Registered Nurse Senior Behavioral Health Unit PRN

The Registered Nurse executes comprehensive nursing care activities and provides psychiatric nursing staff leadership. He/she assesses patient needs, plans and implements patient care activities and evaluates the patient's response to treatment. He/she manages/acts within the therapeutic milieu and directs the delivery of nursing care by other members of the nursing treatment team. He/she will supervise licensed practical/vocational nurses and behavioral health technicians

• Communicates appropriately and effectively with patients, physicians, family members and co-workers in a manner consistent with a customer service focus and application of positive language principles
• Interacts professionally with patients/families; treats patients and families with dignity and respect
• Performs plan of care intervention, including medication administration, specimen collection, clinical treatments, as well as other medical care treatment
• Monitors, records, and communicates patient condition as appropriate to care team, physician, patient, and family
• Assists patients with performing activities of daily living, including personal hygiene, elimination, nutrition, and ambulation
• Collaborates as needed across disciplines to coordinate patient care, including patient transfer, discharge, referral and spiritual/psychosocial support needs
• Evaluates learning needs of patient and/or family and provides patient/family education appropriate to age, culture, condition, and circumstances
• Functions as an advocate for the physical and emotional well-being of the patient and family
• Assess the patient on admission and formulates comprehensive nursing care plans derived from a comprehensive physical- psychosocial assessment which take the patient's total needs into account, utilizes assessment data and integrates the medical care plan
• Ability to revise treatment plans as indicated by the patient's response to treatment and evaluates overall plan daily for effectiveness
• Serves as the primary nursing care coordinator for assigned patients
• Plans, implements and coordinates nursing care activities for assigned patients
• Performs treatment interventions requiring a physician's order and registered nurses licensure for administration, (i.e., medication administration, medical treatments)
• Interprets the nursing and treatment needs of the patient to non-professional staff members assigned to the patient
• Accepts and transcribes verbal and written physician orders and incorporates them into the treatment plan
• Participates in individual, group and family psychotherapy and educational seminars, as appropriate
• Provides comprehensive patient and family health education concerning treatment plans, compliance with the treatment plan, medications and their side effects.
• Monitors and enforces utilization of proper nursing techniques and procedures
• Provides for patient safety, privacy and confidentiality
• Enacts the counseling role of the nurse
• Documents continuous assessment, intervention and evaluations relative to patient progress and care given
• Documentation meets current standards and policies
• Attends interdisciplinary team meetings and assumes responsibility for communication of treatment goals to pertinent staff members
• Participates in conversion of telephone assessment into assessment appointments or admissions
• Models for other staff, effective communication with families, agencies and hospital
• Models for other staff, appropriate telephone etiquette and intervention techniques
• Actively functions as a contributing member of the treatment team
• Provides consultative services to nursing staff on other units relative to behavioral health issues
• Provides nursing care to level of licensure appropriate to the condition of the geriatric patient
• Performs thorough patient psychiatric interviews
• Continuously observes patient's behavior, mental status and activities
• Formulates and implements patient treatment plans; family is included when appropriate
• Knowledgeable of medications including psychotropic drugs and their correct administration based on the patient's clinical condition
• Performs patient care responsibilities considering needs specific to the standard of care for the geriatric population. Demonstrates the ability to perform crisis intervention and triage
• Communicates appropriately and clearly to the Nurse Manager, coworkers and physicians
• Consults other departments as appropriate to provide for an interdisciplinary approach to the patient's needs
• Orients new staff members and volunteers

Education:

• Associate Degree in Nursing Required
• Bachelor of Science in Nursing Preferred

Certifications:

• American Heart Association Basic Life Support (BLS) certification required within 90 days of hire or transfer
• Handle With Care Behavior Management System (HWC) certification required within 90 days of hire or transfer

Licenses:

• Must have a current Wisconsin Registered Nurse license or a current Compact State Registered Nurse license

Skills:

• Requirements will include successful completion of orientation checklist and skills/credentials/competency requirements of specific area of work
• Must be able to work in a stressful environment and take appropriate action
• Must be flexible, able to work as needed for appropriate departmental coverage
• Basic computer knowledge; become proficient in Electronic Medical Records (EMR) systems
• Demonstrates proficient time management skills
• Uses critical thinking skills and clinical reasoning and judgment to work autonomously
• Sufficient proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing the English language necessary to perform the essential functions of this job, especially with regard to activities impacting patient or employee safety or security. Additional languages preferred
• Able to function independently and exercise judgment in interactions with physicians, interprofessional care team, and patients and their families
• Able to communicate effectively and demonstrate service excellence through appropriate response and use of constructive problem-solving techniques when confronted with different situations; use of effective communication skills which foster positive outcomes
• Able to maintain a high awareness of patient satisfaction and teamwork
• Requires critical thinking skills, decisive judgment, clinical reasoning and the ability to work with minimal supervision
• Demonstrates proficient time management skills
• Strong written and verbal skills