Registered Nurse

POSITION SUMMARY The Licensed Nurse promotes the physical and emotional health of clients by applying the nursing process. This is done as a member of the multidisciplinary treatment team. The Licensed Nurse provides quality nursing care to clients, including the administration and monitoring of medications; implements specific policies and procedures; reports clients’ pertinent medical/dental issues and information to the Nursing Supervisor; responds to inquiries or requests for information; and assists the Nursing Supervisor with assigned tasks to support Medical Services operations. ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES Provide individualized attention, encouraging each client’s ability to maintain or attain the highest practical physical, dental and psychosocial well‑being. Knowledgeable of the individualized treatment plan for clients and provide support to the client according to the plan. Contribute to the care planning process by providing Treatment Team members with specific information and observations of the client’s response to medical/dental interventions. Maintain the comfort, privacy, and dignity of each client in the delivery of nursing care to them. Interact with clients in a manner that promotes a caring treatment environment. Fully understand all aspects of client rights, including the right to be free of restraints and free of abuse. Responsible for promptly reporting incidents or evidence of client abuse or violation of client rights. Assist in maintaining a safe, organized, and clean treatment environment. Observe and monitor clients for changes in condition or behavior and promptly report these changes to the Nursing Supervisor and/or appropriate members of the Treatment Team. Communicate and interact effectively and tactfully with each client, visitors, families, peers, and supervisors. Maintain confidentiality of all protected health information of clients and staff. Effectively and thoroughly document all medical care services rendered according to Pathway policy and in compliance with applicable state agency requirements. Participate in training as outlined in the Staff Development and Training Plan; maintain professional licensure. Communicate with physicians; transcribe, clarify, and implement physician’s orders. Registered Nurses may make initial decisions regarding the emergency use of restraint and seclusion. Available on-call for emergency consultations and interventions. Other duties as may be assigned by the Nursing Supervisor. QUALIFICATIONS: Education, Experience, and Competencies Education: Graduation from an accredited nursing school with an Associate Degree, Bachelor’s Degree, or Master’s Degree in Nursing OR graduation from an accredited Licensed Practical Nursing program. Licensed in the state of Alabama. Experience and Competencies: Minimum of six months experience in the provision of nursing services, preferably in a similar treatment environment; an energetic individual with high ethical standards and an appropriate professional image; the individual is trustworthy and able to maintain strict levels of confidentiality when dealing with clients, proprietary information, and sensitive situations; an articulate individual who can relate to people at all levels of an organization and possesses excellent interpersonal, written, and oral communication skills; has a working knowledge of the laws, regulations, and standards related to the provision of behavioral health care. Nursing staff must maintain a valid Alabama Driver License, submit to a background investigation, and complete an annual tuberculosis screening, as well as a physical health examination every three (3) years. Language Skills: Ability to read, analyze, and interpret complex documents; ability to respond effectively (verbally and/or in writing) to inquiries or complaints from licensing agency representatives, staff, clients, and family members. Mathematical Skills: Ability to calculate figures related to medication dosages. PERSONNEL/STAFF TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT SUBJECT: Program Position Descriptions, Qualifications POLICY #: H - 95 LICENSED NURSE (con’t) AMERICANS with DISABILITIES ACT SPECIFICATIONS 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 occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects/tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms, climb stairs or steep and/or rough terrain; balance; stoop, kneel, or crouch; talk or hear; taste or smell. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds without assistance. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. WORK ENVIRONMENT Work environment characteristics 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 not substantially exposed to adverse environmental conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. The employee is subject to hostile and emotionally upset clients, family members, staff, and visitors. The employee has a minimal risk of being exposed to infectious waste, diseases, conditions, etc., including exposure to the AIDS, hepatitis B, and tuberculosis viruses. The employee performs tasks that may involve exposure to blood or body fluids. All employees are offered the opportunity to receive the Hepatitis B vaccination series, and personal protective equipment is provided. #J-18808-Ljbffr