RN or LPN, Adult Emergency Psychiatric Services (Night Shift)

Mental Health Cooperative•Nashville, TN

About The Position

The Registered Nurse (RN) or Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) supports a licensed physician or Advanced Practice Nurse and the wider health-care team in providing psychiatric care to consumers in Adult Emergency Psychiatric Services (EPS). The nurse works in close collaboration with the team to evaluate consumers’ plans of care and progress toward treatment goals. The schedule is 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. on a rotating swing-shift arrangement: Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday or Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.

Requirements

Valid Tennessee RN or LPN license.
Valid Tennessee driver’s license.
Acceptable Motor Vehicle Report (MVR).
Acceptable criminal background investigation.
Clinical skills including hand hygiene, critical thinking, CLIA-waived testing, vital signs, nursing assessment, and medication administration and education.
Effective verbal and written communication skills, including timely communication of relevant consumer updates to the team.
Ability to work with other departments and communicate with consumers and coworkers at different levels.
Customer-service orientation, timely engagement, listening skills, empathy, and respect for internal and external customers.
Ability to remain calm during crises and demonstrate leadership and initiative in meeting agency goals.
Time-management and organizational skills, including planning paid time off in advance, prioritizing, meeting deadlines, preparing for meetings, and entering progress notes promptly.
Flexibility to adapt to different clinical settings and changing needs while maintaining a positive approach.
Knowledge or ability to perform therapeutic de-escalation, use universal precautions, administer injections and Narcan, provide Narcan education, and dispose of hazardous medications and sharps safely.

Responsibilities

Perform psychiatric nursing assessments and medication management for consumers in the EPS setting.
Interpret and process providers’ medication orders.
Provide medication teaching and education, general health education, and health promotion to consumers.
Conduct ongoing assessments of consumers while they are in EPS, including monitoring behavior, cooperation, and ability to remain safe.
Observe and record consumers’ use of medication as prescribed and complete medication audits as outlined by the agency.
Provide referrals and arrange disposition to hospitalization, diversion services, home, or other recommended settings as necessary.
Work collaboratively with all disciplines within the Emergency Psychiatric Services team and assist consumers in other EPS units as needed.
Provide active listening and problem-solving support to consumers.
Perform medical clearances as needed.
Screen for substance toxicity, intoxication, withdrawal symptoms, and danger to self or others.
Formulate mutually agreed-upon, measurable treatment goals and objectives with consumers.
Maintain and facilitate communication about consumer care with relevant staff, including timely updates and progress notes.
Make customer service a priority for internal and external customers.
Attend scheduled nursing and MHC staff meetings and cross-train in other EPS areas.
Maintain a safe, therapeutic environment free of sharps and other potentially harmful objects.
Demonstrate professionalism, seek improvements to care and efficiency, and suggest innovative ways to meet consumer needs.