Registered Nurse - (7A-7P) FullTime - rotating weekends

Dallas Behavioral Healthcare Hospital•Desoto, TX

12h

About The Position

The Registered Nurse delivers general and psychiatric nursing care to patients hospitalized for treatment of psychiatric or emotional disorders, supporting the hospital and program philosophy of care and ensuring patient safety and well-being. The RN assesses patient needs, plans and implements nursing care, evaluates progress, and updates care plans as needed. The role includes teaching patients and families and directing nursing support staff through appropriate delegation and supervision. The RN provides individualized, evidence-informed care in collaboration with patients, their significant others, and interdisciplinary health care providers. Duties include intake and nursing assessments, direct patient care, medication-related responsibilities, crisis intervention, therapeutic and social support, treatment planning, patient education, and accurate documentation. The RN also helps maintain a safe environment, protects confidentiality, and upholds organizational ethics and customer-service standards.

Requirements

Must be at least 21 years old.
ADN or BSN from an accredited college or university.
Minimum of 2 years of clinical experience; behavioral healthcare, phone triage, telehealth, or case management experience is preferred, or a combination of education and experience.
Valid Texas RN license in good standing.
Current CPR certification upon hire; must provide proof of approved AHA/ARC CPR certification and maintain current certification.
Successfully complete Management of Assaultive Behavior training, including restraint and seclusion policies, before assuming patient-care responsibility.
Pass a medication administration examination before administering medications.
Maintain current Handle with Care certification; noncompliance within one week of expiration may result in suspension up to termination.
Knowledge of patient rights, mental health laws, psychiatric nursing regulations, psychotherapy principles and techniques, and behavioral patterns of emotionally disturbed or mentally ill patients.
Advanced knowledge and clinical skills in mental health diagnosis and treatment, professional nursing principles and procedures, and the social, psychological, and physical factors of mental and emotional disorders.
Knowledge of medical and psychological terminology, medications including psychotropic drugs, and medication control, preparation, and administration.
Knowledge of treatment procedures, acute psychosis interventions, nonviolent crisis intervention, and medical and psychiatric emergency procedures.
Knowledge of abnormal psychology and psychiatric care for child, adolescent, and adult populations, including psychopharmacy and psychotropic medication use.
Ability to apply nursing principles and procedures in evaluating and treating psychiatric patients and to develop therapeutic interpersonal relationships.
Ability to communicate effectively and remain calm with people from diverse backgrounds and roles, including people in crisis or resistant to the organization.
Ability to use sound judgment when answering questions or releasing information, consider the consequences of decisions, and handle confidential information sensitively.
Well-developed spoken and written English communication skills.
Skill in facilitating or co-facilitating process-oriented and didactic groups.
Problem-solving, prioritization, organizational, time-management, and crisis-intervention skills; ability to maintain self-control in potentially volatile situations and flexibility when handling differences of opinion.
Ability to perform the listed physical activities, including standing, walking, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, reaching, pushing, pulling, lifting, and grasping; perceive object attributes by touch; communicate spoken instructions; hear detailed sounds; perform repetitive wrist, hand, and finger motions; and meet visual acuity requirements for clerical tasks and observing patients.

Nice To Haves

Clinical experience in a behavioral healthcare setting, phone triage, telehealth, or case management.
Basic teaching and training skills.
Current BLS certification.
Current Handle with Care certification.

Responsibilities

Provide competent general and psychiatric nursing care based on developmental theory, psychiatric nursing knowledge, and applicable standards.
Assess patient needs and collect and analyze information about physical, psychosocial, environmental, self-care, educational, spiritual, cultural, and discharge needs.
Develop, implement, evaluate, and periodically revise comprehensive, individualized nursing care plans.
Provide direct patient care, support social and emotional needs, supervise medication schedules, evaluate progress, and help ensure access to the appropriate level and setting of care.
Collaborate with interdisciplinary professionals, psychiatrists, and behavioral health staff to determine care and design treatment plans.
Encourage participation in support groups, social activities, and other therapeutic measures.
Conduct intake interviews with patients and relatives to gather case histories.
Make nursing diagnoses concerning patients’ medical and emotional status and recommend treatment options.
Maintain accurate records of treatments, immunizations, laboratory results, medication reactions, patient activities, and progress in accordance with policy and recordkeeping standards.
Help patients understand emotional disturbances and accept the need for treatment.
Apply appropriate intervention techniques for patients in crisis and assist in maintaining a safe and secure environment.
Assess pain through vital signs and arrange treatment or further medical attention when necessary.
Perform administrative tasks, including filing, answering phones, and entering progress notes into a computer.
Organize medical and non-medical activities and schedules for patients and support staff during an assigned shift.
Maintain patient confidentiality and uphold organizational ethics and customer-service standards.
Comply with applicable laws, rules, regulations, protocols, and procedures.