RN - PRN

JOB SUMMARY :

Works with a treatment team to assess and provide prescribed services for individuals with a psychiatric diagnosis. Reports to the Unit Nurse Managers.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS :

1. Administers patient's medication and follows all physicians orders in consultation with psychiatrist and in accordance with established hospital and licensing agency protocols. Educates patients on side effects, and through discussions determines the effectiveness of education; questions compliance, and adjusts medications under psychiatrists supervision as needed; monitors lab results to validate medication compliance.

2. Maintains accountability of administration, recording, control and security of medications, including narcotics.

3. Confers regularly with treatment team (e.g., nurses, therapists, program managers, physician) regarding patient care.

4. Communicates with families, guardians, advocates, and other outside agencies as instructed.

5. Monitors patient acuity, census, staffing needs, and makes arrangements for coverage in the absence of the supervisor or Administrator on Call, following established guidelines. Will serve as an assertive, professional liaison with peers, other professionals, and departments regarding patient, team / personnel, and / or milieu issues which may alter patients care.

6. Assures thorough, accurate documentation is completed for all patients on each shift and patient assignment sheets are completed daily and tasks are carried out as assigned. Directs the care provided by LPNs and BHTs for assigned shift.

7. Has a knowledge of the legal responsibilities of a Registered Professional Nurse and the WV Registered Nurse's Code of Conduct; providing a positive role model for staff, patients, and other treatment team members. Must be aware and follow established nursing and hospital standards, policies and procedures.

ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES :

1. Provides coverage in emergency services as needed.

2. Maintains an awareness of function and current activities of the various committees in the hospital, their purpose, and assists in providing clear explanations to the other staff; serving on teams and / or committees as assigned.

3. Addresses personnel performance improvement issues at the time noticed, to provide supportive documentation and assists with any follow-up as necessary.

4. Must be aware of Infection Control standards, policies, procedures and reporting mechanism.

5. Continues self-development by attending in-services (internal and external), reading current articles and minutes from committee meetings, and by seeking opportunities to learn new skills.

6. Other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS :

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and / or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and Experience :

Graduation from an approved / accredited school of nursing.

Relevant experience in psychiatric nursing, preferably in a multi-disciplinary setting.

Language Skills :

Ability to read and interpret instructions, documents and follow procedures. Ability to write routine reports and speak effectively with patients and their families, employees and public.

Reasoning Ability :

Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of variables as needed.

Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations :

WV Registered Nurse licensure.

Other skills and Abilities :

Knowledge of and experience with psychotropic medications.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS :

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk, hear, and use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects. The employee frequently is required to stand, walk, and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to sit, climb or balance, stoop, kneel or crouch, and smell. The employee must occasionally lift or assist a patient and be able to move up to 100 pounds. Incumbent will be expected to participate as necessary in the physical restraint of patients, have the ability to respond to rapidly escalating patient situations, and adapt to the many varied resultant physical posturing as a result of such circumstances after Crisis Prevention Intervention (CPI) training. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT :

Incumbent functions in a normal building environment or community settings, requiring the ability to adapt to periodic changes in environmental conditions, i.e., temperature, air quality, and noise.