Program Nurse

Job Description

Patient Population: Adolescent IOP

Location: Onsite- Colquitt, GA

Hours: Mon-Fri 10am-6pm

• The Program Nurse will be clinically competent while delivering care to patients, utilizing the nursing process of assessment, planning, intervention, implementation and evaluation. The staff nurse will effectively interact with patients, significant others and other health team members while maintaining all standards of professional nursing.

3 Cs:

• Care- Provide the best possible patient Care
• Compliance – Ensure the program operates within all regulations
• Community – Become a wonderful addition to your local Community

A. Care: All employees are expected to provide the best possible patient care.

1. The program nurse assesses and monitors clients’ health status and physical care needs at admission and while clients are in the program.
2. Completes an admission nursing assessment for every client according to program standard.
3. Regularly obtains and documents patients vital signs and weights according to program standard.
4. Communicates relevant clinical and other client care information to program director, medical director and treatment team members as necessary and appropriate.
5. Monitors clients on an ongoing basis to identify health needs, problems, and/or symptoms.
6. Assists patients with personal care needs (bathroom, etc) as needed or requested.
7. Coordinates and documents patients care in cases of medical emergency.

B. Compliance: Ensure the program operates within all regulations.

1. Assists with ensuring regulatory compliance.
2. Implements and documents nursing interventions that are part of the interdisciplinary treatment plan.
3. Participates in the development of a therapeutic alliance between the interdisciplinary treatment team patients and their families.
4. Adheres to safety and infection control guidelines.
5. Participates in the completion and maintenance of patients medical records, including recording of physician’s orders.
6. Participates in quality improvement activities as requested.

C. Community: Become a wonderful addition to your local community.

1. The program nurse provides health education for patients, families and community groups as needed.
2. Provides education to the community on mental illness, or related health topics as assigned by the Program Director.
3. Provides families and family caregivers with education on health-related topics.
4. Provides education to community groups as requested by the program director.
5. Conducts community meetings as requested.

• Education: Graduation from a state approved school of nursing.
• Licensure: Registered Nurse in the State of practice.
• Experience: Psychiatric Nursing experience preferred.
• Other skills: Patient and family teaching; teaching/learning materials development; problem solving; complaint resolution; ability to make presentations to outside groups, good problem solver, results oriented. 
• CPR/BLS certification may be required based on site staffing needs, as at least one staff member onsite must maintain current CPR/BLS certification.