safely, educates patients on prescribed medications, and recognizes adverse drug reactions.
• Demonstrates professionalism, accountability, and responsibility for decision-making and psychiatric nursing care quality.
• Reviews, revises, and updates medical records within facility guidelines and timeframes.
• Transcribes and implements physician’s orders; documents care, progress, and patient responses accurately.
• Ensures continuity of care by communicating incomplete assignments and current patient needs to staff.
• Delegates duties and assigns staff using sound judgment; advocates for patient safety and needs.
• Utilizes nursing resources to enhance evidence-based practice and meet facility, patient, and staff needs.
• Floats among clinical services where qualified and performs additional duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Current, valid, and active license to practice as a Registered Nurse in the state of employment (or valid Compact license).
• Minimum of an Associate Degree in Nursing.
• One year of inpatient hospital experience strongly preferred.
• Must successfully complete CPR certification and an Oceans-approved behavioral health de-escalation program.

Qualifications & Skills

• Ability to adapt to a high-stress environment and assess potential for patient escalation.
• Strong oral and written communication skills to achieve positive results with internal and external customers.
• Highly organized with sensitivity to culturally diverse and special-needs populations (e.g., Chronically Mentally Ill, Geriatric, Chemical Dependency).
• Critical thinking abilities for continuous improvement of patient care.
• Self-confidence and conceptual thinking to lead and direct others.
• Basic knowledge of normal physical and emotional development.

Work Environment

• Subject to frequent interruptions and pressure due to multiple calls and inquiries.
• 12-hour rotating shifts in a high-paced, potentially stressful atmosphere.
• Exposure to disagreeable odors, sights, and unpredictable patient behavior.
• Spends approximately 90% or more of time indoors with temperature variations.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage (multiple plan options), eligible first of the month after 30 days.
• 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan with discretionary company match.
• Tuition reimbursement.
• Daily pay option.
• Paid Time Off.
• Competitive market compensation.
• Short-term and long-term disability coverage.
• Life insurance.
• Employee Assistance Program.