Staff Nurse - Relief

About the role

Join The Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD as a Staff Nurse, RN - Relief (PRN) and provide nursing care to individuals with mental and developmental disabilities in various settings. Utilize the nursing process to plan, implement, document, and evaluate care within the standards of practice and the Texas Nurse Practice Act.

Responsibilities

• Utilizes a five-step systematic nursing process (assessment, analysis, planning, implementation, and evaluation) to deliver consumer services.
• Demonstrates clinically sound, systematic, and timely decision-making governed by state and agency practices.
• Performs technical nursing skills within the scope of practice for an RN, including diagnostic tests, medication administration, equipment setup, and therapeutic treatments.
• Documents relevant nursing care, observations of consumer signs, symptoms, test results, behaviors, and responses to medications and treatments in compliance with agency policies and regulatory requirements.
• Informs, explains, and educates consumers and family members regarding medications, treatment information, and disease processes at an appropriate level.
• Provides nursing care with a focus on consumer, environmental, and technical safety.
• Assigns and supervises tasks for RNs, LVNs, and unlicensed personnel for consumers with varied healthcare needs.
• Demonstrates behaviors that promote positive outcomes in professional nursing practice.
• Utilizes a problem-solving approach for decision-making and reports relevant information to the healthcare team.
• Provides health education and information on disease processes and medications to the healthcare team to address consumer needs.
• Adapts to changing work requirements and complies with agency policies and procedures.

Requirements

• Associate's Degree in Nursing (ADN) from a two-year college, Diploma in Nursing (RN) from a three-year college, or Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing (BSN) from a four-year college or university.
• Minimum 1 year to 2 years of nursing experience (excluding clinical hours required for education); preferred.
• For RNs with at least 2 years of experience, a minimum of 1 year in mental health, behavioral health, intellectual, or disability nursing is preferred.

Skills

• Knowledge of the Texas Board of Nurse Examiners Nurse Practice Act and Standards of Nursing Practice.
• Knowledge of applicable pharmacy rules and regulations and basic pharmacology.
• Understanding of therapeutic communication, standard precautions, and infection control procedures.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills, along with strong data collection and organizational skills.
• Ability to prioritize, demonstrate initiative, and work effectively as part of a team.
• Proficiency in using medical equipment, machines, monitors, and standard word processing on a computer.
• Strong time management skills and ability to complete tasks independently.
• Ability to establish therapeutic relationships with chronically mentally ill or developmentally disabled consumers.
• Clinically sound decision-making abilities.

Benefits

• Competitive salary with a robust retirement plan and generous company matching.
• Prior service credit for accelerated Paid Time Off accrual.
• Cell phone discounts and exclusive entertainment deals through Tickets at Work.
• Free Headspace subscription for mental wellness.
• Employee Assistance Program for overall well-being.
• Student loan forgiveness eligibility as a qualifying entity.

Schedule

Relief staff must provide a minimum of 4 days of availability per month, with a maximum of less than 100 hours per month. Must maintain compliance with mandatory trainings to continue work.

About Us

The Harris Center is the state-designated Local Mental Health Authority and Local Intellectual and Developmental Disability (IDD) Authority serving Harris County, Texas. As the largest behavioral and developmental disability care center in Texas, The Harris Center provides care to over 90,000 people annually with a budget exceeding $300 million. Services are provided at 80 sites across Harris County in over 40 languages, including sign language, to meet the needs of one of the nation's largest and most diverse communities.