Behavioral Health RN

State College, PA, United States (On-site)

Job Description

POSITION SUMMARY Provides direct professional nursing care to patients. Responsible for assessing patient needs, planning, implementing, and evaluating the nursing care provided to the patient. MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS Education:

• Baccalaureate degree in Nursing preferred.
• Completes Take Charge course before assuming any Charge Nurse duties.
  
  

• A minimum of one-year full time experience in psychiatric nursing or employment in a Behavioral Health program preferred.
  
  

• Demonstrate ability to work cooperatively and communicate effectively with others. Presents self in a professional and supportive manner.
  
  

• Hold a current license to practice professional nursing in Pennsylvania.
• Meets the American Heart Association’s standards for Healthcare Provider Basic Life Support (BLS) and renews BLS every two years.
  
  

• Applies appropriate theory that is scientifically sound as a basis for decisions regarding nursing practice.
• Assumes responsibility for continuing education, professional development that may include clinical supervision, to be defined at the time of evaluation.
• Respects and protects the patient\'s right to confidentiality.
• Continuously collects data that is comprehensive, accurate and systematic.
• Assesses the patient in each of the following areas: 1) Physical Assessment / Systems Review; 2) Mental/Physical Status; 3) Medication status and compliance history; 4) Risk factors; 5) Patients expectations of the hospitalization all within 8 hours of admission.
• Supervises the psychiatric counselor's data collection through direct observation and through documentation.
• Collects data from family/significant others as appropriate.
• Performs mental health evaluations of patients presenting to the emergency room seeking mental health support or treatment.
• Conducts preauthorization insurance reviews for admissions and ongoing concurrent reviews for the inpatient Behavioral Health Unit patients as needed.
• Develops a nursing care plan with specific goals and unique to each client\'s needs.
• Collaborates with clients in establishing individualized treatment plans.
• Contributes with other disciplines in establishing Interdisciplinary Treatment Plans within twenty-four (24) hours of admission.
• Oversees the revision of the treatment plan as the needs of the patient change or as determined by the target dates.
• Intervenes as guided by the treatment plan to implement nursing actions that promote, maintain or restore physical and mental health, prevent illness and effect rehabilitation.
• Assists families and patients to achieve satisfying and productive patterns of living through health teaching.
• Provides medication teaching based on current knowledge, to include purpose, side effects, and contraindications.
• Uses the ADL\'s in a goal directed way to foster adequate self-care, as well as physical and mental wellbeing.
• Maintains a safe environment for patients, visitors and employees.
• Assists with the orientation of new employees and documents this on the orientation guidelines.
• Performs as charge nurse when assigned.
• Takes reports.
• Acknowledges orders written on that shift.
• Makes out the assignment sheet for that shift taking into consideration patient needs and the skill level of the employee.
• Ensures that the nurses\' station and unit are covered at all times.
• Coordinates meal breaks, group assignments, 1:1 assignments, tests, and other activities.
• Collaborates on a plan of action with other staff in an emergency situation. Decisions made should be confirmed with the charge nurse. If there is a disagreement, his or her decision is final. The charge nurse should take the lead in implementing such decisions.
• Delegate duties and tasks to other team members as necessary and follow-up to ensure completion.
• Offer clinical feedback and direction to other staff, as appropriate to encourage professional growth and teamwork.
• Ensures the appropriate replacement of nursing personnel who report off unexpectedly from the following shifts. The Director of Behavioral Health may be contacted by phone to assist in this matter.
• Provides comprehensive reports to the psychiatrists and psychiatric providers.
• In treatment team, the charge nurse will act as the team leader and request clinical information of and direct/delegate tasks/interventions to the other team members/disciplines to ensure thorough and timely completion.
• The RN, minimally, is proficient in the use of
• oxygen equipment
• suction equipment
• saline locks
• foley and straight catheters
• ambu bag
• enema equipment
• accessing resources in order to gain the information to perform nursing procedures.
• Collaborates with members of the Behavioral Health service and other Medical Center departments to meet the behavioral health needs of the Medical Center.