Registered Nurse | PRN | Behavioral Health

Great River Health•Fort Madison, IA

About The Position

The Registered Nurse delivers patient care using the nursing process—assessment, planning, intervention, implementation, and evaluation—in coordination with other health team members. The nurse interacts effectively with patients, significant others, and colleagues while maintaining professional nursing standards. The role includes bedside shift reports, fall prevention, and efforts to prevent hospital-acquired pressure injuries. In the Behavioral Health Unit, which serves geriatric, medical/surgical, adult, psychiatric, substance abuse, and detoxification patients, the nurse assesses patient needs, develops individualized care plans, and works with a multidisciplinary team. The nurse administers prescribed medications, monitors for side effects, and facilitates individual and group therapy sessions to manage mental health conditions. The position also involves documenting and communicating assessments and care, administering treatments and medications, providing patient and family education, coordinating discharge planning, advocating for patients, and contributing to quality and safety activities. Nurses delegate and oversee aspects of care provided by other staff and mentor new employees and students.

Requirements

Associate’s degree in Nursing (ADN) required.
Registered Nurse license through the Iowa Board of Nursing (IBON) required.
Basic Life Support Healthcare Provider certification from the American Heart Association, required within 60 days.
Iowa Child Abuse Mandatory Reporter training through the Iowa Department of Human Services, required within 180 days.
Iowa Dependent Adult Abuse Mandatory Reporter training through the Iowa Department of Human Services, required within 180 days.
MOAB certification required within one year of hire for inpatient units.
Knowledge of English language structure, vocabulary, spelling, composition, and grammar.
Knowledge of diagnosing and treating human injuries, diseases, and deformities, including symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health care.
Knowledge of customer and personal service principles, including assessing needs, meeting service standards, and evaluating satisfaction.
Knowledge of human behavior and performance, individual differences, learning, motivation, and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
Knowledge of methods and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions.
Basic math skills for calculating medication doses.
Ability to attend to and understand others, ask appropriate questions, and communicate information effectively.
Ability to adjust actions in response to others and to understand others’ reactions.
Ability to use logic and reasoning to assess alternative solutions and approaches to problems.
Ability to understand work-related written material and spoken information.
Ability to recognize when something is wrong or likely to go wrong.
Ability to draw general conclusions from multiple pieces of information and identify relationships among events.
Ability to keep the hand and arm steady while moving or holding them in position.
Ability to arrange actions or items in an order or pattern according to rules.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in nursing or another related field.

Responsibilities

Assess and monitor patient condition, document findings, and communicate results to physicians as appropriate.
Perform admission histories and physical assessments; identify, prioritize, and respond to abnormal findings and changes in physical or mental status.
Develop, evaluate, and modify individualized nursing diagnoses and plans of care, including discharge planning.
Administer prescribed medications, IV fluids, and enteral feedings; monitor effectiveness, side effects, and medication use.
Perform procedures and treatments, assist medical staff with procedures, and use appropriate equipment according to policies.
Provide basic patient care, including wound care, pressure-ulcer prevention and treatment, catheterization, hygiene assistance, and help with movement and mobility.
Measure and record vital signs, including height, weight, temperature, blood pressure, pulse, respiration, oxygen saturation, and pain.
Prepare patients for examinations, tests, and treatments and explain procedures.
Collect and appropriately handle blood, urine, and sputum specimens; perform routine laboratory tests such as blood glucose monitoring when needed.
Provide patient and family education, assess learning and discharge needs, and coordinate care resources.
Answer patient calls and provide assistance or determine how to arrange assistance.
Involve patients and significant others in the nursing process, advocate for patients, and respect their rights and confidentiality.
Participate in treatment team conferences and collaborate with health care team members on patient needs, diagnoses, treatment, and care plans.
Document all aspects of the nursing process clearly, accurately, and promptly using the medical record and required forms.
Perform bedside shift reports and communicate care information, delays, and wait times.
Delegate care to certified nursing assistants, patient service associates, and licensed practical nurses, and oversee completion of delegated functions.
Mentor new employees and students.
Follow safety and evidence-based practices, including infection control and use of personal protection and mobility-assistance equipment.
Prioritize and coordinate nursing assignments according to patient care needs.
Participate in performance improvement, quality assurance, and quality monitoring activities.
Use critical thinking and sound judgment, including anticipating and responding to emergencies and complex care situations.
Facilitate individual and group therapy sessions for Behavioral Health Unit patients.