Charge Nurse (Psych) - RTF

SUMMARY OF RESPONSIBILITIES:

The Charge Nurse is responsible for conducting medical assessments and establishing individualized health plan for residents. 

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Assesses the medical condition of residents upon intake. 
• Conducts routine medical screening functions. 
• Measures basic physiological functioning and reports significant findings (e.g. vital signs, fluid intake and output).
• Supports and promotes nutritional status (e.g. dietary regiments, supplemental therapy, etc.).
• Evaluates resident complaints of specific ailments.
• Intervenes with proper techniques, procedures, and safety precautions to meet individual needs.
• Provides educational information to residents regarding health-related issues. 
• Provides education groups as assigned. 
• Consults with community physician(s) and other medical / mental health providers as needed. 
• Participates in Treatment Team meetings. 
• Makes recommendations for service / treatment plan changes as needed.
• Reviews all physician orders, lab results, and identifies abnormal findings.
• Assists with performing and documenting other evaluations / assessments as needed.
• Monitors/ assists residents to dispense medications based upon instructions from physicians.
• Responsible for accurate and timely charting in ECP using accepted abbreviations and terminology.
• Provides for the disposal of controlled substances. 
• Participates in on-boarding of new staff as requested. 
• Performs audits as needed and assists with problems solving and implementation of action plans to improve care and services to residents.

QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE, EDUCATION and LICENSURE: 

• LPN / RN with a current Washington State licensure. 
• 3 years of clinical experience in behavioral health environment.
• Valid Washington State Driver’s License required or the equivalent if residence in Washington is new.
• Demonstrates knowledge of and follows infection control policies and procedures. 
• Meets health requirements, i.e. – flu vaccination, tdap vaccination, tb testing – er licensing requirements. 
• Demonstrates knowledge of and follows infection control policies and procedures. 
• Experience using word processing and spreadsheet software. Microsoft Word and Excel preferred.

TRANSPORTATION: 

• Uses personal vehicle to travel to agency sites and non-agency locations.
• May drive residents to appointments and outings using agency vehicles.

COMMUNICATION:

• Participates in staff meetings and in-services training.
• Consults with management, Mental Health staff or peers when knowledge base in a given area needs to be expanded.
• Requests literature, in-service or orientation on a given topic.
• Demonstrates accountability regarding equipment and supplies.

LANGUAGE SKILLS:

• Ability to read, research, analyze, and interpret common scientific and technical journals, financial reports, clinical information, nursing laws and union contracts. 
• Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from customers, regulatory agencies, or members of the business community. 
• Ability to effectively present information to top management, public groups and/or boards of directors.  
• Proficient in English.  

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; squat; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs; balance; stoop, kneel; talk or hear; taste or smell. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.  
• The employee is required to operate a motor vehicle.  

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

• Work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 
• Most the employee’s job duties are performed indoors in a medical environment in a residential setting. In some circumstances, the employee may be required to perform some job duties outside, in medical settings, and in the presence of non-employees, such as patients, families and state officials. There is a possibility of exposure to disease and contagions that could cause a cold, flu, COVID-19, and other illnesses. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. 

CLIENT CONTACT:

This position may have direct responsibility for resident care. Contact with the residents occurs on a regular basis.

GENERAL SIGN OFF: 

This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee. He or she will be required to follow any other instructions and to perform any other duties as requested by his or her supervisor.