RN PRN

Registered Nurse

River Vista Behavioral Health, a new 128-bed facility along the San Joaquin River, will provide advanced behavioral health services to residents and visitors in the Central Valley. The hospital will employ over 250 staff members, including clinicians, nurses, mental health technicians, support staff, and administration. We are seeking forward-thinking and compassionate registered nurses to join our nursing team.

The staff nurse (R.N.) is a registered professional nurse who prescribes, coordinates, and evaluates patient care through collaborative efforts with health team members in accordance with the nursing process and the standards of care and practices. Location: Child and Adolescent Unit only.

Qualifications:

• Education: Graduate from an accredited program of professional nursing required; Bachelor's Degree preferred.
• Preferred Experience: A minimum of three (3) years experience in a behavioral health-care facility.
• Licensure: Currently licensed to practice by the California State Board of Nursing.
• Additional Requirements: CPR certification and successful completion of Crisis Prevention Intervention (CPI) training. CPI Training may be obtained during new hire orientation.

Essential Job Functions:

• Assessment: Document patient information and nursing care in the provision of nursing services. Document and reassess any significant changes in the patient's condition in compliance with facility policy. Report any signs or symptoms of infection in patients to the Infection Control Nurse. Verify the accuracy of patient records.
• Intervention: Employ principles of communication, interviewing techniques, and problem solving and crisis intervention when performing psychotherapeutic interventions. Intervention is based on knowledge of psychiatric and medical nursing procedures, as well as the plan of care. Accurately administer medication to patients. Transcribe and carry out physician's/licensed practitioner's treatment orders accurately. Utilize appropriate interventions in psychiatric and medical emergencies.
• Treatment Planning: Participate in the development of an interdisciplinary treatment plan with specific and measurable goals, objectives and interventions defining actions unique to each patient's needs. Prioritize and formulate a plan of care based on patient assessment. Update and revise the plan as goals/objectives are met or when the patient's condition changes. Document both the nursing interventions on the treatment plan and the patient's response to the intervention.
• Milieu: Assure patients are adequately oriented to the program. Monitor program activity and encourage patient participation. Prescribe and coordinate nursing care to patients, during episode of care. Provide structure and maintain a therapeutic environment in collaboration with the patient and other health care providers. Consistently utilize universal precautions and environmental safety guidelines. Conduct structured didactic groups with patients and families. Utilize self as a role model to promote health communication.
• Teaching: Provide education to patients and families based on their identified needs and limitations, such as communication, interpersonal and social skills as well as basic principles of physical health. Provide and document discharge instructions including food and drug interactions, diets and activities as appropriate. Evaluate and document the effectiveness of all patient teaching. Provide opportunities for patients and families to question, discuss and explore their feelings about prescribed therapies/interventions/diagnosis.
• Performance: Participate in quality assurance programs. Collaborate with other team members. Act as the patient's advocate and assure that patient rights are upheld. Comply with established measures for infection control, OSHA regulations and risk management. Utilize time constructively and in an organized manner to accomplish assigned responsibilities. Demonstrate guest relations in communication, cooperation and in giving assistance to patients, physicians/licensed practitioners, co-workers and visitors in a prompt and courteous manner. Follow facility, departmental and personnel policies and procedures. Comply with the employee Code of Ethics. Work overtime in a case of emergency or as deemed necessary by supervisor. Attend mandatory educational programs and annual in-services. Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned by supervisor. Demonstrate appropriate therapeutic boundaries. Consistently follow established procedures.

Specific Standards for the Care of Child Patients Ages 5 through 11, Adolescent Patients Ages 12 through 18, Adult Patients Ages 19 through 64, Geriatric Patients Ages 65 and older, and Chemically Dependent Patients are also required.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of personal hygiene training techniques.
• Knowledge of all code procedures.
• Knowledge of psychiatric care techniques.
• Knowledge of assaultive behavior management techniques.
• Knowledge of admitting procedures.
• Knowledge of P.I.E. (problem, intervention, evaluation) charting.
• Skill in organizing and prioritizing workloads to meet deadlines.
• Skill in telephone etiquette and paging procedures.
• Effective oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively with patients and co-workers.
• Ability to adhere to safety policies and procedures.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality of information.
• Ability to work as a team player.
• Ability to demonstrate tact, resourcefulness, patience and dedication.
• Ability to accept direction and adhere to policies and procedures.
• Ability to recognize the importance of adapting to the various patient age groups (adolescent, adult and geriatric).
• Ability to participate in all aspects of patient care.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to react calmly and effectively in emergency situations.
• Ability to operate a stethoscope competently.

Physical, Mental, and Special Demands:

• Must be able to hear sufficiently, with or without correction, to competently perform all essential job functions.
• Ability to stand, sit or walk up to six hours, sit for up to two hours.
• Ability to move frequently as necessary in the delivery of patient care.
• Visual acuity is needed for accurate reading of patient charts and for demonstrating activities or assisting patients in activities.
• Ability to spend 20% of the work day outdoors in temperatures varying from 30°-110°F and 80% of the work day indoors in temperatures varying from 60°-85°.
• Ability to occasionally push or pull wheeled carts from 200 lbs. (i.e., crash cart, EKG machine, patient on stretchers or in wheelchairs).
• Ability to frequently lift and carry up to 10 lbs. (i.e. juices, charts, patient's belongings) and occasionally lift and carry up to 25 lbs. with assistance.
• Ability to frequently reach above, at or below shoulder height (to obtain supplies, reach in cabinets, use refrigerator), kneel, bend, stoop, turn, twist.
• Ability to frequently handle, through gross and fine manipulations, simple grasping, twisting and fingering of small objects (telephone buttons, thermometers with both hands).
• Ability to see well enough to read written material and discern a variety of odors.
• Ability to occasionally handle hazardous/infectious waste.
• Ability to work in an environment where the noise level is frequently high; where chemicals are frequently used for cleaning; where mechanical and electrical hazards may be occasionally present; and where dust, mist and steam are frequently generated in housekeeping tasks.
• The ability to competently and fully perform Handle with Care techniques is an essential position function.
• Must work every other weekend, both Saturday and Sunday, as required.

Additional Requirements: A strong knowledge of The Joint Commission, HCFA, OSHA regulations, and patient rights standards and all other applicable federal and state laws and regulations governing mental health care facilities.