Job Summary/Overall Objectives
Coordinates and delivers all aspects of care for assigned psychiatric patients.
Essential Job Functions
Maintain professional and technical knowledge by attending education workshops, review professional publications, establish personal networks, and participate in professional societies. Assure quality of care by adhering to therapeutic standards, measuring health outcomes against patient care goals and standards, making or recommending necessary adjustments, and following system/hospital and nursing division's philosophies and standards of care set by state board of nursing, state nurse practice act, and other governing agency regulations. Protect patients and employees by adhering to infection-control policies and protocols, medication administration and storage procedures, and controlled substance regulations. Document patient care services by charting in patient and department records. Maintain continuity among nursing teams by documenting and communicating actions, irregularities, and continuing needs using Nurse Knowledge Exchange techniques. Maintain patient confidence and protects operations by keeping information confidential. Identify patient care requirements by establishing personal rapport with potential and actual patients, and other persons in a position to understand care requirements. Establish a compassionate environment by providing emotional, psychological, and spiritual support to patients, friends, and families. Promote patient's independence by establishing patient care goals, teaching patient/family to understand condition, medications, and self-care skills, and answering questions. Maintain safe and clean working environment by complying with procedures, rules and regulations; calling for assistance from health care support personnel. Resolve patient problems and needs by utilizing multidisciplinary team strategies. Maintain a cooperative relationship among health care teams by communicating information, responding to requests, building rapport, and participating in team continuous quality improvement and problem-solving methods. Contribute to team effort by accomplishing related results as needed. Ensure operation of equipment by completing preventive maintenance requirements by following manufacturer's instructions, troubleshooting malfunctions, calling for repairs, maintaining equipment inventories, and evaluating new equipment and techniques. Maintain nursing supplies inventory by checking stock to determine inventory level, anticipating needed supplies, placing and expediting orders for supplies, verifying receipt of supplies, and using equipment and supplies as needed to accomplish job results. The Registered Nurse may provide direct oversight of the GN, LPN, Technical Partner, ALS Technician, Nurse Extern and Unit Clerks. This oversight includes the Registered Nurse conducting the initial comprehensive assessment and interpreting the assessment to initiate the interprofessional plan of care. This oversight includes support of the delegation of duties that are within the scope and capability of the care team. Participates in health fairs and other marketing activities. Communicates effectively with patients, families, peers and members of the treatment team. Return patient and family phone calls in a timely fashion. Provides peer/treatment team consultation when asked. Utilizes computer as required for e-mail, scheduling, obtaining and tracking insurance authorizations. Provides and participates in educational activities. Provides and documents patient/family education. Participates in staff education initiatives, both as a participant and presenter. Provides topical recommendations for staff development. Assists the department in maintaining compliance with the State, JCAHO and other regulatory agencies. Participates in preparation for inspections, surveys and audits. Participates in ongoing performance improvement activities. Participates in treatment planning. Completes treatment plans and treatment plan reviews according to departmental standards and regulatory agencies. Attends treatment team meetings. Functions as an interdisciplinary team member actively identifying strategies to address patient needs. Maintains treatment area supplies and equipment. Logs sample medication according to departmental procedures. Obtains necessary authorizations for treatment. Ensures requests for medication are addressed in a timely fashion. Fields telephone calls pertaining to medication. Secures necessary authorizations for medication. Logs medication activity in chart. Provides medication education to patients and families as indicated. Assists staff psychiatrist with dispensing sample medication as ordered. Facilitates weekly Clozaril protocol for clients. Receives request for new individuals being referred. Ensures placement on Clozaril registry. Ensures that appropriate lab studies are performed. Shares lab values and other pertinent findings with MD Facilitates delivery of medication to patients. Performs crisis evaluations. Receives crisis phone calls. Assess individuals for dangerousness and need for psychiatric treatment. Determines level of care. Processes 201 and 302 commitments as appropriate. Secures authorization for treatment from insurance providers. Facilitates referral for outpatient treatment to appropriate providers. Supports Partial Hospitalization Program. Conducts patient education groups pertaining to psychiatric illness and current treatment modalities. Conducts patient education groups relating to proper use of medications, side effects, and wellness. Documents patients understanding and participation in the clinical record. Other related duties as assigned.Competency and Experience [Knowledge, Skills and Abilities]
Required Qualifications/Experience
Graduate of an accredited Nursing Program required. Two (2) years’ in psychiatric nursing experience. Strong leadership ability, good organizational skills, independent and critical thinking skills, sound judgment, and knowledge of legal aspects and liability of nursing practice. Strong ability to communicate complex and/or controversial topics and concepts to a wide and diverse audience. A Nursing refresher course may be required if employee hasn’t worked in an acute care setting for his / her most recent three consecutive years of professional employment. Knowledge of Payor/Insurance Benefits Knowledge of basic Office Equipment such as copier, fax machine, etc. Proficient in Microsoft Word, Outlook, Star, E-PortalPreferred Qualifications/Experience
Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing (BSN). Certification in psychiatric nursing. Experienced in facilitating Psycho-educational groups pertaining to psychiatric disorders and medication. Experienced in performing psychiatric crisis assessments and in processing 201 and 302 commitments.License, Certification & Clearances
Current licensure to practice as a Registered Nurse in the State of Pennsylvania required. Current Basic Life Support (BLS) approved curriculum of the American Heart Association (CPR and AED) program required. Act 33 with renewal. Act 34 with renewal. Act 73 FBI Clearance with renewal.Supervisory Responsibilities
This position has no direct supervisory responsibilities, but may serve as a coach and mentor for other positions in the department.Position Type/Expected Hours of Work
Incumbent will be scheduled based on operational need (rotate shifts, standby, on-call, etc.). Travel may be expected locally between System locations.Equal Employment Opportunity
Independence Health and its affiliated companies are Equal Opportunity Employers. It is their policy to prohibit discrimination of any type and to afford equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, marital status, disability, veteran status, or genetic information, or any other classification protected by law. Independence Health and its affiliated companies will comply with all applicable laws and regulations.
