RN Casual - Adult Inpatient Behavioral Health

Independence Health System Careers•Latrobe, PA

About The Position

The RN assesses, plans, implements, and evaluates care for assigned psychiatric patients and coordinates, directs, and participates as an effective interdisciplinary team member. The position provides care to patients in Adult and Adolescent Behavioral Health units and may involve locally traveling between System locations. Scheduling is based on operational needs and may include rotating shifts, standby, and on-call work. The RN delivers care in accordance with the Pennsylvania Nurse Practice Act, hospital policies and procedures, and professional standards. Duties include responding to psychiatric emergencies, collaborating with psychiatrists on crisis resolution, and supporting patient safety, including coordinating responses to agitated behavior and ensuring patient belongings are checked for potentially harmful items. The RN administers and monitors psychotropic medications, documents their efficacy and side effects, supports patient compliance, and provides medication education. The role also includes facilitating therapy and educational groups, providing individualized educational materials, supporting patients and families, documenting and communicating care needs, maintaining confidentiality, and contributing to team quality improvement and problem-solving. The RN maintains equipment and supply inventories and performs other related duties as assigned. This position has no direct supervisory responsibilities, though the RN may coach and mentor other department positions.

Requirements

Graduate of an accredited Nursing Program.
Strong leadership ability and good organizational skills.
Independent and critical-thinking skills and sound judgment.
Knowledge of the legal aspects and liability of nursing practice.
Ability to communicate complex and/or controversial topics and concepts to a wide and diverse audience.
Current license to practice as a Registered Nurse in Pennsylvania.
Current Basic Life Support certification through an American Heart Association-approved CPR and AED program.
Act 33 clearance with renewal.
Act 34 clearance with renewal.
Act 73 FBI clearance with renewal.
A nursing refresher course may be required if the employee has not worked in an acute-care setting during their most recent three consecutive years of professional employment.
Ability to work for both Adult and Adolescent units.
Ability to meet the position's physical demands, including patient care and lifting; assistance from two people and/or a transfer device is required for lifts over 50 pounds.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing.
One to two years of relevant experience.

Responsibilities

Assess, plan, implement, and evaluate care for assigned psychiatric patients.
Coordinate, direct, and participate as an effective interdisciplinary team member.
Maintain professional and technical knowledge through education, professional publications, networking, and participation in professional societies.
Deliver care according to therapeutic standards, patient-care goals, hospital and nursing policies, the Pennsylvania Nurse Practice Act, and applicable regulations.
Follow infection-control, medication-administration and storage, and controlled-substance procedures.
Document patient care and communicate actions, irregularities, and continuing needs using Nurse Knowledge Exchange techniques.
Maintain patient confidentiality and establish rapport with patients and others involved in understanding care requirements.
Provide emotional, psychological, and spiritual support to patients, friends, and families; teach patients and families about conditions, medications, and self-care.
Maintain a safe and clean work environment and obtain assistance from support personnel as needed.
Address patient problems and needs using multidisciplinary team strategies; communicate and collaborate with health care teams and participate in continuous quality improvement and problem-solving.
Ensure equipment is maintained, troubleshoot malfunctions, arrange repairs, maintain equipment inventories, and evaluate new equipment and techniques.
Monitor nursing supplies, anticipate needs, place and expedite orders, verify deliveries, and use supplies appropriately.
Process psychiatric emergencies by assessing patient condition, collaborating with psychiatrists on crisis resolution, processing commitments, and referring patients to appropriate treatment facilities.
Provide for patient safety, coordinate management of agitated patients with staff, and assess escalating behavior and take appropriate action.
Update crisis intervention skills annually and ensure patient belongings are searched for potentially harmful items.
Administer, monitor, and document psychotropic medications, including efficacy, side effects, and patient compliance; educate patients and families about prescribed medications.
Conduct and facilitate medication, support, and educational groups, serve as an information and referral source for families, and provide individualized educational materials.
Perform other related duties as assigned.
May serve as a coach and mentor to other department positions.