Emergency Psychiatric Liaison Nurse; EPLN

Salary

The salary range for this position is CAD $41.42 - $59.52 / hour.

Registered Nurse/Registered Psychiatric Nurse in the Emergency Department to perform intake assessment, crisis intervention, and direct patient care to psychiatric patients. The role collaborates with the interprofessional care team to ensure effective patient flow and care plans in accordance with BCCNM standards.

• Receives referrals through the Patient Care Coordinator (PCC) and a variety of internal and external sources, including the general Emergency Department, Pediatric Emergency Department and Mental Health/Substance Use Zone.
• Performs psychosocial assessments and collects collateral related to patients' primary support group, social environment, occupation, education, housing, finance, health service access, and legal problems. Completes emergency psychiatry patient assessments for patients triaged to psychiatry.
• Develops care plans with final dispositions authorized by the Emergency Department Physician or consulting Psychiatrist, and provides general and crisis counselling to patients and their families, in accordance with approved treatment plans.
• Evaluates the psychiatric nursing care needs of assigned patients and provides direct psychiatric nursing care. Identifies preventative, therapeutic, and rehabilitative aspects of care, and develops and modifies individualized care plans in consultation with the interprofessional team and family members, with clear attention to treatment and risk management priorities. Carries out selected treatments and procedures as prescribed by physicians and nursing orders, in accordance with hospital policy and procedures.
• Collaborates and consults with Emergency Department staff and other allied health department service providers in the hospital and community, and assists in adapting care plans to address psychiatric needs.
• Provides patient advocacy services with other agencies, services and service providers.
• Documents assessments, care plan, observations, patient/family responses, outcomes/evaluation, and referrals according to practice standards and Fraser Health procedures.
• Liaises and communicates as required to support patient flow of admitted psychiatric patients being transferred to inpatient units in a timely manner. Communicates and shares knowledge and information with Coordinators and other team members of the community mental health team on client care issues, resources and discharge planning process; organizes and participates in interdisciplinary conferences with psychiatrists as required; explains plan of care to patients and their family;
  
  refers patient to rehabilitation and other adjunctive services including the acute care site as appropriate.
• Completes and maintains electronic Psychiatric Liaison Contact Sheets before the end of each shift or within the designated and hours of work.
• Liaises with appropriate departments and professionals, and facilitates transition to aftercare by following transition of care processes including provision of discharge plans and referral to community service providers. Acts as a patient advocate by assisting patients and their family members to access appropriate community resources.
• Provides guidance to Emergency Department nursing staff, and a variety of internal sources, involved in caring for psychiatric patients, and provides leadership for team members actively involved in violence de‑escalation, suicide prevention and restraint practices. Ensures safe patient management and adherence to restraint policies and procedures.
• Participates in quality improvement activities and research by identifying patient care issues and collecting data.
• Provides input to the Managers regarding policies, procedures, and operational requirements by observing service needs and providing spoken or written suggestions that address patient and family needs and promote effective use of resources.
• Identifies own learning needs/goals, reviews these with the Manager or designate and engages in a variety of activities to meet these needs/goals.
• Maintains a safe environment for patients, families and staff by adhering to established…