The Position

Incumbent works under the direction of the Director of Nursing or designee, providing professional psychiatric nursing care to acutely and chronically ill patients and assisting supervisor in providing direction and training to other Community Mental Health Center (CMHC) staff.

Essential Functions

• Implement psychiatric nursing processes and protocols, including carrying out physicians’ orders and prescribed medical treatment.
• Collect clinical data (e.g. observations/assessments of biophysical, psychosocial, environmental, progress status, educational, discharge planning), record/report patient conditions.
• Establish and maintain effective work relationships with clients, supervisors, County employees, elected officials, attorneys, law enforcement, judges, other agencies, and the public.
• Comply with Civil Service policies and regulations, collective bargaining agreements, County policies, department policies and laws to create a cooperative, safe, respectful and quality work environment.
• Identify and document patients’ physical and emotional status and/or patterns consulting treatment team, identifying appropriate treatment strategies and providing information regarding treatment/process plan outcomes (e.g. goal status).
• Assist in developing and implementing ongoing individualized patient treatment plans based on communicating insights and observations.
• Delegate, direct, or assign nursing care.
• Assist with planning, orienting, training, evaluating, and supervising the work of team members.
• Administer medication therapy and treatment regimens (e.g. monitor response, document observations), educating patients of medication (e.g. purpose, dosage and side effects) and assisting patients with compliance.
• Provide quality care (e.g. health, nutrition, clothing, spiritual needs) and recognize each patient’s individuality and need for specialized treatment.
• Complete and update patient records of observations, assessments, and treatments.
• Provide non-judgmental and non-discriminatory care sensitive to the patient’s/family’s diversity, preserving autonomy, dignity and rights.
• Accompany physicians on rounds, assisting physicians with examinations and ordered treatments.
• Educate patients and family members regarding treatment plan, psychiatric care, and continuation of treatment and related patient care issues.
• Ensure cleanliness of equipment and environment.
• Assist in daily operations and functions of the secure treatment facility, serving as a team coordinator.
• Direct and assist with the management of patients at risk for escalation.
• Provide general direction and delegate tasks to licensed practical nurses (LPNs) and psychiatric technicians.
• Participate or lead individual/group counseling sessions, family conferences, and recreational/social therapy sessions, assisting patients in understanding the emotional and physical problems and need for treatment.
• Admit and assess patients, obtaining new patient history (e.g. medical, psychiatric, social, family).
• Obtain and record vital signs, schedule tests, and perform basic procedures (e.g. catheterization, respiratory therapy, blood draws, ostomy care, ECG).
• Conduct and communicate shift-change reports ensuring continuity of care.
• Recognize and intervene during acute episodes utilizing crisis intervention.
• Comply with and ensure staff adherence with CMHC procedures and protocols.
• Assist patients to obtain proper follow-up during acute hospitalization and at discharge, identifying community agencies/resources for transition and stabilization of living in the community.
• Develop therapeutic relationships with patients, maintaining a professional attitude toward clients and treating them with empathy and respect.
• Participate in department meetings discussing patient care, progress, policies, and procedures.
• Maintain competency in psychiatric/mental health nursing care and specific nursing procedures (e.g. research, webinars, seminars, classroom, online training).
• Recognize individuals with co-occurring and trauma disorders are expected and welcome into treatment.
• Handle, use, and dispose of chemicals and biohazards.
• Recommend changes to nursing services and clinic activities; assist in developing and implementing policies, procedures and protocols; maintain updates to the department policy and procedures manual.
• Participate in quality improvement activities.
• Provide and promote a positive image of CMHC (e.g. professionalism, pride, cooperation, trust).
• Interact with staff from various community medical facilities, courts, and County and State agencies, testifying in court regarding patient's mental and physical condition.
• Perform duties of Access Nurse.
• Serve as a member of various committees.
• Safely operate a motor vehicle when required to travel on County business.
• Report to work with regular, consistent attendance.
• Perform other duties as assigned and directed.

Education and Work Experience and Other Requirements

• Associate’s degree, Diploma or BSN from an accredited college or university in nursing required.
• Licensed Registered Nurse (RN) in Nebraska license or a compact state recognized by the Nebraska Board of Nursing upon hire and maintained in good standing throughout employment required.
• Basic life support/cardiopulmonary resuscitation (BLS/CPR) certification, first aid course and completion of Crisis Prevention Intervention (CPI) training within 6 months of hire.
• Valid driver’s license and own transportation upon hire and maintained throughout employment required.
• Completion of a pre-employment criminal record check, conditional offer drug screen, and physical assessment required.

Physical Requirements & Working Conditions

• The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• Work is generally performed in a locked psychiatric care facility and in a Correctional facility. Noise level is usually moderate and at times extreme. Work hours are assigned shift hours; however, schedule may vary (e.g. days, shifts, weekends, holidays, overtime/extra hours, emergency call-in). Work involves potential exposure to biohazards and potential risk of injury from assaultive/abusive patients. Work may be stressful when dealing with time constraints, multiple/changing priorities, limited resources, uncooperative/irate individuals and emergency situations.
• Work requires physical activity including extended periods of walking and standing, frequent sitting, bending and reaching, and occasional climbing, carrying, balancing, kneeling, and crouching. Work also requires the ability to frequently lift and/or carry objects weighing up to 50 pounds, push 35 pounds and occasionally pull up to 75 pounds.
• Required sensory abilities include vision, hearing and touch. Visual abilities, correctable to normal ranges, include close, distance and color vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. Communication abilities include the ability to talk and hear within normal ranges. Incumbent must possess the hand-eye coordination and manual dexterity necessary to operate computers and other equipment.

Douglas County is an EOE - Disability/Veterans