Psychiatric Registered Nurse

Department: UPC Inpatient Adult ServicesFTE: 0.90 Full Time

Shift: Nights

Position Summary: 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, ensure administration of appropriate overall care in a manner conducive to recovery. Ensure adherence to Hospitals and departmental policies and procedures. Patient care assignment may include pediatric, adolescent, adult and geriatric age groups. Detailed responsibilities:* PATIENT CARE - Interview, examine, and assess the health status of psychiatric patients with various cognitive, emotional, developmental, social, and behavioral disorders* PATIENT CARE - Observe patient behavior, activities, and mental status; perform triage and crisis intervention* PATIENT CARE - 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* PATIENT CARE - Chart and report observed symptoms, reactions, treatments, and changes in the patients' conditions; collect and document dataand information; may perform computerized data entry* PATIENT CARE - Perform nursing intakes, draw blood and other patient specimens; may perform or coordinate laboratory tests* PATIENT CARE - Educate patients and families on treatment regimens, management of side effects, and compliance with the treatment plans; provide emotional support and acts as advocate for patients and families* PATIENT CARE - Provide information and facilitate communication between physicians, medical students, staff, patients, families, and community; coordinate and consult with a milieu of service providers* POLICY & PROCEDURE - Follow established departmental policies, procedures, and objectives, continuous quality improvement objectives, and safety, environmental, and/or infection control standards* DEVELOPMENT - Enhance professional growth and development through participation in educational programs, reading current literature, attending in-services, meetings and workshops* ADMINISTRATION - 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* PRECEPTOR - Participate in orientation, and having successfully completed preceptor training, assume precepting and evaluation responsibilities of new personnel* TESTS AND PROCEDURES - Assist with special tests and procedures, ensure proper consent has been obtained* EMERGENCY MEASURES - Assist with or institute emergency measures for sudden, adverse developments in patients* MEDICATION - Administer medication, including IV medication, via the Seven Rights; document and communicate clinical findings* ENVIRONMENT - Maintain a safe, comfortable, and therapeutic environment for patients/families in accordance with Hospitals standards* PATIENT SAFETY 1 - Follow patient safety-related policies, procedures and protocols* PATIENT SAFETY 2 - Demonstrate proactive approach to patient safety by seeking opportunities to improve patient safety through questioning of current policies and processes* PATIENT SAFETY 3 - Identify and report/correct environmental conditions and/or situations that may put a patient at undue risk* PATIENT SAFETY 4 - Report potential or actual patient safety concerns, medical errors and/or near misses in a timely manner* PATIENT SAFETY 5 - 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"Qualifications

Experience: Essential:

Working conditions: Essential:* Sig Haz: Physical risk/injuries due to combative patients* Sig Hazard: Chemicals, Bio Hazardous Materials req PPE

Department: Registered Nurse