RN Charge Nurse - Psych Acute

West Anaheim Medical Center•Anaheim, CA

2d•$55 - $74

About The Position

The Behavioral Health Charge Nurse is accountable to the Department Director for nursing staff quality and patient care delivery during the shift, and assists with daily unit or department operations. The nurse communicates unanticipated patient-care events and risk-management activities to the Director and/or House Supervisor; supports staffing, scheduling, and assignments; directs, supervises, and evaluates staff; and contributes to staff education, performance evaluations, progressive discipline, and related human-resources activities as needed. The role includes monitoring the availability and proper use of supplies and equipment, maintaining par levels, and coordinating with other department managers and supervisors to support patient services, patient flow, and admission, discharge, and transfer processes. The Charge Nurse regularly assesses care delivery and documentation, directs immediate changes to care plans when appropriate for patient safety and regulatory compliance, and uses the chain of command to notify appropriate leaders or medical staff. The nurse also interviews patients and families during admission and rounds to support positive experiences and orient them to unit services. Within scope of practice and clinical competency, the Charge Nurse may provide direct patient care; during that time, a Director or designee temporarily relieves the nurse of charge duties, with the arrangement documented on the patient care assignment record.

Requirements

Current and valid state RN license.
Current BLS upon hire and maintained thereafter.
Working knowledge of mental health laws, practice standards, interdisciplinary treatment-team processes, behavioral-health programming, and daily nursing functions for inpatient and outpatient behavioral units.
Must obtain approved training on LPS statuses and patient rights and successfully pass the LPS Certification exam.
Must have approved LPS certification before writing 5150 holds in designated Prime facilities.
Patients' Rights Education/Competency required within 30 days of hire and maintained current.
LPS Professionals must have experience in an inpatient mental-health facility in accordance with County requirements.

Nice To Haves

Previous supervisory experience.
Knowledge of the continuum of care for behavioral-health care.
Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree.

Responsibilities

Account for nursing staff quality and patient care delivery during the shift and assist the Director with daily unit or department operations.
Communicate unanticipated patient-care events and risk-management activities to the Director and/or House Supervisor.
Use nursing personnel effectively and assist with scheduling, staffing, and assignments.
Direct, supervise, and evaluate staff, and provide staff education as necessary.
Assist with performance evaluations, progressive discipline, and related human-resources activities as needed.
Assess supplies and equipment availability, ensure proper use and functionality, and assist with maintaining par levels.
Coordinate with other department managers and supervisors to support patient services, patient flow, and admission, discharge, and transfer processes.
Assess patient-care delivery and documentation consistently.
Direct immediate changes to care plans when appropriate to promote patient safety and compliance with regulatory guidelines, hospital policies, procedures, protocols, and clinical pathways; notify appropriate leaders or medical staff through the chain of command.
Interview patients and families on admission and during rounds to support positive experiences, orient them to the unit, and explain how to access services or the Charge Nurse.
Provide direct patient care within scope of practice and clinical competency when needed to ensure patient safety and patient/nurse ratios; document when charge duties are temporarily reassigned.