Behavioral Health

Job Title

Qualifications: 2 year / Associate Degree in Nursing (Required); 4 year / Bachelor's Degree in Nursing (Preferred). Work Experience: 2 - 3 years Experience in an acute care setting in area of specialty (Required); 1 - 2 years Clinical Leadership Experience (Preferred). Licenses and Certifications: Required Certifications/Licensures: Registered Nurse (RN) with current Georgia license, Basic Life Support (BLS). Department Specific Certifications may be required. Behavioral Health Employees: Crisis Response Training required within 2 months of hire (Required).

Essential Functions

Clinical Staff Supervision: Provides direct supervision to staff in providing patient care. Assigns, directs and delegates clinical staff to meet patients' needs based on competency of personnel, adjusts staffing patterns based on patient care needs. Ensures staff provides ongoing assessment of patients including the review of lab results and reports abnormal findings to physician. Monitors procedures performed by ancillary departments. Receives patient traffic and coordinates bed control/throughput for all patients. Identifies those patients meeting criteria for use of the Trauma Team and coordinates the patient flow through the unit when the team is in progress. Recognizes the need for, and ensures the notification of, law enforcement personnel, Coroner and Rape Crisis as appropriate. Ensures appropriate contact is made with discharged patients for returned abnormal laboratory and/or radiology results.

Non-Clinical Staff Supervision: Provides coordination & management of non-clinical departmental activities. Assists with communication of information to staff. Provides coaching/counseling in a constructive manner. Keeps Director informed of any concerns, situations or conditions relative to staff, patients, family members, or physicians. Active participation in CQI activities. Assists in identifying areas to study, collection of data and correcting deficiencies. Keeps current on trends and developments in nursing. Participates in the orientation of new employees. Serves as a positive role model, mentor and resource person for less experienced nursing staff. Conducts themselves within the established hospital Code of Conduct in all activities with patients, family members, staff and ancillary departments. Submits budget recommendations to the Director. Interviews and makes personnel recommendations to the Director. Supervise employees on their respective shifts and prepares inputs for annual evaluations.

Care Processes: Treats patients and families with compassion and implements plan of care. Bases care decisions on plan of care. Monitors and documents patient response. Establishes rapport with clients. Adapts communication style, listens and responds to patient needs. Recognizes age-specific responses to treatment. Provides effective interventions. Respects patients confidentiality and privacy. Supports social, spiritual, and cultural needs of patients and families. Manages difficult or emotional patient situations.

RN - Quality: Uses the results of quality improvement activities in nursing practice. Uses creativity and innovation in nursing practice to improve care delivery. Incorporates evidence based knowledge to initiate change in nursing practice. Participates in quality improvement activities.

RN - Nursing ANA Code of Ethics: Accountable for individual practice and delegation to provide optimum care. Practices with compassion and respect. Primary commitment is to advocate for the patient, family and community. Assures patient safety through competency and growth of self and others. Contributes to a healthy work environment through shared decision making. Collaborates with other health professionals to meet healthcare need.

Additional Duties: Adheres to the hospital and departmental attendance and punctuality guidelines. Performs all job responsibilities in alignment with the core values, mission and vision of the organization. Performs other duties as required and completes all job functions as per departmental policies and procedures. Maintains current knowledge in present areas of responsibility (i.e., self education, attends ongoing educational programs). Attends staff meetings and completes mandatory in-services and requirements and competency evaluations on time. Demonstrates competency at all levels in providing care to all patients based on age, sex, weight, and demonstrated needs. For non-clinical areas, has attended training and demonstrates usage of age-specific customer service skills. Wears protective clothing and equipment as appropriate.