The Psychiatric Intake RN will provide professional nursing care to patients according to hospital policy and procedure; will assess patient care needs, plan and implement nursing care procedures, evaluate patient progress and modify care plans as necessary; will provide teaching to patients and their families; will direct the work of nursing support staff through the use of appropriate delegation and supervision skills. Bi-lingual (English/Spanish) a plus
Duties include but are not limited to:
- Provide direct care to patients, which includes facilitating social and emotional needs, supervising medication schedules and evaluating patient progress.
- Collaborate with a variety of interdisciplinary professionals to determine and provide the best possible care for their patients.
- Responsible for maintaining a safe environment
- Provide social support for patients by creating and encouraging patients to take advantage of opportunities such as support groups, social activities and other therapeutic measures.
- Conducts intake assessments through interviews with patients and relatives to gather case history.
- Plans and provides nursing care for patients.
- Makes nursing diagnosis of the medical and emotional status of patients and recommends treatment options.
- Consults with psychiatrists and other behavioral health staff in designing appropriate treatment plans for clients.
- Administers and notes reactions to psychotropic drugs and other medications.
- Arranges further medical attention when necessary.
- Assists the client in understanding the nature of emotional disturbances and accepting the need for treatment.
- Keep accurate written charts and records of patient activities and progress. Comply with laws, rules, regulations, protocols, and procedures.
- Use professional judgment to ascertain and to apply appropriate intervention techniques with patients in crisis
- Assists in maintaining a safe and secure environment for staff and patients.
- Test for vital signs of pain and ensures treatments of pain.
- Documents all patient information on medical charts and follows physician’s written orders.
- Maintains patient confidentiality.
- Maintains accurate records and documentation of patient treatments, immunizations and laboratory results according to standard medical record keeping.
- Performs administrative assignments such as filing, answering phones, typing, and completing progress notes in the computer system.
Requirements
Education: ADN or BSN from an accredited college or university. CPR, Behavior Managing Program (obtained within 30 days upon hire)
Required Licenses: Valid Texas RN license in good standing required. BLS, ACLS, CPI certifications a plus.
Experience: Minimum of 2 years clinical experience, preferably in a behavioral healthcare setting, phone triage, tele-health or case management or combination of education and experience. Must be 21 years old or older.
Additional: Bi-lingual (English/Spanish) a plus
- Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:
- Knowledgeable of patient rights and laws pertaining to mental health and regulations pertaining to psychiatric nursing and the treatment of the mentally and emotionally disturbed patients. Theories, principles, and techniques of group and individual psychotherapy. Symptoms and behavior patterns of emotionally disturbed mentally ill patients.
- Advanced knowledge and clinical skills in diagnosis and treatment of mental health. Professional nursing principles, procedures, and techniques used in the care and treatment of psychiatric patients. Social, psychological, and physical factors of mental and emotional disorders. Medical and psychological terminology. Medications, including psychotropic drugs, and effects on psychiatric patients. Control, preparation and administration of medications.
- Demonstrates sound leadership skills and utilizes these skills in organizing the activities and schedules for medical and/or non-medical tasks of the Child, Adolescent and Adult for a given shift; record of consistently high quality of clinical and interpersonal skills to be an exemplary role model to others
- Displays basic knowledge of treatment procedures; interventions common to acute psychotic as well as non-violent crises intervention practice, medical and psychiatric emergency procedures.
- Basic knowledge of abnormal psychology as typically found in the child or adolescent psychiatric population, application of this knowledge to child, adolescent or adult knowledge of medical terminology, especially those terms associated with child, adolescent or adult psychiatric care; thorough familiarity of psychopharmacy and the use of psychotropic medications with child, adolescent or adult psychiatric population, basic teaching and training skills helpful; problem-solving; organizational and time management; crisis intervention skills
- Ability to apply professional nursing care principles and procedures in the evaluation and treatment of psychiatric patients. Develop interpersonal therapeutic relationships with psychiatric patients.
- Communicate effectively with a variety of individuals and function calmly in situations, which require a high degree of sensitivity, tact, and diplomacy. Provide prompt, efficient, and responsive service.
- Ability to exercise appropriate judgment in answering questions and releasing information; analyze and project consequences of decisions and/or recommendations.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills; skills in facilitating and/or co-facilitating process-oriented and didactic groups.
- Screening: Must successfully pass background check, drug screen, and physical and be able to provide positive employment references.
- Physical Demands: With or without reasonable accommodations, must be able to stoop, kneel, crouch, reach, stand for sustained period of time, walk, pull, lift, raise and move objects from position to position (up to 50 lbs), finger grasp; feel sizes, shapes, temperatures, and textures; express or exchange ideas orally and potentially loudly, accurately, or quickly; visually detect, determine, perceive, identify, recognize, judge, observe, inspect, assess; perceive the nature of sound with or without correction; perform repetitive motions of the wrist, hands, or fingers. Light work most of the time, exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently; and occasionally medium work, that is exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 20 pounds of force frequently.
This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. Employee may perform other related duties to meet the ongoing needs of the hospital.
Benefits
Full-time employees are eligible for medical, dental, vision, company paid disability, 401(k) and a generous amount of paid time off.
Georgetown Behavioral Health Institute is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or protected Veteran status.
If you are among the most competitive and qualified candidates for the job, you will be contacted directly by one of our hiring managers. Due to the high volume of applications we receive, we are unable to respond to individual inquiries regarding your application status. Good Luck & we hope to meet you soon!