RN - INPATIENT PSYCH

Sign-on bonus and relocation assistance available. Shift differentials: 17% for weekday nights, 26% for weekend nights, and 15% for weekend days.

Pay

Minimum offer: $34.84/hr. Maximum offer: $47.33/hr. Compensation is based on experience, education, and other business and organizational considerations.

About the Role

Provide professional nursing care for assigned patients in a mental health/psychiatric environment. Design nursing care plans and assist in the development of overall care plans for psychiatric patients, ensuring administration of appropriate care conducive to recovery. Ensure adherence to hospital and departmental policies and procedures. Patient care may include pediatric, adolescent, adult, and geriatric age groups.

Responsibilities

• Interview, examine, and assess the health status of psychiatric patients with various cognitive, emotional, developmental, social, and behavioral disorders.
• Observe patient behavior, activities, and mental status; perform triage and crisis intervention.
• Write treatment plans; coordinate patient drug and procedure activities; administer medication and treatment; provide and coordinate nursing care; may facilitate group therapy and/or education sessions.
• Chart and report observed symptoms, reactions, treatments, and changes in patients' conditions; collect and document data; may perform computerized data entry.
• Perform nursing intakes, draw blood and other patient specimens; may perform or coordinate laboratory tests.
• Educate patients and families on treatment regimens, management of side effects, and compliance with treatment plans; provide emotional support and act as an advocate for patients and families.
• Provide information and facilitate communication between physicians, medical students, staff, patients, families, and the community; coordinate and consult with a milieu of service providers.
• Follow established departmental policies, procedures, and objectives, continuous quality improvement objectives, and safety, environmental, and/or infection control standards.
• Enhance professional growth and development through participation in educational programs, reading current literature, attending in-services, meetings, and workshops.
• Perform various administrative functions such as monitoring expenditures and preparing reports and correspondence; may participate in research projects to develop service plans; may propose changes to program policies and procedures.
• Participate in orientation and, after completing preceptor training, assume precepting and evaluation responsibilities of new personnel.
• Assist with special tests and procedures, ensuring proper consent has been obtained.
• Assist with or institute emergency measures for sudden, adverse developments in patients.
• Administer medication, including IV medication, via the Seven Rights; document and communicate clinical findings.
• Maintain a safe, comfortable, and therapeutic environment for patients/families in accordance with hospital standards.
• Follow patient safety-related policies, procedures, and protocols.
• Demonstrate a proactive approach to patient safety by seeking opportunities to improve patient safety through questioning of current policies and processes.
• Identify and report/correct environmental conditions and/or situations that may put a patient at undue risk.
• Report potential or actual patient safety concerns, medical errors, and/or near misses in a timely manner.
• Encourage patients to actively participate in their own care by asking questions and reporting treatment or situations they don’t understand or may “not seem right.”

Requirements

• Graduate of a nationally accredited nursing program.
• Bachelor’s degree in Nursing (nonessential).
• Current RN license in New Mexico or as allowed by reciprocal agreement by New Mexico.
• CPR for Healthcare/BLS Provider or Professional Rescuers within 30 days of hire.
• Obtain and maintain Aggressive Behavior Certification within 30 days of hire.
• 1 year of directly related experience.
• Bilingual in English and Spanish, Keres, Tewa, Tiwa, Towa, Zuni, or Navajo (nonessential).

Physical Conditions

Heavy Work: Exerting 50 to 100 pounds of force occasionally, and/or 25 to 50 pounds of force frequently, and/or 10 to 20 pounds of force constantly to move objects or people. Physical demand requirements exceed those for Medium Work.

Working conditions involve significant hazards, including physical risk/injuries due to combative patients and exposure to chemicals and biohazardous materials requiring PPE.

Schedule

0.90 FTE (Full Time), Nights shift.