Disclaimer
This job description is not designed to contain a comprehensive listing of all activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Moreover, duties, responsibilities and activities may change or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice.
Work Environment
When lift requirement is in excess of 50#, lift assistance (2 person) and/or transfer device is required.
Essential – Absolute Necessity.
Marginal – Minimal Necessity.
Constantly – 5.5 to 8 hours or more or 200 reps/shift.
Frequently – 2.5 to 5.5 hours or more or 32-200 reps/shift.
Occasionally – 0.25 to 2.5 hours or 2-32 reps/shift.
Rarely – Less than 0.25 hours or less than 2 reps/shift.
Physical Condition
Essential
Marginal
Constantly
Frequently
Occasionally
Rarely
Never
Extreme Heat
x
Extreme Cold
x
Heights
x
Confined Spaces
x
Extreme Noise(>85dB)
x
Mechanical Hazards
x
Use of Vibrating Tools
x
Operates Vehicle (Company)
x
Operates Heavy Equipment
x
Use of Lifting/Transfer Devices
x
x
Rotates All Shifts
x
x
8 Hours Shifts
x
x
10-12 Hours Shifts
x
x
On-Call
x
x
Overtime(+8/hrs/shift; 40/hrs/wk)
x
x
Travel Between Sites
x
Direct Patient Care
x
x
Respirator Protective Equipment
x
x
Eye Protection
x
x
Head Protection (hard hat)
x
Hearing Protection
x
Hand Protection
x
x
Feet, Toe Protection
x
Body Protection
x
x
Latex Exposure
x
x
Solvent Exposure
x
Paint (direct use) Exposure
x
Dust (sanding) Exposure
x
Ethylene Oxide Exposure
x
Cytotoxic (Chemo) Exposure
Chemo Units
Chemo Units
X all other
Blood/Body Fluid Exposure
x
x
Chemicals (direct use) Exposure
x
x
Mist Exposure
x
Wax Stripper (direct use)
x
Non-Ionizing Radiation Exposure
x
Ionizing Radiation Exposure
x
Laser Exposure
x
Physical Demands
When lift requirement is in excess of 50#, lift assistance (2 person) and/or transfer device is required.
Essential – Absolute Necessity.
Marginal – Minimal Necessity.
Constantly – 5.5 to 8 hours or more or 200 reps/shift.
Frequently – 2.5 to 5.5 hours or more or 32-200 reps/shift.
Occasionally – 0.25 to 2.5 hours or 2-32 reps/shift.
Rarely – Less than 0.25 hours or less than 2 reps/shift.
Physical Condition
Essential
Marginal
Constantly
Frequently
Occasionally
Rarely
Never
Bending (Stooping)
x
x
Sitting
x
x
Walking
x
x
Climbing Stairs
x
x
Climbing Ladders
x
Standing
x
x
Kneeling
x
x
Squatting (Crouching)
x
x
Twisting/Turning
x
x
Keyboard/Computer Operation
x
x
Gross Grasp
x
x
Fine Finger Manipulation
x
x
Hand/Arm Coordination
x
x
Pushing/Pulling(lbs. of force)
x
10#
50#
Carry
x
25#
Transfer/Push/Pull Patients
x
x
Seeing Near w/Acuity
x
x
Feeling (Sensation)
x
x
Color Vision
x
x
Hearing Clearly
x
x
Pulling/Pushing Objects Overhead
x
x
Reaching Above Shoulder Level
x
x
Reaching Forward
x
x
Lifting Floor to Knuckle
x
10#
Lifting Seat Pan to Knuckle
x
50#
Lifting Knuckle to Shoulder
x
20#
Lifting Shoulder to Overhead
x
10#
When lift requirement is in excess of 50#, lift assistance (2 person) and/or transfer device is required.