Registered Nurse (RN)
Revision Date: 04/09/2019 FLSA Status: Non-Exempt
ESSENTIAL ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Provides professional and technical skills to ensure the safety, comfort, personal hygiene and the protection of adult and elderly patients in the Psychiatric Unit.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES
· Appropriately manages the care of mental health patients during the transition period from inpatient care to outpatient care.
· Reviews and implements physician orders accurately and timely.
· Performs basic nursing procedures, specific unit-based nursing procedures and/or standardized procedures safely, accurately and efficiently per policy and procedure
· Reviews patient history, diagnostic data and physician orders/notes prior to interviewing patient/family/significant other.
· Collects data by interviewing patient, family/significant other within specified time frame.
· Performs biophysical assessment within specified time frame.
· Assesses educational level, learning needs, preferred teaching methods and barriers to learning.
· Considers knowledge deficits, barriers to learning an appropriate teaching method in performing patient teaching.
· Analyzes patient data, identifies and prioritizes patient needs.
· Reports abnormal diagnostic data and/or changes in patient condition to physician in a timely manner.
· Performs all aspects of patient care in an environment that optimizes patient safety and reduces the likelihood of medical/health care errors.
· Supports and maintains a culture of safety and quality.
· Collaborates with the patient/family/significant other and other disciplines, as appropriate; to develop an individualized written plan of treatment based on the prioritized needs identified in the assessment process.
· Communicates the written plan of treatment, and changes to the plan, to the patient/family/ significant other and other members of the healthcare team through the report process and other methods as appropriate.
· Updates/revises the written plan of treatment as patient needs are resolved and/or as patient condition changes.
· Attends weekly multidisciplinary treatment meetings to update and individualize master treatment plan according to needs of the patient.
Demonstrates Competency in the Following Areas:
· Collaborates with other disciplines to assure the plan of treatment is implemented in a coordinated manner to avoid time constraints and assure an uninterrupted treatment plan.
· Observes, records and reports stability of changes in the patient’s condition. Monitors the patient’s attendance in program activities and treatment modalities.
· Interacts with patient on a one-to-one basis in a therapeutic manner.
· Contributes to the community relations program by providing positive guest relation’s behavior in verbal and nonverbal communications and interactions with patient families and outside community agencies.
· Prepares and teaches health-related topics daily for nursing groups.
· Monitors the safety of the therapeutic milieu and assists in the management of an assaultive patient.
· Evaluates effectiveness and patient response to treatments, procedures and medications.
· Provides alternative interventions as needed and reevaluates.
· Follows the seven (7) medication rights and reduces the potential for medication errors.
· Monitors patient behavior to evaluate effectiveness of patient teaching provided.
· Recognizes life threatening patient complications/situations and responds immediately by initiating and participating in emergency procedures.
· Participates in monitoring patient outcomes (short term and/or long term) to evaluate effectiveness of care provided and to identify organizational improvement opportunities.
· Understands the legal aspects of nursing and the importance of accurate and timely documentation according to standards and policy and procedures.
· Successfully completes core and unit specific competencies annually.
· Performs all other duties and responsibilities as assigned.
· Recognizes and responds appropriately to unique needs of varying age groups with whom she/he interacts.
· Recognizes and responds to safety factors for age level served.
· Ability to function well as a member of a multidisciplinary team.
· Ability represent the program well in interactions both inside and outside the hospital. Documentation meets current standard and practices
Professional Requirements:
· Adheres to dress code, appearance is neat and clean.
· Completes annual education requirements.
· Maintains regulatory requirements.
· Always Maintains patient confidentiality.
· Reports to work on time and as scheduled, completes work within designated time.
· Wears identification while on duty, uses computerized punch time system correctly.
· Completes in-services and returns in a timely fashion.
· Attends annual review and department in-services, as scheduled.
· Attends staff meetings annually, reads and returns all monthly staff meeting minutes.
· Represents the organization in a positive and professional manner.
· Actively participates in performance improvement and continuous quality improvement (CQI) activities.
· Complies with all organizational policies regarding ethical business practices.
· Communicates the mission, ethics and goals of the program.
QUALIFICATIONS
Required – Current state RN license. Current BLS certification. CPI certification. Degree or diploma in Nursing. One (1) year clinical experience in psychiatric nursing in an ambulatory or acute care setting and psychiatric setting is preferred. Basic computer skills and excellent interpersonal skills.
Language Skills – Able to communicate in English, both verbally and in writing.
SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE, & COMPETENCIES
§ Communication skills - able to communicate in a clear, articulate, and professional manner daily to solve problems as these arise.
§ Interpersonal and Customer Relations skills – able to maintain a professional and courteous attitude with employees and third-party individuals at all times.
§ Planning/Organizational skills - able to prioritize work activities, use time efficiently and work through projects in a self-motivated manner.
§ Adaptability – able to adapt to rapid changes in the work environment, manage competing demands and able to deal with frequent change, delays or unexpected events.
§ Problem-solving skills – able to identify and resolve problems in a timely manner; gather and analyze information skillfully; able to apply independent judgment on a regular basis in making decisions.
§ Time Management skills – able to use time effectively in a semi-supervised fashion, pursuing other activities when regular duties have reduced in volume; able to complete projects in a timely manner. Will work with occasional supervision over repetitive tasks. New duties or project type tasks may receive “strict” or “direct” supervision, depending upon the nature of the task(s).
WORKING CONDITIONS
General office environment. Lighting and temperature are adequate.
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
This employee is occasionally lift or move up to 25 pounds. The job requires frequent contact with water (hand washing and cleaning) and working with bodily fluid and hazardous chemicals. Then under these conditions, OSHA standards and universal precautions must be followed. While performing the duties of this job, the employee must be able to work in a fast- paced environment with minimal to high volumes of stress.
With or without reasonable accommodation, individual should be capable of performing the essential duties listed above.
I have reviewed this job description and agree that it accurately describes the job’s requirement and primary duties.
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Employee Name Printed Employee Signature Date
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Managers Name Printed Managers Signature Date