RN PSYCH OUTPATIENT

Department: Admitting - ASAP | FTE: 1.00 Full Time | Shift: Days

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 overall care in a manner conducive to recovery. Ensure adherence to hospital and departmental policies and procedures. Patient care assignment 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 of assigned patients; may facilitate group therapy and/or education sessions.
• Chart and report observed symptoms, reactions, treatments, and changes in the patients' conditions; collect and document data and information; 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 the treatment plans; provide emotional support and act as advocate for patients and families.
• Provide information and facilitate communication between physicians, medical students, staff, patients, families, and 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 a variety of research projects to develop service plans; may propose changes to program policies and procedures.
• Participate in orientation, and having successfully completed preceptor training, assume precepting and evaluation responsibilities of new personnel.
• Adhere to and promote the core expectations of the Patient Centered Medical Home or Patient Centered Specialty Practice as applicable.
• Assist with or institute emergency measures for sudden, adverse developments in patients.
• Follow patient safety-related policies, procedures, and protocols.
• Demonstrate 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 that they don't understand or may "not seem right".

Requirements

• Graduate of a nationally accredited nursing program.
• Bachelor's Degree in Nursing (nonessential).
• 1 year of directly related experience.
• Bilingual in English and one of the following: Spanish, Keres, Tewa, Tiwa, Towa, Zuni, or Navajo (nonessential).
• CPR for Healthcare/BLS Provider or Professional Rescuers within 30 days of hire.
• RN license in New Mexico or as allowed by reciprocal agreement by New Mexico.

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 are in excess of those for Medium Work.
• Working conditions involve significant hazards, including exposure to chemicals and biohazardous materials; personal protective equipment (PPE) required.
• Tuberculosis testing is completed upon hire and additionally as required.

Benefits

• 17% shift differential for Weekday Nights.
• 26% shift differential for Weekend Nights.
• 15% shift differential for Weekend Days.
• Sign-On Bonus available.
• Relocation Assistance available.