Staff RN - Behavioral Health
The Psychiatric RN assists patients to move rapidly, uneventfully, safely, and as effectively as possible through their episode of care. The Psychiatric RN prescribes, delegates, supervises and provides patient care, plans for education, collaborates on plan for discharge and provides for patient safety and quality. Demonstrates competencies defined in the Psychiatric RN responsibilities in providing age-appropriate care to patients from the age of birth through <18 years of age.
1. Uses nursing process, evidence based practice and unit specific competencies to:
a.Complete the admission assessment.
b. Documents shift charting based on the patient’s plan of care.
c. Assures precise and comprehensive completion of all restraint and seclusion documentation.
d.Performs safe handoff and Zero Hero principles in accordance with practices established by the organization.
e.Document a plan of care including patient outcome parameters and nursing orders.
f. Delegate patient care.
g. Evaluate patient care and patient’s response/progress.
h. Reassess patients and revise plan of care as appropriate.
i. Supervise patient care.
j. Plan discharge.
k. Plan, provide, delegate, and evaluate patient/family education.
l. Collaborate effectively with all health care disciplines to facilitate patient outcomes.
2. Communicates patient care needs/expectations/priorities to assigned Mental Health Technicians, Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs), Patient Care Assistants (PCAs), unit coordinators, and allied health personnel.
3. Effectively relates and interacts with patient, families, and health care teams utilizing Relationship Based Care, Primary Nursing, and Trauma Informed Care philosophies
4. Effectively manages patient care through one or more of the following:
a. Prescribing, delegating and coordinating care for patients.
b. Care conferences
c. Clinical rounds
d. Charge nurse responsibilities
e. Other coordination activities
f. Organizing and prioritizing care
g. Managing prescribed physician orders.
5. Participates with the interdisciplinary team in specialized patient care activities.
a. Provides encouragement support and reinforces positive behavior with a therapeutic, calm approach while maintaining therapeutic boundaries, setting limits, and utilizing de-escalation techniques, including physical intervention skills.
b. Demonstrates ability to identify and record relevant information for the most common diagnostic groups including:
- Major Depressive Disorders (with and without psychotic features).
- Bipolar Affective Disorder (including manic, depressed and mixed episode).
- Psychotic Disorder (Including Schizophrenia & Subtypes)
- Attention Deficit and Disruptive Behavior Disorders.
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.
- Autism Spectrum Disorders.
- Intermittent Explosive Disorder.
- Anxiety Disorders
- Substance Abuse Disorders
- Eating Disorders
- Gender Dysphoria
- Global Developmental Delays
c. Effectively establishes therapeutic relationships with patients and families on the unit using empathy and compassion
6. Leads, or co-leads and/or reinforces therapeutic groups and teaching of symptom management, including relaxation techniques, anger management, therapeutic goal-setting, problem solving, coping skills, etc
7. Utilizes skills such as planning, support, engagement, crisis management interventions and structure to manage the milieu setting
8. Utilizes therapeutic, Trauma Informed intervention techniques before, during and after the time of crisis to support safe patient de-escalation
9. Assists with physical crisis intervention techniques and physical restraint during specific crisis situations per NCH policy
10. Maintains professional standards by setting professional goals and participating in activities to meet goals.
11. Adheres to unit/department budgetary standards.
a.Performs daily staffing, scheduling within budget parameters.
12. Participates in unit maintenance activities:
- Pyxis and charge data collection.
- Infection control activities
- Point –of-care testing
- e-Chart education
- Safety and Quality activities
13. Participates in Patient Care Services and Hospital activities in one or more of the following:
- Policy/procedure review and revision.
- Helping Hand review and revision.
- Committee attendance and participation
- Patient/family advocacy.
- Shared governance.
14. Accepts and supports change in a positive manner
15. Participates in research, patient safety and quality improvement activities
16. Practices professional nursing in accordance with the ANA Code of Ethics for Nurses and Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing Scope and Standards of Practice.
17. Participates in educational activities in one or more of the following:
- Peer review
- Serves as a preceptor/clinical resource
- Orientation and continuing education
- Clinical competency assessment
- Planning and presenting classes.
Interpersonal:
18. Collaborates with patient and family to develop individual goals for plan of care and coordinates treatment goals with the inter-disciplinary team members; Engages the patient at the appropriate developmental level of functioning; and has good self-awareness of own triggers; Actively ensures a safe handoff and succinct shift report; Leads patient rounds for primary patients; Involves and educates families in the development and implementation of behavioral interventions and plans; Collaborates with clinicians, patients, agencies and/or families in establishing individual safety plans for discharge
19. Must be able to exercise self-control in potentially volatile situations such as being verbally or physically confronted in a threatening or aggressive manner. Must demonstrate appropriate professional boundaries. Must be able to effectively multi-task which involves the ability to work and concentrate amidst distractions such as noise, conversation and foot traffic. Must be flexible, adaptable and not easily frustrated in dealing with differences of opinion.