The Registered Nurse is an active participant in the health care team who provides direct and indirect care to patients/families/legal guardians, utilizing the components of the nursing process in accordance with the philosophy, objectives, value and mission of Sheppard Pratt Solutions and our host site. The Registered Nurse works collaboratively as a member of the multi-disciplinary treatment team and contributes to each patient’s individual treatment plan by helping develop, implement, and document appropriate goals and interventions, informed by patient strengths and presenting psychiatric problems.
Principal Responsibilities and Duties:
Patient-Centered Care
We treat everyone seeking care as we would a family member or a dear friend. We manifest this commitment in the manner in which we interact with patients and referral sources and in the timeliness of our responses to enquiries for care. We demonstrate empathy and patience even when consumers and family members may be unable to manage their own behavior as a consequence of their illness, fears and frustrations. We strive to incorporate patient and family needs in the design and function of treatment space, intake and registration processes, medical charting, billing practices, and other operations.
- Calm, courteous, and thoughtful patient and family interactions
- Answers phone with courtesy
- Professional presentation in dress, appearance, and speech
- Accurately gathers and appropriately conveys patient and family concerns and feedback
- Adheres to all policies and procedures pertaining to the confidentiality of Protected Health Information (PHI)
- Effectively communicates information to patients, families, physicians, treatment team, community agencies and other healthcare providers
- Promotes a positive, non- punitive atmosphere in all interactions with patients and families
- Contributes to maintaining a clean, organized and pleasant treatment space
- Adheres to all Sheppard Pratt and host hospital policies and procedures relating to patient-centered care
- Resolves or brings environmental safety concerns to attention of appropriate individuals
- Participates in patient-centered care training
Teamwork
We treat all caregivers and support staff as valued team members. We strive to work across departmental barriers in pursuit of our common goal to create healthy, sustainable health care. We utilize structured feedback captured through evaluations, job dialogues, and surveys of team members, patients, and referral sources as an essential management tool to evaluate individual performance and organizational health and success.
- On-time and ready to work for scheduled hours
- Conveys an attitude of respect, teamwork, and colleagueship with all fellow care givers
- Works cooperatively with all ancillary department personnel
- Accepts and incorporates feedback from peers, subordinates, and supervisors
- Helps to maintain an environment of trust, respect, and fairness
- Attends or reads all staff meeting documentation
- Promptly returns phone calls
- Finishes duties and assignments on time
- Dependable colleague for scheduled shifts; provides sufficient notice for absences
- Delegates tasks in compliance with Nursing Board of Registration requirements
- Demonstrates flexibility and cooperation in response to unexpected change in work volume, emergencies, staffing or scheduling changes
- Monitors Mental Health Counselors in effectively completing assigned duties
Evidence-Based Assessment and Therapies
We utilize evidence-based assessments and patient interventions, and we collect and use data to assess the quality and success of our clinical efforts. We strive to create organizations of open-minded learners informed by sources within and outside health care. We comply with all Joint Commission, Regulatory and host hospital standards and Policies and Procedures.
