RN - Psych

Registered Nurse in Psychiatry

Job Title:

Registered Nurse

Profession: RN

Specialty:
Psychiatry

Duration: 13 weeks

Shift: Night

Shift Hours per Shift: 12 hours

Experience:

Minimum 2 years of RN experience in Psychiatric care

License: RN License required

Certifications:

CPI, BLS required

Must-Have:
Travel experience required; 1 year

Description:

Must live 100 miles away. Work schedule consists of 3 night shifts per week, with varying days. No on-call requirement. Provide care to adult and geriatric patients.

Purpose of Position:
Plan, implement, and evaluate nursing care utilizing the nursing process for assigned patients. Address the psychosocial needs of patients.

Job-Specific Standards:

• Assessment:
  Perform comprehensive body system assessments accurately and promptly. Assess patient and family educational needs and expectations regarding hospitalization. Incorporate clinical indicators such as lab results, radiology, and vital signs in hand-off reports. Assess the biological, psychological, physical, and cultural needs of patients and families. Recognize and provide ongoing assessments of any changes in patient condition.
• Collaboration:
  
  Participate with all disciplines to address the assessed needs of assigned patients. Be accessible to the unit at all times. Clinical Supervisor should always be aware of the nurse's location. Willingness to ask for help as necessary. Participate in unit-based problem solving. Attend at least 75% of all staff meetings.
• Collegiality:
  Oversee and assign direct reports within their scope of practice. Assist direct reports with problem solving. Show autonomy in conversing with physicians and physician assistants. Contribute to a healthy and supportive work environment. Communicate effectively with staff.
• Diagnosis:
  Monitor, recognize, and report abnormal test results.
• Education:
  
  Provide health education and procedural information to patients and families based on assessed needs.
• Ethics:
  Follow the chain of command and serve as a patient advocate while adhering to applicable laws and patient rights.
• Evaluation:
  Consider patient perspectives about healthcare and document compliance or unwillingness to make lifestyle changes.
• Implementation:
  Implement individual interventions from the plan of care. Identify possibilities for post-hospital care from external agencies.
• Leadership:
  Perform relief charge nursing responsibilities when necessary after orientation.
• Planning:
  Develop and evaluate plans of care based on assessed needs of patients and families. Initiate and update plans to meet ongoing needs of patients and families. Ensure the workplace is clean and prepared for anticipated activities.
• Professional Practice:
  Ensure minimal documentation errors through audits and tracers. Serve as a resource to others, including acting as a preceptor for students and new hires.
• Quality of Practice:
  Practice proper hand hygiene before each patient contact and use gloves when necessary. Document appropriately for the transfer of patient care within and between agencies. Maintain compliance with quality measures. Demonstrate proficiency in clinical skills. Provide independent care to assigned patients. Show competence in using special equipment like monitors, infusion pumps, or oxygen equipment. Ensure that documentation is accurate, timely, and problem-focused.
• Resource Utilization:
  Exhibit sound time management skills to prioritize patient care. Manage time effectively to minimize burden on the next shift.