Join The Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD as a Staff Nurse, RN- Relief (PRN) and unleash your innovative spirit! As part of our interdisciplinary team, you'll provide nursing care to individuals with mental and developmental disabilities in various settings. Embrace creativity, utilize the nursing process, and contribute to transforming care within the standards of practice. The nursing process to plan, implement, document and evaluate nursing care provided under the requirements of the Texas Nurse Practice Act within the Standards of Nursing Practice Join us in pioneering a new era of nursing at The Harris Center.

Your Role in Action:

• Utilizes a five step systematic process (nursing process) to deliver consumer services. This process includes assessment, analysis, planning, implementation and evaluation.
• Demonstrates decision making that is clinically sound, systematic, timely, well researched and reflects awareness of impact and governed by state and Agency practices.
• Performs technical nursing skills within the scope of practice for a RN and in accordance with Agency policies and procedures for individual and/or multiple consumer assignments. Performs diagnostic tests, administers medications, sets up equipment and applies therapeutic treatments.
• Documents relevant information regarding nursing care in consumer records, charts and reports. Documents observations of consumer signs, symptoms, test results, behaviors and response to medications and treatments. Complies with established Agency policies/procedures, accrediting/regulatory bodies and performance contract documentation requirements.
• Informs, explains and educates consumers and family members regarding medications, relevant treatment information, and disease processes. Provides pertinent health information at an appropriate level and includes meaningful literature to support understanding.
• Provides nursing care with the focus on consumer, environmental, and technical safety.
• Assigns specific tasks, activities and functions and maintains appropriate supervision of other RNs, LVN’s and unlicensed personnel in Agency settings for consumers with a variety of health care needs in accordance with program design and structure.
• Demonstrates behaviors that promote development of positive outcomes in relation to the practice of professional nursing.
• Utilizes a problem-solving approach as the basis for decision making in practice, including reporting relevant information to other members of the health care team or supervising Registered Nurse/Physician.
• Provides to other members of the health care team, health education and information on disease processes and medications in order to meet/address consumer health care needs.
• Performs related work as assigned. Adapts to changing work requirements.
• Complies with Agency policies and procedures.

What qualifications you will need:

Education:

• Associates Degree Nurse (ADN) from two year College
• Diploma Nurse (RN) from three year College
• Bachelor’s degree in Nursing (BSN) from four-year College or university

Experience:

• Minimum 1 year at entry level to 2 years nursing experience (not including clinical hours required for education), preferred. For RNs with at least 2 years of experience, a minimum of at least 1 year of mental health/behavioral health/intellectual/disability nursing experience is preferred.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Knowledge of Texas Board of Nurse Examiners Nurse Practice Act and Standards of Nursing Practice.
• Knowledge of applicable pharmacy rules and regulations.
• Basic knowledge of Pharmacology.
• Knowledge of therapeutic communication.
• Understanding of Standard Precautions and infection control procedures for dealing with sharp instruments, needles, blood and body fluids exposure.
• Understanding of good body mechanics to avoid injury.
• Effective communication skills (verbal and written). Effective data collection skills.
• Positive interpersonal skills.
• Good organizational skills with the ability to prioritize.
• Demonstrates initiative and self direction.
• Able to coordinate well with others and work effectively as a team member.
• Able to use all related medical equipment, machines and monitors.
• Able to execute standard word processing on computer. Demonstrates strong time management skills.
• Able to complete task and assignments independently.
• Able to establish therapeutic relationships with chronically mentally ill patients and/or developmentally disabled consumers.
• Demonstrates clinically sound decision making.

What we have to offer:

The HARRIS CENTER offers competitive salary, excellent benefits package, retirement plans with company matching, prior service credit towards generous PTO accrual, outstanding wellness programs and professional development.

Employees can also take advantage of business casual dress code, corporate discounts, and gym memberships. New hire referral bonus, discounts are also available on an optional basis. These include mobile phone service, fitness centers and other wellness amenities.

What else you should know:

• Your workplace: Based at 1200 Baker St. Houston, TX 77002.
• Your flexibility, our commitment: This role requires adaptability with flexible scheduling as well as provides ethical nursing care in a confidential, caring, non-judgmental, non-discriminatory manner.
• The environment: Be prepared to navigate challenging situations - you may occasionally encounter unfavorable conditions.
• Your interactions: Engage with a diverse range of individuals, some of whom may be emotional, physically hostile, agitated or uncooperative. This is an opportunity to employ your strong interpersonal skills and patience to make a real impact in their lives.
• This posting is associated with position #91333.

About us:

The HARRIS CENTER is the state-designated Local Mental Health Authority and Local Intellectual and Developmental Disability (IDD) Authority serving Harris County, Texas. As the largest behavioral and developmental disability care center in Texas, The HARRIS CENTER provided care to over 79,000 people in fiscal year 2019 and has an annual budget of over $275 million.

As part of its mission to transform the lives of people with behavioral health and IDD needs in the third largest county in the United States, The HARRIS CENTER provides a full continuum of services at 86 different sites across Harris County. In addition, services are provided in more than 42 different languages as well as sign language in order to better serve what is one of the most diverse and multi-cultural communities in the nation.

By utilizing the unique expertise of its more than 2,300 employees, The HARRIS CENTER is committed to meeting the behavioral health and IDD needs of Harris County residents and giving them hope to live to their fullest potential.