Registered Nurse

Job Description

Job Description

Salary: $70,000-$80,000/year

The Registered Nurse promotes, supports and maintains the health and safety of the youth residents of The Settlement Home for Children. Ensures that children in care obtain proper health maintenance services through their annual physical and biannual dental exams, as well as through other appointments as needed. Ensure all children in care are receiving proper hygiene training and services and medication administration. Provides leadership and expertise to the health care team together with the Medical Supervisor and contract psychiatrist.

This position includes on-call responsibilities. The on-call schedule will be determined by the employee and team members.

Responsibilities

• Provides temporary and emergency care for sick and injured children in The Settlement Home for Childrens programs in order to fulfill the following responsibilities:
  • Assess and triage children who are not feeling well to evaluate their need to see a doctor.
  • Provides direct medical care to children as needed. Administer first aid and other care for minor medical injuries or symptoms. May counsel directly with children regarding health matters, i.e. infection prevention, hygiene, etc. Provide or coordinate care for sick children.
  • Administer TB tests regularly and flu shots seasonally to children, staff, and foster parents.
  • Fax Monthly TB Test Results form to TDH.
  • Perform regular weight checks on children.
  • Act as liaison, together with Medical Supervisor, to SH contract psychiatrist. Participate in medication rounds weekly with the consulting psychiatrist, and observe residents for the effects of the medication and level of dosage. Ensures all orders and prescriptions are well documented and communicated to staff. Coordinates with therapists to determine needed orders, informs needs to the psychiatrist and obtains orders as approved by the psychiatrists.
  • Enter all medication additions, deletions, and changes into the facility database (extendedReach) and Health Passport and distribute highlighted copies of new doctors orders to cottages and appropriate staff.
  • Directly administers medications to children as often as possible.
  • Review medication administration records for proper date, time, and dosage as per the instructions of the physician. Submit weekly and monthly reports of findings.
  • Create and place weekly medication orders with the facility pharmacy.
  • Work with a dietician or other professionals as needed to provide for the health needs of specific children in care. Work with staff to ensure recommendations are understood and followed. Ensures that all supplies are available for special health, hygiene issues or first- aid issues.
  • Conduct inventory of expired/discontinued medications to be disposed of, and ensure the disposal of expired over-the-counter medications.
  • Conduct inventory of and reorder medical supplies as needed i.e. cups and medication bags, and ensure all first aid kits are adequately supplied.
  • Conduct drug tests of children when indicated and in compliance with DFPS protocols.
• Accompanies children to medical appointments if needed. Communicates the results of medical and dental appointments to the Treatment Team and enters results/information into extendedReach. If not transporting children to their appointments directly, works with child care supervisors to ensure appointments are kept; children arrive on time, etc. Maintains a good working relationship with community clinics, doctors and dentists used by the children.
• Consults with staff, attends Service Plan Meetings and Program Team meetings and provides input for treatment plans.
• Design and conduct pre-service and annual staff training on medication administration and universal precautions and other training as needed.
• Responsible for illness testing (e.g., COVID-19) of children and following reporting protocols for communicable diseases as established.
• In collaboration with the Compliance Director, develop and/or maintain protocol for reportable communicable diseases and other child-related medical situations.
• Participates in the On-Call System and serves as the first person called in times of medical emergency and questions concerning medication or health related issues.
  • Be on call to advise staff and foster parents as to the health and medication needs of the residents, and during crisis situations, if necessary.
  • Be on call to advise staff regarding medication errors, and review and sign Medication Incident Reports.
    
  • Salary is $70,000 - $80,000 / year. On call details: $3 per hour for on call hours Monday - Friday from 5:00 - 10:00pm.
• Maintain communication with the treatment staff, foster parents, and other physicians as needed, as related to the needs of the children.
• Contact the consulting psychiatrist regarding medication needs and effectiveness if outside the psychiatrists regularly scheduled weekly time on campus.
• Consult with, train, and advise staff and foster parents regarding first aid, the keeping of medication records, the administration of medication to foster children, and the use of psychotropic medications.
• Other duties as assigned by the Medical Supervisor

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of the DFPS Psychotropic Medication Utilization Parameters. Knowledge of common psychiatric diagnosis in children, the major categories of psychotropic medications and their side effects.
• Thorough knowledge of basic pediatric nursing techniques and procedures. Ability to educate and share relevant medical information with staff. Ability to plan, assess and apply professional nursing skills, techniques, and methods for routine and emergency medical needs of children.
• Knowledge of childrens behavioral and mental health a plus.
• Ability to maintain current knowledge of the medical treatment plan and medical needs of each assigned child. To provide leadership in the ongoing assessment of childrens medical treatment plans.
• Ability to prioritize and respond to the needs of the children and to effectively use time to ensure assigned tasks are completed within designated time frames. Ensure all hygiene and health needs are provided for the children.
• Ability to serve as a positive role model for the children at the Home; to interact therapeutically withthe children and to ensure their emotional well-being and physical safety; to follow the Home's policy on confidentiality and Child Abuse and Neglect as well as related state laws.
• Ability to work cooperatively and productively with supervisors and co-workers; to work effectively as a member of an interdisciplinary team; to maintain professional relationships; and to resolve conflict appropriately and use the proper chain of command when communicating.
• Skill in communicating effectively and professionally with internal and external contacts.
• Ability to document and report medical and health information accurately.
• Ability to grow professionally and learn new skills; to accept constructive feedback and modify behavior accordingly.
• Ability to work in a stressful and occasionally unpredictable environment; skill in handling crisis situations without overreaction or loss of objectivity.
• Ability to evaluate and effectively plan for the development of assigned healthcare staff.
• Ability to effectively and consistently implement the employee discipline procedures of The Settlement Home for Children and to document necessary information for employees files to support decisions for employee training, development, promotion and discipline.

Qualifications and Education Requirements

• Associate's degree in nursing
• Current state licensure as a registered nurse
• Must be at least 21 years of age
• Must meet personnel requirements as outlined by the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services Minimum Standards for Child Placing Agencies
• Have a valid driver's license and less than 2 moving violations and/or 1 accident within the past 3 years
• Must have and maintain current auto liability insurance
• Must be able to pass pre-employment drug and TB testing

Preferred Qualifications and Education

• Bachelor's degree in Nursing

Essential Physical Requirements/Working Conditions

Office environment. Must be able to lift and/or exert up to 150 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 20 pounds of force frequently. Position frequently involves walking, standing, sitting, stooping, lifting, speaking, and repetitive motion. Position may occasionally involve reaching, kneeling, crouching, and crawling. Must be able to hear so as to receive detailed information through oral communication; receive information through electronic, telephone, and/or radio frequency.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

The Settlement Home is an equal opportunity employer who believes diversity creates a healthier

environment. We strictly prohibit unlawful discrimination during recruitment, hiring, compensation,

promotion, or any other condition of employment, on the basis of race, color, creed, ancestry, national or

ethnic origin, religion or belief, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, disability, age, past, present, or prospective military service, medical history or genetic information, socio-economic circumstance, or any other characteristics protected by law. We maintain a drug-free and alcohol-free workplace.

Disclaimer

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time, with or without notice.
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