Summary
Executes patient intake assessment process from initial inquiry through potential admission to geriatric inpatient psychiatry in partnership with the medical director and program director. Assists Program Director with unit quality processes, including but not limited to, clinical documentation audits, staffing issues, policy/procedure development and review, and staff competency education. Backs up core RN position with direct care hours as needed to promote adequate staffing level to provide safe patient care. In doing this the role executes comprehensive nursing care activities and provides nursing staff leadership. Assesses patient's needs, plans and implements patient care, evaluates patient responses to treatment. Directs and supervises the delivery of nursing care by other members of the team. Conducts and documents group activities, monitors the participation of each patient and documents weekly evaluations.
Job Duties
The essential functions of this job are identified with an asterisk (*) at the end of the bullet point.
Effectively Utilize Nursing Process:
- Demonstrates effective interviewing and assessment skills with emphasis on preadmission intake completeness.*
- Integrates new or current techniques to obtain physical/psycho-social information from the patient/family to plan, implement and evaluate patient care through the nursing process.*
- Initiates and maintains patient care plan to reflect current patient needs utilizing computerized documentation.*
- Plans and executes activities that meet the patient's needs, abilities and interests.
- Consults Occupational Therapist for coordination of appropriate activities as needed.
Safety Awareness:
- Uses protective clothing/gear as necessary.*
- Reports safety hazards.*
- Cleans equipment, spills, etc. as necessary.*
- Keeps work area clean and neat.
- Consumes food and drink in designated areas only.
- Reports accidents or incidents promptly.*
Quality Work:
- Works to reduce errors regularly.*
- Asks questions when need arises.*
- Sets and meets individual/professional goals.
- Errors in documentation are minimal.*
- Completes all clinical documentation in full at all times. Audits staff documentation for regulatory compliance as assigned. Alerts team members to any documentation compliance issues.*
- Performs with minimal supervision.*
- Exercises good judgment.*
- Uses work hours efficiently, minimizes overtime.*
- Demonstrates willingness to work extra shifts when needed, and/or flex daily hours to complete crucial tasks related to admissions. Assists manager with coordination of overall staffing processes to promote staffing levels necessary to provide safe care.*
- Assists team members when requested and time allows.*
Initiative:
- Completes duties assigned without hesitation in a timely manner.*
- Accepts direction well.*
- Works independently as position requires.*
- Demonstrates a willingness to train new staff.*
Customer Service:
- Is courteous and friendly, uses a quiet, respectful tone of voice when speaking with patients, visitors, physicians and others, both during intake process and with active patient considerations.*
- Advocates for customers and families.
- Acknowledges a customer's presence immediately and responds accordingly.*
- Anticipates customers' needs.*
Nursing Process/Patient Care:
- Assess the patient on admission and formulates a plan of care derived from a comprehensive physical-psychosocial assessment.*
- Serves as the primary nursing care coordinator for assigned patients when performing in direct care role.*
- Develops comprehensive nursing care plans which take the patient's total needs to account, utilizes assessment data and integrates the medical care plan.*
- Plans, implements and coordinates nursing care activities for assigned patients.*
- Participates in multidisciplinary treatment staffing. Participates in the development of treatment plans, particularly initial plan of care, as work duties allow.*
- Performs treatment interventions requiring a physician's order and registered nurses licensure for administration, i.e. medication administration, medical treatments.*
- Interprets the nursing and treatment needs of the patient to non-professional staff members assigned to the patient.*
- Participates in individual, group and family psychotherapy and educational seminars, as appropriate.
- Evaluates the appropriateness and quality of nursing care in a continuous fashion.*
- Participates in the development and review of unit policies and procedures that govern patient care.*
- Provides comprehensive patient and family health education.*
- Monitors and enforces utilization of proper nursing techniques and procedures.*
- Enacts the counseling role of the nurse.
- Attends multi-disciplinary treatment
- Attends monthly department meetings, 50% are required. All meetings not attended; minutes are consistently read.
Senior/Mental Health Community Education Outreach:
- In coordination with the program director, plans and executes outreach programs having seniors and/or mental health topic consumers as target audiences.*
Communications/Documentation
- Identifies needs, instructs others and actively supports the role of patient advocate/liaison by communication and documentation of patient information to the proper resources/agencies.*
- Listens carefully without interrupting, gives others full attention.
- Communicates with co-workers in a professional manner at all times.*
- Accepts and transcribes verbal and written physician orders and incorporates them into the treatment plan.*
- Documents continuous assessment, interventions and evaluations relative to patient progress in the EMR and approved paper tools.*
- Coordinates the conversion of telephone assessments into assessment appointments or admissions.*
Required Education and Experience
- Graduate of accredited school of nursing with current licensure as a Registered Nurse in the state of Minnesota.
- Knowledge of nursing principles, policies, procedures and medical ethics equivalent to years of experience.
- Excellent communication skills across disciplines and at various levels.
- Ability to work in a team setting.
- Possession of attention to detail, organization and prioritization skills.
- Computer skills including Word.
- Maintain certification in CPR on a bi-annual basis.
Preferred Education and Experience
- Prefer minimum of three year's experience in nursing in mental health.
Additional Eligibility Qualifications
- Professional written and verbal communication
- Expertise with computer based data
- Customer/Client Focus
- Ethical Conduct
- Flexibility
- Initiative
- Personal Effectiveness/Credibility
- Stress Management/Composure
- Teamwork Orientation
- Technical Capacity
- Thoroughness
- Time Management
- Quality and Safety focused
Position Type/Expected Hours of Work
This position's general hours are workdays Monday through Friday hours. Occasional weekend work is required as job duties demand.
Supervisory Responsibility
There are no supervisory responsibilities with this position.
