RN- Mental Health

Summary of Job Purpose

The Registered Nurse (RN) is accountable for providing a restorative, healing experience for the patient and the patients support systems in transformational partnership with the Clinical Manager and the interdisciplinary team. The RN is responsible for providing quality patient care by demonstrating clinical competence, participating in ongoing quality assessment, and providing direction to ancillary staff.

Essential Job Responsibilities

The following is a summary of the essential functions of this job. The employee may perform other duties, both major and minor, that are not mentioned below; and specific functions may change from time to time.

• Patient Assessment Demonstrates autonomy in practice by performing a thorough and ongoing, holistic nursing assessment, including assessment of patients mental status, psychiatric, medical and social history. Assessment includes identifying risks for imminent threat of harm to self or others and/or severity of disability, in order to make recommendation regarding appropriate care. Develops appropriate interventions and desired outcomes for key problems with the goal of positive and effective outcomes.
• Teaching - Collaborates with appropriate health care team members, patient and family/significant others to meet patients present and discharge needs. Initiates referrals as necessary, evaluates, revises, and documents the patient plan of care assessing the patient, family/significant others level of understanding/acceptance of plan. The RN uses current, evidenced based practice when teaching patient and support systems.
• Communication - Demonstrates the ability to process and interface appropriate information with the patient and family/significant other to ensure quality patient outcomes. As a professional the RN demonstrates mutual respect and collaboration when communicating with the interdisciplinary health care team. The RN strives to create high performance teams by providing them with an overall positive, inclusive sense of support
• Treatment/Procedures As the essential provider of healthcare, the RN performs all treatments and procedures in accordance with established evidenced based policies, and patient care standards. The RN collaborates with the LMPs and all members of the healthcare team in the performance of the task.
• Documentation - The RN accurately, efficiently, and in a timely fashion, documents pertinent patient information utilizing the nursing process to ensure optimal patient outcomes.
• Medication Administration - Provide to the patient the following services: administration, monitoring, pre and post assessment, teaching, evaluation of the patients response to the medication administered via any route.
• Quality Performance and Improvement (QPI) Actively participates in the QPI process to achieve excellent patient outcomes and improved processes. The RN aids in maintaining and improving the culture of patient safety. The RN engages in environmental rounds and helps facilitate resolution when issues are identified.
• Supervision/Delegation The RN accurately delegates aspects of patient care to the LPN, CNA, Mental Health Technician and unit clerk according to their scope of practice, job description, individual competence and patient needs. The RN supervises the provision of this care by clearly communicating the right task in the right circumstance to the right individual, while being available to provide direction and supervision.
• Safety- The RN conducts hourly rounds on patients to monitor for progress and intervenes appropriately to remove barriers to progress and to facilitate positive patient outcomes. The RN may serve as a team leader in crisis situations.
• Cross-training; The RN may be called upon to cross train and or float to other departments in the facility.
• Unit Specific Competencies The RN will complete ongoing education including unit specific and hospital wide Net Learning modules. The RN will maintain competency in restraint application.

Essential Job Qualifications

Education:

• Graduate of an accredited school of nursing, currently licensed in the State of New York, or permittee. Membership in a professional organization suggested.

Experience:

• Basic knowledge of nursing theory and practice. Knowledge of appropriate technology and practice standards for area of responsibility. Demonstrates sound clinical skills; knowledge of Hospital structure, objectives and standards of practice, positive communication skills.

Training/License:

• New York State Registered Nurse license required, or permittee.

Other:

• None specified.