Senior Registered Nurse - Psych Services

Work schedule: Full-time Nights, 7:00 p.m.–7:00 am., with rotating weekends and holidays.

Primary Purpose
A Registered Nurse (RN) with greater than 2 years of experience. The RN is a licensed professional who uses the Parkland nursing professional practice model to coordinate patient care delivery, that focuses on a particular patient population(s)/specific health condition, by the health care team. Using the nursing process, the RN assesses the patient, identifies nursing diagnoses based on responses to health problems, develops and implements an individualized plan of care, and evaluates the patient's response. The RN utilizes knowledge of patient needs and the healthcare environment to assist patients to transition through the healthcare encounter without any preventable complications or delays. The RN delegates interventions to health care personnel based on the Texas Nursing Practice Act, each patient's condition and the competencies of the employee.

Minimum Specifications

Education

• Must be a graduate from an accredited school of nursing.

Experience

• Must have two years of nursing experience.
• Prefer experience in an acute care setting.

Certification/Registration/Licensure

*Please Note: All certification cards must provide an expiration date. The expiration date must be more than 30 days from date of hire. Completion of course certificates will not substitute this requirement.

• Must have current RN license or valid temporary permit with the Texas Board of Nursing or valid Compact RN license
• Must have current healthcare provider BLS for Healthcare Providers certification from one of the following: American Heart Association, American Red Cross, Military Training Network
• Must have Satori Alternatives for Managing Aggression (SAMA) certification, level 1-4, within 30 days of hire.

Skills or Special Abilities

• Provides care for assigned patient population in accordance with the current State of Texas Nurse Practice Act, established protocols, multidisciplinary plan of care, and clinical area specific standards.
• Provides continuous assessment, consults with other team members as required and provides nursing care which demonstrates patient centered/patient valued care.
• Exercises independent judgment in providing nursing care.
• Must be able to demonstrate effective interpersonal skills and possess good oral and written communication skills.
• Must be able to communicate effectively with patients, families, and hospital staff in accordance with established policies and procedures.
• May be required to communicate effectively, via the overhead paging system.
• Must be able to demonstrate the ability to provide direction to non-nursing staff, serve as a preceptor, and serve on rotation as a Charge Nurse.
• Must be able to prepare and conduct in-service educational programs.
• Must be able to demonstrate patient centered/patient valued behaviors.
• Must be able to facilitate biopsychosocial education groups that might include medication and/or health education.
• As applicable, will be required to demonstrate acceptable knowledge of nursing standards of care for specialty care area.

Responsibilities

• Serves as a patient advocate, by focusing on patient needs, patient rights, confidentiality, and religious and cultural preferences. Utilizes effective verbal and non-verbal communication facilitating development of a therapeutic relationship and environment that promotes wellness. Serves as a resource for specific clinical patient care issues. Provides patient care educational information and training to patient and family members. May participate in community outreach activities.
• Engages in nurse-to-nurse hand-off communication at change of shift and anytime the nurse relinquishes care to another nurse utilizing the EPIC system.
• Maintains and implements knowledge of applicable rules, regulations, policies, laws and guidelines that impact or govern nursing practice, and ensures the hospital and Parkland are in compliance. This includes EMTALA, Order of Protective Custody, Memorandum of Transfer, Mental Illness Warrant and APOWW. Develops effective internal controls that promote adherence to applicable state/federal laws and the program requirements of accreditation agencies and federal, state, and private health plans. Maintains and updates knowledge of sanitation, infection control, safety, supplies, equipment, appropriate utilization of supplies and materials.
• Performs appropriate patient assessments that include search and scan, admission criteria, identification of appropriate clinical interventions, discharge planning and interdisciplinary discharge communication. Utilizes critical thinking skills and recognizes crisis situations and appropriate interventions such as de-escalation and restraint techniques. Completes appropriate documentation. Maintains accurate and timely entries and notations in patient care records and hospital documents. Ensures that all records and documents meet the standards, goals, and objectives of the assigned department and Parkland.
• Works with other staff in providing direction to non-nursing staff. Participates in information exchanges with nursing and other Parkland staff that support the standards, missions, goals and objectives of the department and Parkland. Seeks and utilizes direction from more experience staff and team members as needed. Serves as Charge Nurse on rotation as necessary.
• Serves as a preceptor or trainer to newer nursing staff members.
• Prepares and conducts an in-service educational program for the assigned department, at least once per year.
• Identifies ways to improve work process and improve patient and customer satisfaction. Make recommendations to supervisor, implements and monitors results as appropriate in support of the overall goals of the department and Parkland. May serve on various interdisciplinary committees as assigned.
• Stay abreast of the latest developments, advancements and trends in nursing practice by attending seminars/workshops, reading professional journals and actively participating in professional organizations. Maintains State of Texas Licensure as a Registered Nurse, plus any additional required licensures/certifications. Integrates knowledge gained into current work practices.