Under general supervision, provides direct patient care to assigned psychiatric and/or Emergency Department (Adult and Pediatric) patients. The RN collaborates with other members of the health team, delegates appropriately to support staff and directs care to assure the patient’s care needs are met. The RN’s actions and attitudes will promote and support the hospital’s mission and core values. The RN must stay current with standards of practice through ongoing education relevant to nursing, such as the Nurse Practice Act.
Education:
Associate Degree from an accredited School of Nursing required; BSN preferred.
RN with National Certification as a Psychiatric Nurse encouraged to apply.
Licensures/Certifications:
• Current registration with the Maryland State Board of Examiners of Nurses as a Registered Nurse.
• Completion of "Healthcare Provider" CPR course, bi-annually.
• ACLS and PALS preferred, but can be obtained within probationary period.
Experience:
• Two to three years of psychiatric nursing experience
• Ability to care for low emergent medical acuity, and comprehensive psychiatric patients in an Emergency Department setting.
Skills:
• Interpersonal communication (oral and written) skills required in order to educate and comfort patients and their families, maintain effective contacts with a variety of hospital personnel, and maintain appropriate documentation records.
• Proficiency in developing nursing plan of care, implementing effective nursing care, and evaluating outcome of nursing intervention.
• Professional nursing principles, procedures, and techniques used in the care and treatment of psychiatric patients.
• Apply professional nursing care principles and procedures in the evaluation and treatment of psychiatric, and/or low acuity emergent medical patients.
• Develop interpersonal therapeutic relationships with psychiatric patients.
• Keep accurate written charts and records of patient activities and progress.
• Comply with laws, rules, regulations, protocols, and procedures.
• Use professional judgment to ascertain and to apply appropriate intervention techniques with patients in crisis. To include de-escalation techniques.
• Communicate effectively with a variety of individuals and function calmly in situations, which require a high degree of sensitivity, tact, and diplomacy.
• Provide prompt, efficient, and responsive service.
• Exercise appropriate judgment in answering questions and releasing information; analyze and project consequences of decisions and/or recommendations.
• Communicate effectively orally and in writing.
• Professional nursing principles, procedures, and techniques used in the care and treatment of psychiatric and/or low acuity emergent medical patients.
• Social, psychological, and physical factors of mental and emotional disorders.
• Medical and psychological terminology.
• Medications, including psychotropic drugs, and effects on psychiatric patients.
• Control, preparation and administration of medications.
• State of Maryland laws and regulations for the nursing profession.
• Regulations pertaining to psychiatric nursing and the treatment of the mentally and emotionally disturbed patients.
• Theories, principles, and techniques of group and individual psychotherapy.
• Symptoms and behavior patterns of emotionally disturbed mentally ill patients to include substance abuse, withdrawal, detoxification.
• Medical and psychiatric emergency procedures.
• Basic computer programs.
Principal Duties and Responsibilities:
Utilization of Nursing Process
Assessment
- Conducts intake assessments through interviews with patients and relatives to gather case history.
- Utilizes physical assessment and interviewing techniques.
- Makes nursing diagnosis of the medical and emotional status of patients and recommends treatment options.
- Anticipates need for intervention by other disciplines.
- Determines priorities for patient care needs or problems.
- Reassesses the patient as indicated by changes in condition and/ or response to treatment(s).
Planning
- Initiates and updates a written nursing plan of care for patients by incorporating scientific and psychosocial principles that support the nursing diagnosis.
- Incorporates information obtained from nursing care planning conferences into written nursing plan of care.
- Coordinates patient, family, significant other, and health team members in the planning of hospital and post-discharge care.
Implementation
- Performs clinical nursing skills independently.
- Maintains patient confidentiality.
- Obtains vital signs, point-of-care glucose readings, and provide appropriate care.
- Administers medications, and treatments appropriately and accurately.
- Administers and notes reactions to psychotropic drugs and other medications.
- Assists the client in understanding the nature of emotional disturbances and accepting the need for treatment.
- Initiates appropriate emergency procedures as necessary.
- Appropriately delegates and coordinates the duties of ancillary personnel.
- Communicates the patient's status and plan of care through written documentation in the patient's medical record.
- Verbally communicates the patient's status to physicians, nurses and other health care professionals.
- Communicates in a therapeutic manner with the patient, family and visitors.
- Applies teaching/learning principles in education of patient and family.
Patient Care Coordination
- Manages daily patient assignment by appropriately setting priorities.
- Delegates responsibility appropriately and monitors the nursing care delivered to patients by ancillary personnel.
- Coordinates patient activities with psychiatrists, assessment & discharge specialist, ED physician, charge nurse and other interdisciplinary team members in designing appropriate treatment plans for clients.
Teaching and Quality Improvement
- Develops, documents and implements Patient Teaching and Discharge Planning Record.
- Participates in established patient, family, staff and/or student education program.
- Participates in clinical monitoring at the unit level.
- Identifies unit, staff and patient care problems. Takes action or refers problems to appropriate resources when indicated.
All roles must demonstrate GBMC Values:
Respect
I will treat everyone with courtesy. I will foster a healing environment.
- Treats others with fairness, kindness, and respect for personal dignity and privacy
- Listens and responds appropriately to others’ needs, feelings, and capabilities
Excellence
I will strive for superior performance in every aspect of my work. I will recognize and celebrate the accomplishments of others.
- Meets and/or exceeds customer expectations
- Actively pursues learning and self-development
- Pays attention to detail; follows through
Accountability
I will be professional in the way I act, look and speak. I will take ownership to solve problems.
- Sets a positive, professional example for others
- Takes ownership of problems and does what is needed to solve them
- Appropriately plans and utilizes required resources for various job duties
- Reports to work regularly and on time
Teamwork
I will be engaged and collaborative. I will keep people informed.
- Works cooperatively and collaboratively with others for the success of the team
- Addresses and resolves conflict in a positive way
- Seeks out the ideas of others to reach the best solutions
- Acknowledges and celebrates the contribution of others
Ethical Behavior
I will always act with honesty and integrity. I will protect the patient.
- Demonstrates honesty, integrity and good judgment
- Respects the cultural, psychosocial, and spiritual needs of patients/families/coworkers
Results
I will set goals and measure outcomes that support organizational goals. I will give and accept help to achieve goals.
- Embraces change and improvement in the work environment
- Continuously seeks to improve the quality of products/services
- Displays flexibility in dealing with new situations or obstacles
- Achieves results on time by focusing on priorities and manages time efficiently
COVID-19 Vaccination
All applicants must be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 or obtain a GBMC approved medical or religious exemption prior to starting employment at GBMC Healthcare, to include Gilchrist and GBMC Health Partners.
Equal Employment Opportunity
GBMC HealthCare and its affiliates are Equal Opportunity employers. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, age, national origin, mental or physical disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other status protected by federal, state, or local law.