- Performs and accurately documents assessments of assigned patients according to their needs, standards of care, and hospital policy
- Identifies related nursing diagnoses from assessment data including trauma history, self-harm risk, restraint risk, assault risk, nutritional and functional status, general medical issues and discharge needs
- Detects and reports clinical symptoms within the scope of clinical training such as medication reactions or other conditions
- Able to lead and document therapeutic groups
- Aware of treatment goals for each assigned patient and evaluates plan of care and patients’ response to interventions; modifies interventions appropriately
- Demonstrates skill in developing a behavior plan
- Follows safety search protocol for assigned admissions
- Is sufficiently knowledgeable of DSM-5 terminology and concepts to contribute to diagnostic processes
- Adheres to all Sheppard Pratt and host hospital policies and procedures for therapeutic activities and incident reporting
- Maintains Infection Control and Standard Precautions
- Accurately provides and documents “patient checks”
- Documents stat and PRN medications with reassessment of target symptoms in appropriate time frame as indicated by policy, procedure or common nursing practice
- Contributes to zero or minimal use of chemical or physical restraints or seclusion through appropriately de-escalating agitated patients and administering PRN medication as appropriate
- Demonstrates ability to participate in restraint/seclusion
- Accurately completes seclusion/restraint documentation
- Demonstrates the ability to appropriately screen patients for admission, following the admission intake procedure, obtains required information, clearly documenting insurance information
- Completes discharge documentation and provides patient and family with appropriate education
- Accurately takes, documents, and dispenses M.D. phone orders
- Demonstrates actively learning new skills, clinical care knowledge and techniques
- Accurately dispenses medications as per hospital policy
- Completes required nursing CEUs, nurse licensing requirements, and site-based in-services and certifications
- Participates in and is aware of current CQI activities and projects
- Legibly, consistently, and accurately documents all pertinent data regarding patient care based on identified issues and established patient care standards
- Acts as a resource or preceptor to new direct care staff and less experienced staff
- Has knowledge of patients’ legal rights and is aware of human rights issues
- If designated, serves as Human Rights Officer for the unit. Acts as a knowledgeable resource for patients, families and staff regarding regulatory and human rights, effectively investigates complaints, and ensures follow-through with unit Director. Attends annual DMH human rights officer training
Fiscal Responsibility
We prescribe and implement treatment services that are financially and operationally sustainable within the limits of reimbursement and hospital allocations of charitable giving. We use data-driven process improvement to guide our interventions and business operations. We provide services up to the full limits of inpatient bed capacity, ambulatory care availability, and staff expertise.
- Is aware and supportive of importance of treating all appropriate patients up to unit census capacity
- Participates in “right-staffing” within the limits of our reimbursement for services
- Acts as a responsible steward of expenses through punching in and out within scheduled hours; avoids unnecessary overtime expense
- Accurately documents all clinical activities in support of appropriate regulatory and reimbursement requirements
- Supports our positive image as a quality health care services provider and helps to project this image to our patients and customers
- Is aware of patient and hospital costs and avoids excessive or unnecessary costs
- Calls off staff appropriately based on staffing grid and unit acuity
- Maintains confidentiality of Sheppard Pratt and host hospital financial information
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Required:
- Must be a graduate of an accredited nursing program/preferred inpatient psychiatric experience.
- Must be currently licensed as a Registered Nurse by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
- Compliance with host hospital standards including CPR and Restraint Training. Completion and recertification in conducting face to face assessments for patients in restraints or seclusion in accordance with JC standards.
- Competent child and adolescent assessment skills including use of DSM-5 major diagnostic criteria
- Ability to develop a therapeutic relationship while maintaining professional boundaries
- A strong knowledge base of age-specific growth and developmental stages
- Ability to develop appropriate treatment interventions based on developmental needs and/or delays
- Knowledgeable in the area of behavior modification techniques and theories
- Effective oral and written communication skills
- Ability to manage stressful situations in a calm, organized, and professionalmanner
- Prepared by education and experience to carry out all essential nursing skills
Working Conditions: Note: Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable a qualified individual with a disability(s) to perform the essential functions of this position.
- This position requires direct care to patients including lifting, moving and assisting.
- Regular standing, bending, walking and lifting.
- Capacity to participate in physical restraints of patients and to perform all aspects of Basic Life Support (BLS).
- The work environment is a locked inpatient psychiatric program for children and adolescents aged four through seventeen that operates 24 hours/day seven days a week.
- Must possess adequate strength and stamina to work on their feet for the work day.
- Should possess an ability to recognize patient care problems as they arise. In response to these situations, Registered Nurses effectively assist their colleagues in the implementation of appropriate interventions for patients, their families, and the milieu.
- May be exposed to violent/aggressive behavior, communicable diseases, blood/body fluids, and hazardous waste.
Reporting Relationships:
- Reports to Nurse Manager
