Pediatric Psychiatric Registered Nurse (RN)

Pediatric Psychiatric Registered Nurse (RN)

Reports to - Psychiatric Care Coordinator

Status - Non-Exempt (Hourly $31.00 - $41.00)

Job Purpose

The Pediatric Psychiatric Registered Nurse is an integral member of the interdisciplinary pediatric and behavioral health care team. This position supports children and adolescents receiving psychiatric and behavioral health services by providing nursing assessment, care coordination, medication-related support, patient and family education, triage, and clinical follow-up in collaboration with psychiatric providers, pediatric providers, nursing staff, and other members of the care team.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Works collaboratively with pediatric, psychiatric, behavioral health, and other interdisciplinary team members to support coordinated, patient-centered care for children and adolescents.
• Organizes and prioritizes nursing responsibilities and available resources to support timely, safe, and efficient patient care and clinic operations.
• Provides nursing assessment and communicates relevant clinical findings, changes in condition, safety concerns, and patient or family needs to the appropriate provider.
• Provides nursing triage, including telephone and electronic-message triage, within the RN scope of practice and in accordance with approved protocols, standing orders, and organizational policy.
• Supports psychiatric providers with patient visits, follow-up care, medication monitoring, and coordination of ordered services.
• Administers medications, immunizations, and other treatments within the RN scope of practice and in accordance with provider orders, applicable law, and organizational policy.
• Provides age-appropriate education to pediatric patients and their parents, guardians, or caregivers regarding medications, treatment plans, follow-up instructions, and other health-related needs within the RN scope of practice.
• Coordinates follow-up related to psychiatric medications, laboratory testing, referrals, prior authorizations, and other provider-directed care as assigned.
• Assists with medication reconciliation and communicates medication questions, reported side effects, adherence concerns, or other clinically relevant information to the prescribing provider.
• Recognizes and appropriately escalates urgent or emergent medical, behavioral, or psychiatric concerns in accordance with organizational protocols, including concerns related to patient safety.
• Documents nursing assessments, communications, interventions, provider orders, and follow-up activities accurately and timely in the patient health record.
• Responds to patient and caregiver telephone calls, portal messages, and other requests in a timely, professional, and clinically appropriate manner.
• Supports continuity of care by coordinating with internal and external providers, pharmacies, schools, hospitals, community resources, and other entities as appropriate and authorized.
• Maintains patient and employee confidentiality and complies with HIPAA, organizational privacy requirements, and applicable law.
• Follows Infection Control guidelines, OSHA requirements, medication-safety practices, and other clinical policies and procedures.
• Participates in performance improvement, quality initiatives, staff meetings, training, and team problem-solving activities.
• Assists with orientation and education of nursing staff as assigned.
• Maintains awareness of current policies, procedures, protocols, and information applicable to the position.
• Demonstrates flexibility in work assignments and schedules to meet changing patient, provider, and organizational needs.
• Maintains professional, respectful communication with patients, families, coworkers, providers, and community partners, including during stressful or emotionally challenging situations.
• Meets work schedules and fulfills responsibilities and commitments related to attendance, punctuality, dependability, productivity, and efficiency.
• Performs other duties within the scope of the position as assigned.

Qualifications

• Current, unrestricted Registered Nurse (RN) license to practice in the State of Kansas.
• Maintains current licensure, required training, and credentialing throughout employment.
• Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification.
• Knowledge of and ability to practice within the RN scope of practice under the Kansas Nurse Practice Act and applicable organizational policies and protocols.
• Demonstrated ability to provide developmentally appropriate, patient-centered care to children and adolescents and to communicate effectively with parents, guardians, and caregivers.
• Strong clinical assessment, communication, organization, documentation, and care-coordination skills.
• Ability to recognize changes in patient condition and appropriately escalate medical, behavioral, or psychiatric concerns.
• Ability to work effectively as part of an interdisciplinary pediatric and behavioral health care team and with culturally diverse patient populations.
• Pediatric, behavioral health, psychiatric nursing, ambulatory care, or related nursing experience preferred.

Working Conditions & Physical Requirements

• Work is primarily performed indoors in an environmentally controlled healthcare setting.
• Requires sitting, standing, and walking throughout the workday, including standing for extended periods as necessary.
• Requires frequent use of hands to handle, control, or operate objects, tools, equipment, and other job-related materials.
• Requires bending, twisting, reaching, and other physical movements necessary to perform assigned duties.
• Requires repetitive physical and mental activities while maintaining accuracy and attention to detail.
• Work is frequently performed in close physical proximity to patients, coworkers, and other individuals.
• May involve exposure to infectious or contagious diseases and other occupational hazards commonly encountered in a healthcare environment.
• Requires the ability to appropriately respond to emergency, urgent, or crisis situations.
• Requires the ability to work effectively with frequent interruptions, changing priorities, and competing demands.
• May involve difficult, emotionally challenging, or conflict-related situations requiring professionalism and appropriate interpersonal communication.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position, in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), as amended, and applicable law.

Details

• Full-time, non-exempt (hourly) position.
• Schedule and work hours are established based on patient-care and operational needs and may be modified by supervisor(s) as needed.
• The position primarily supports pediatric psychiatric services; work location and assignments may vary based on organizational and patient-care needs.
• Full-time employees have an expected workweek of 40 hours.
• Hours are approximate and may be altered by supervisor(s) as needed.
• Shifts are generally 8 hours in length in clinic.
• Full-Time employees have an expected workweek of 40 hours

Heartland Community Health Center Lawrence, KS