Registered Nurse (RN) Days

Career Center•Huntsville, AL

About The Position

The Registered Nurse provides clinical oversight for the day-to-day operations of the hospital and delivers nursing care to patients in a therapeutic setting. The role includes carrying out physician orders, conducting assessments, initiating and updating treatment plans, directing patient care, providing group and individual therapy and education, coordinating referrals and continuity of care, and administering medications and IVs. The nurse also educates families and teaches and supervises other mental healthcare workers. The position is responsible for assessing and monitoring patients, coordinating nursing care and staffing assignments, maintaining complete and accurate medical records, supporting patient rights and confidentiality, and promoting a safe therapeutic environment. The nurse applies hospital policies and applicable laws and standards related to patient care, infection prevention, abuse and neglect, advance directives, and restraint or seclusion. The role also includes discharge planning, referrals and transfers, emergency care, and collaboration with patients, families, physicians, coworkers, and other professionals. Work is typically performed in a standard office environment that is well-lit and temperature-controlled, with frequent above-average conversational noise. The position may require travel, flexible hours, unscheduled overtime, and weekend work. Physical demands include frequent lifting of objects up to 40 pounds, as well as standing, walking, sitting, bending, reaching, kneeling, pushing, and pulling. Direct supervisory responsibilities are not assigned, though the nurse supervises personnel performance and nursing care for the department and may need a manager’s direction in extraordinary circumstances.

Requirements

One year of clinical nursing experience; experience in geriatrics and/or mental health is preferred.
Graduate from an accredited school of nursing with a Registered Nursing Degree.
Current State Registered Nursing License.
Current CPR Certification.
Current CPI Certification.
Awareness and knowledge of standard nursing practice and the needs and conditions of geriatric and/or mentally ill patients.
Communication and interpersonal skills to de-escalate potentially violent patients and prevent or intervene early in assaultive or self-injurious behavior.
Ability to problem-solve and make decisions, especially during crisis situations.
Knowledge of restraint systems and the safe use, monitoring, and discontinuation of restraint or seclusion, including recognition of physical and psychological distress.
Knowledge of first aid and certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation, including periodic recertification.
Knowledge of patient care, safety, rights, abuse and neglect, incident reporting and investigation, applicable laws, accreditation requirements, and hospital policies and procedures.
Knowledge of universal precautions and methods for controlling communicable diseases.
Knowledge of IV administration, fluid and electrolyte balance, blood components, and venipuncture techniques.
Knowledge of DSM IV diagnosis, psychotropic medications, and medication side effects.
Ability to develop thorough patient treatment plans based on needs, strengths, and goals.
Knowledge of legal aspects of clinical practice, professional standards, ethics, compliance, cultural competency, and advance directives.
Knowledge of the hospital’s mission, the population served, and the rights and needs of persons served; ability to advocate for those needs and promote reduced stigma of mental illness.
Ability to use Microsoft Excel, Word, and Outlook; ability to learn HRIS and/or scheduling systems.
Ability to use standard office equipment and a computer.
Willingness and ability to work flexible hours; position may require unscheduled overtime, weekend work, and travel.
Ability to meet the physical demands of frequent lifting up to 40 pounds and standing, walking, sitting, bending, reaching, kneeling, pushing, and pulling.

Nice To Haves

Clinical nursing experience in geriatrics and/or mental health.

Responsibilities

Provide clinical oversight for day-to-day hospital operations and ensure patient needs are met through ongoing assessments and appropriate nursing staffing.
Evaluate patient care on admission and on an ongoing basis; observe and interpret patients’ signs, symptoms, responses to interventions, and therapy progress.
Participate in treatment modalities and interventions, document progress, and develop or maintain nursing care plans and treatment plans.
Make patient care assignments; review staffing schedules and adjust coverage for patient needs and staff absences.
Supervise and evaluate clinical activities of non-employee nursing staff and supervise personnel performance and nursing care for the department.
Administer medications and IVs, perform venipuncture as authorized, maintain medication inventory securely, provide pharmaceutical services within scope, and carry out physician orders.
Complete comprehensive nursing assessments, treatments, tests, psychiatric metric measures, and emergency care within safe and appropriate times.
Educate patients and families about medication administration, disorders, treatment benefits and side effects, disease prevention, and basic living skills.
Maintain timely, clear, complete, current, legible, dated, timed, and authenticated medical records, including orders, nursing notes, care plans, treatments, medications, test results, and other information needed to monitor patients.
Ensure informed consents are properly executed and consultative evaluations, complications, hospital-acquired infections, and unfavorable drug reactions are included in medical charts.
Uphold patient rights, anonymity, confidentiality, advance directives, professional ethics, and applicable federal and state laws, accreditation standards, policies, and procedures.
Maintain a safe, clean, sanitized therapeutic environment and promote a drug- and violence-free workplace.
Prevent and control infection through identification, isolation, use of personal protective equipment, hand hygiene, appropriate equipment and disinfectants, staff and patient education, and compliance with reportable disease requirements and CDC guidance.
Apply restraint and seclusion policies and procedures, use nonphysical interventions where appropriate, monitor patient well-being, and recognize when restraint or seclusion is no longer necessary.
Investigate and document complaints and incidents involving patients, staff, visitors, and family members in compliance with applicable requirements.
Develop and reassess discharge plans before discharge, arrange appropriate post-hospital care, and transfer or refer patients with necessary medical information to appropriate facilities, agencies, or outpatient services.
Bring questions or concerns about prescribing orders to the practitioner or physician.
Work professionally and cooperatively with patients, families, physicians, referral sources, visitors, coworkers, and management.
Meet continuing education and basic qualification standards and follow safety rules, report unsafe conditions and behaviors, and take reasonable steps to prevent unsafe practices.