Graduate Nurse and Registered Nurse Behavioral Health Internship, In-Patient Network

St. Luke's is proud of the skills, experience and compassion of its employees. The employees of St. Luke's are our most valuable asset! Individually and together, our employees are dedicated to satisfying the mission of our organization which is an unwavering commitment to excellence as we care for the sick and injured; educate physicians, nurses and other health care providers; and improve access to care in the communities we serve, regardless of a patient's ability to pay for health care.

Nurses are pivotal to providing the care that is needed and demanded in our communities. At St. Luke's, we are proud to be the forerunners of that higher quality standard. Our philosophy and professional practice model are our commitment to safe, compassionate and quality patient centered care. Nursing uniquely leaves a lasting impression on patients and families who rely on these skills.

Here at St. Luke’s, PCRAFT values are the guiding core principles of our health care team and the qualities we strive for with every encounter. Pride, caring, respect, accountability, flexibility and teamwork are the qualities our team will deliver every time. As a patient or prospective employee, you can count on every member of the St. Luke’s team to display PCRAFT values in every situation.

Our Behavioral Health Internship is an intensive program designed to provide graduate nurses and nurses new to the specialty with a solid educational experience and structured foundation. The internship seminars run in tandem with clinical practice to enhance the learning experience. This program utilizes education through American Psychiatric Nurse Association (APNA) and seminar discussions with leadership, educators, and members of our Behavioral Health team. St. Luke’s University Health Network and the Behavioral Health team is driven to support the novice nurse as they grow into independent and advanced nurses.

Locations- Openings will vary by campus availability.

• Easton Campus:

• Adolescent Behavioral Health
  • Lehighton Campus:
• Adult Behavioral Health
• Older Adult Behavioral Health
  • Quakertown Campus:
• Adult Behavioral Health
  • Sacred Heart Campus, Allentown:
• Adult Behavioral Health
• Older Adult Behavioral Health
• Extended Acute Care Behavioral Health
  • St. Luke’s Penn Foundation Recovery Center, Sellersville:
• Inpatient Detox and Rehab (Drug and Alcohol)

What St. Luke's Behavioral Health RN Internship Offers:

• ​The Length of the internship program is Full Time competency-based and is tailored to each individual adult learner.
• Dedicated Education Team
• Bridging the Preparation to Practice Gap
• Support Transition from Novice to Advanced Beginner
• A Progressive Arrangement of Seminars, Workshops, Supervised hands-on trainings, Simulation, and Clinical Observations
• Clinical Preceptorship
• Cultivate Leadership, Team Building, & Conflict Management
• Psychopharmacology
• Psychiatric Mental Health Disorders
• Therapeutic Communication
• De-escalation Techniques
• Management of Aggressive Behavior (MOAB) Training
• Behavioral Health Continuing Education Credits

Ideal candidates for application to the St. Luke’s Behavioral Health Internship Program are: 

• Nursing Students with prospective Spring/Summer/Winter graduation dates who will be eligible to sit for NCLEX and obtain licensure before start of Internship
• Experienced RN's that have not worked in the Behavioral Health setting.
  

The Behavioral Health Internship is conducted at various sites within the St. Luke’s University Health Network and is supervised by the Behavioral Health Internship coordinator. Upon successful completion of the Behavioral Health RN Internship Program, the intern will work in a St. Luke's Behavioral Health Unit where he/she will practice caring for patients across their lifespans.

JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: **  **

• Demonstrates competency in the assessment, range of treatment, knowledge of growth and development and communication appropriate to the age of the patient treated.  Performs assessment of the mental and physical status of all assigned patients. 
• Demonstrates accountability for initiating and maintaining the multi-disciplinary treatment plans, assuring that all elements are reviewed and revised as required by departmental policy and regulatory standards.
• Assesses patient/family learning needs and provides and documents psycho-educational interventions by utilizing a variety of therapeutic programming modalities (patient education groups, individual sessions, etc.).
• Demonstrates appropriate knowledge base of psychopharmacology.
• Demonstrates appropriate skill as a member of the Control Team, in responding to agitation/violent behavior of individuals requiring verbal de-escalation and/or physical restraint.
• Demonstrates competence in caring for the patient requiring restraints or seclusion.
• Directly supervises and is accountable for the care provided by the Mental Health Technician and all other ancillary staff.
• Maintains clinical records of all patient contact according to hospital policy and other regulatory guidelines (i.e., State, JCAHO). Documents patient information thoroughly, reflecting consideration of treatment plan.

TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE:

Maintain current BLS certification.

EDUCATION:

Registered Nurse with current license to practice in the State of Pennsylvania.

PHYSICAL AND SENSORY REQUIREMENTS:

Sit up to 2 hours per day; 1 hour at a time. Stand for up to 8 hours per day, 4 hours at a time. Walk 6 hours per day; 10 minutes at a time. Consistently lift, carry and push objects up to 10 lbs. Frequently lift, carry and push objects up to 75 lbs. Transport patients weighing up to 250 lbs. via wheelchair, bed and/or stretcher with assistance when appropriate. Consistently pull up to 10 lbs. Frequently pull up to 250 lbs. with assistance when appropriate. Frequently stoop and bend, crouch, kneel and climb. Frequently reach above shoulder level. Occasional crawling. Must be able to perceive attributes of an object through touch. Frequently finger and handle objects. Occasionally firmly grasp, twist, and turn objects with hands and fingers. Must be able to hear as it relates to normal conversation, and high and low frequencies. Must be able to see as it relates to general, near, far color, and peripheral vision, depth perception, and visual monotony (e.g. computer screen).

Please complete your application using your full legal name and current home address.  Be sure to include employment history for the past seven (7) years, including your present employer.  Additionally, you are encouraged to upload a current resume, including all work history, education, and/or certifications and licenses, if applicable.  It is highly recommended that you create a profile at the conclusion of submitting your first application.  Thank you for your interest in St. Luke's!!