Psychiatric Registered Nurse - Detox

Douglas County•Ne, NE

14h•Onsite

About The Position

The Position Incumbent works under the direction of the Director of Nursing or designee, providing professional psychiatric nursing care to acutely and chronically ill patients and assisting supervisor in providing direction and training to other Community Mental Health Center (CMHC) staff. This role involves implementing psychiatric nursing processes and protocols, collecting clinical data, establishing effective work relationships, and complying with various policies and regulations to ensure a cooperative, safe, respectful, and quality work environment. The incumbent will identify and document patients’ physical and emotional status, assist in developing and implementing individualized treatment plans, delegate and direct nursing care, and assist with training and supervising team members. They will administer medication therapy, educate patients on medications, and provide quality care while recognizing each patient’s individuality. The role also includes completing and updating patient records, providing non-judgmental and non-discriminatory care, accompanying physicians on rounds, educating patients and families, ensuring equipment cleanliness, assisting in daily operations, directing patient management during escalation, and providing direction to LPNs and psychiatric technicians. Additionally, the incumbent will participate in or lead counseling sessions, admit and assess patients, obtain and record vital signs, perform basic procedures, conduct shift-change reports, intervene during acute episodes, ensure adherence to CMHC procedures, assist patients with follow-up care and discharge planning, develop therapeutic relationships, participate in department meetings, maintain competency, recognize individuals with co-occurring and trauma disorders, handle chemicals and biohazards, recommend changes to nursing services, participate in quality improvement activities, promote a positive image of CMHC, interact with external agencies, perform duties of an Access Nurse, serve on committees, operate a motor vehicle when required, and report to work consistently.

Requirements

Associate’s degree, Diploma or BSN from an accredited college or university in nursing required.
Licensed Registered Nurse (RN) in Nebraska license or a compact state recognized by the Nebraska Board of Nursing upon hire and maintained in good standing throughout employment required.
Basic life support/cardiopulmonary resuscitation (BLS/CPR) certification, first aid course and completion of Crisis Prevention Intervention (CPI) training within 6 months of hire.
Valid driver’s license and own transportation upon hire and maintained throughout employment required.
Completion of a pre-employment criminal record check, conditional offer drug screen, and physical assessment required.

Responsibilities

Implement psychiatric nursing processes and protocols, including carrying out physicians’ orders and prescribed medical treatment.
Collect clinical data (e.g. observations/assessments of biophysical, psychosocial, environmental, progress status, educational, discharge planning), record/report patient conditions.
Establish and maintain effective work relationships with clients, supervisors, County employees, elected officials, attorneys, law enforcement, judges, other agencies, and the public.
Comply with Civil Service policies and regulations, collective bargaining agreements, County policies, department policies and laws to create a cooperative, safe, respectful and quality work environment.
Identify and document patients’ physical and emotional status and/or patterns consulting treatment team, identifying appropriate treatment strategies and providing information regarding treatment/process plan outcomes (e.g. goal status).
Assist in developing and implementing ongoing individualized patient treatment plans based on communicating insights and observations.
Delegate, direct, or assign nursing care.
Assist with planning, orienting, training, evaluating, and supervising the work of team members.
Administer medication therapy and treatment regimens (e.g. monitor response, document observations), educating patients of medication (e.g. purpose, dosage and side effects) and assisting patients with compliance.
Provide quality care (e.g. health, nutrition, clothing, spiritual needs) and recognize each patient’s individuality and need for specialized treatment.
Complete and update patient records of observations, assessments, and treatments.
Provide non-judgmental and non-discriminatory care sensitive to the patient’s/family’s diversity, preserving autonomy, dignity and rights.
Accompany physicians on rounds, assisting physicians with examinations and ordered treatments.
Educate patients and family members regarding treatment plan, psychiatric care, and continuation of treatment and related patient care issues.
Ensure cleanliness of equipment and environment.
Assist in daily operations and functions of the secure treatment facility, serving as a team coordinator.
Direct and assist with the management of patients at risk for escalation.
Provide general direction and delegate tasks to licensed practical nurses (LPNs) and psychiatric technicians.
Participate or lead individual/group counseling sessions, family conferences, and recreational/social therapy sessions, assisting patients in understanding the emotional and physical problems and need for treatment.
Admit and assess patients, obtaining new patient history (e.g. medical, psychiatric, social, family).
Obtain and record vital signs, schedule tests, and perform basic procedures (e.g. catheterization, respiratory therapy, blood draws, ostomy care, ECG).
Conduct and communicate shift-change reports ensuring continuity of care.
Recognize and intervene during acute episodes utilizing crisis intervention.
Comply with and ensure staff adherence with CMHC procedures and protocols.
Assist patients to obtain proper follow-up during acute hospitalization and at discharge, identifying community agencies/resources for transition and stabilization of living in the community.
Develop therapeutic relationships with patients, maintaining a professional attitude toward clients and treating them with empathy and respect.
Participate in department meetings discussing patient care, progress, policies, and procedures.
Maintain competency in psychiatric/mental health nursing care and specific nursing procedures (e.g. research, webinars, seminars, classroom, online training).
Recognize individuals with co-occurring and trauma disorders are expected and welcome into treatment.
Handle, use, and dispose of chemicals and biohazards.
Recommend changes to nursing services and clinic activities; assist in developing and implementing policies, procedures and protocols; maintain updates to the department policy and procedures manual.
Participate in quality improvement activities.
Provide and promote a positive image of CMHC (e.g. professionalism, pride, cooperation, trust).
Interact with staff from various community medical facilities, courts, and County and State agencies, testifying in court regarding patient's mental and physical condition.
Perform duties of Access Nurse.
Serve as a member of various committees.
Safely operate a motor vehicle when required to travel on County business.
Report to work with regular, consistent attendance.
Perform other duties as assigned and directed.