Psychiatric Nursing Assistant I - Neuropsychiatric Unit (2JPW) - 70% Days

UIOWA•Iowa City, IA

4d•Onsite

About The Position

University of Iowa Health Care Department of Nursing is seeking a Psychiatric Nursing Assistant to perform specific tasks to assist members of the Nursing team in providing patient care under the direct supervision of Registered Nurses. The Neuropsychiatric Unit (2JPW) is a 22-bed unit that provides care for patients with general psychiatric conditions, with a particular emphasis on thought disorders such as schizophrenia, bipolar, and other psychoses. 2JPW also provides specialized services for patients with an intellectual disability and co-occurring mental illness with challenging behaviors. This is a 70% schedule, meaning 28 hours per week, on the day shift (between 0700 and 1930), with alternating weekends and holidays. The position is located in the John Pappajohn Pavilion (JPP) in Iowa City, Iowa.

Requirements

Ability to read, write and follow instructions.
Work in an environment with conflicting demands and/or priorities and rushed and/or urgent timelines.
Manage multiple assignments and provide quick reaction and immediate response to emergencies.
Maintain attention to detail over extended period of time and continually be aware of variations in changing situations.
Strong communication skills and a tolerance for an active work environment with potential for negative behavior.
Work well with all levels and types of people.

Nice To Haves

Experience defusing volatile situations
Be a Certified Nursing Assistant
Have strong written communication skills with experience providing customer service relations
Previous patient care experience in a Mental Health setting is highly desired.

Responsibilities

Establish therapeutic relationships with patients, families and multi-disciplinary team.
Participates in planning patient care appropriate for patient's condition and age.
Documents patient behavior in a factual, legible manner and identifies material to report to the registered nurse.
Maintains patients’ safety and security by providing physical care and assistance; follows Standard precaution.
Provides supervision of patients during activities.
Identifies potential crisis situations, reports to the registered nurse, and intervenes.
Perform patient personal hygiene such as bathing, toileting, feeding, dressing, grooming and oral care for patients.
Take temperature, pulse and blood pressure.
Clean equipment, patient bedside area and nursing unit.
Set up rooms for patient admission.
Transport patients by bed, cart or wheelchair.
Transport equipment, specimens and supplies.
Stock and supply patient rooms and Nursing unit.
Perform basic CPR as required.
Maintain patient confidentiality.