Consider Joining our Magnet Designated Healthcare System in our Behavioral Health unit at Westmoreland Hospital!

Job Summary

The BSN, Casual coordinates, directs and participates as an effective interdisciplinary team member. Coordinates and delivers all aspects of care provided in the crisis center.

Essential Job Functions

• Maintain professional and technical knowledge by attending education workshops, review professional publications, establish personal networks, and participate in professional societies.
• Assure quality of care by adhering to therapeutic standards, measuring health outcomes against patient care goals and standards, making or recommending necessary adjustments, and following system/hospital and nursing division's philosophies and standards of care set by state board of nursing, state nurse practice act, and other governing agency regulations.
• Protect patients and employees by adhering to infection-control policies and protocols, medication administration and storage procedures, and controlled substance regulations.
• Document patient care services by charting in patient and department records.
• Maintain continuity among nursing teams by documenting and communicating actions, irregularities, and continuing needs using Nurse Knowledge Exchange techniques.
• Maintain patient confidence and protects operations by keeping information confidential.
• Identify patient care requirements by establishing personal rapport with potential and actual patients, and other persons in a position to understand care requirements.
• Establish a compassionate environment by providing emotional, psychological, and spiritual support to patients, friends, and families.
• Promote patient's independence by establishing patient care goals, teaching patient/family to understand condition, medications, and self-care skills, and answering questions.
• Maintain safe and clean working environment by complying with procedures, rules and regulations; calling for assistance from health care support personnel.
• Resolve patient problems and needs by utilizing multidisciplinary team strategies.
• Maintain a cooperative relationship among health care teams by communicating information, responding to requests, building rapport, and participating in team continuous quality improvement and problem-solving methods.
• Contribute to team effort by accomplishing related results as needed.
• Ensure operation of equipment by completing preventive maintenance requirements by following manufacturer's instructions, troubleshooting malfunctions, calling for repairs, maintaining equipment inventories, and evaluating new equipment and techniques.
• Maintain nursing supplies inventory by checking stock to determine inventory level, anticipating needed supplies, placing and expediting orders for supplies, verifying receipt of supplies, and using equipment and supplies as needed to accomplish job results.

Specialty Job Functions

• Communicates effectively with guests, families, peers and members of the treatment team.
• Return phone calls in a timely fashion.
• Provides peer/treatment team consultation.
• Utilizes computer as required for e-mail, scheduling, obtaining and tracking insurance authorizations.
• Provides and participates in educational activities.
• Provides and documents guest/family education.
• Participates in staff education initiatives, both as a participant and presenter.
• Provides topical recommendations for staff development.
• Assists the department in maintaining compliance with the State, JCAHO and other regulatory agencies.
• Participates in preparation for inspections, surveys and audits.
• Participates in ongoing performance improvement activities.
• Participates in service planning.
• Completes service plans and reviews according to departmental standards and regulatory agencies.
• Attends team meetings.
• Functions as an interdisciplinary team member actively identifying strategies to address guest needs.
• Maintains treatment area supplies and equipment.
• Understands and utilizes the Principles of Recovery as they apply to crisis/emergent episodes of care
• Recognizes that recovery is a person-centered/person-driven process.
• Recognizes that self-determination/self-direction are the foundation of person-centered care.
• Supports the empowerment of all individuals to make informed decisions regarding their care.
• Exhibits strength-based approach to crisis intervention
• Exhibits respectful, culturally sensitive behavior and attitude toward all guests and their families.
• Works collaboratively with Peer Support Specialists and other center staff to insure the maintenance of a safe, comfortable, welcoming environment and positive guest experience.
• Maintains a collaborative relationship with physicians and other health care providers to achieve desired outcome and assure continuous flow of care.
• Communicate pertinent information for interdisciplinary treatment team meetings, shift reports, internal and external transfers.
• Takes action to proactively identify and resolve guest needs.
• Performs crisis evaluations.
• Receives crisis phone calls.
• Assess individuals for acuity and need for psychiatric treatment.
• Participates in the level of care determination and plan.
• Processes 201 and 302 commitments as appropriate.
• Secures authorization for treatment from insurance providers.
• Facilitates referral for services specified in the plan to appropriate providers
• Serves on hospital committees and participates in other related projects.
• Delivers presentations to other agencies and groups pertaining to the services provided by behavioral health
• Other related duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Graduate of an accredited Nursing Program required.

• Bachelor’s Degree (BSN) or Master’s Degree (MSN) in Nursing required.

• A Nursing refresher course may be required if employee has not worked in an acute care setting for his / her most recent three consecutive years of professional employment.
• Knowledge of Payor/Insurance Benefits
• Functional Skills on PC and Related Software (Microsoft Office)
• Knowledge of basic Office Equipment such as copier, fax machine, etc.

• Strong leadership ability, good organizational skills, independent and critical thinking skills, sound judgment, and knowledge of legal aspects and liability of nursing practice.
• Strong ability to communicate complex and/or controversial topics and concepts to a wide and diverse audience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Certification in psychiatric nursing.
• Experience in facilitating groups.
• Experience performing crisis assessments and knowledge of Mental Health Procedures Act.
•  Minimum one (1) year direct care nursing experience

License, Certification & Clearances

• Current licensure to practice as a Registered Nurse in the State of Pennsylvania required.
• Current Basic Life Support (BLS) approved curriculum of the American Heart Association (CPR and AED) program required.
• Valid PA Driver’s License.

• Act 33 with renewal.
• Act 34 with renewal.
• Act 73 FBI Clearance with renewal.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• This position has no direct supervisory responsibilities, but may serve as a coach and mentor for other positions in the department.

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work

• Incumbent will be scheduled based on operational need (rotate shifts, standby, on-call, etc.).
• Travel may be expected locally between Excela Health locations.

LEAN

• Actively promotes a Lean work culture by performing team member duties to encourage consistent use of LEAN principles and processes, including continually seeking work process improvements. Recognizes the necessity of taking ownership of one’s own motivation, morale, performance and professional development. Strives for behavior consistent with being committed to Excela’s missions, vision and values.

AAP/EEO

• Excela Health is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is the policy of Excela Health to prohibit discrimination of any type and to afford equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, non-job related disability, veteran status, or genetic information, or any other protected class. Excela Health will conform to the spirit as well as the letter of all applicable laws and regulations.
• Ability to perform the Essential Functions listed on the Physical Conditions and ability to perform the Essential Functions on the Working Condition chart below.

Work Environment:

Effective March 2020 or during pandemic: goggles, face shield and mask are required according to CDC guidelines

Physical Demands

When lift requirement is in excess of 50#, lift assistance (2 person) and/or transfer device is required