RN-PSYCH SVCS

Registered Nurse, Unit E - Woman's Thought

Full Time, 72 Hours Per Pay Period, Day Shift

Peninsula Overview

Peninsula, a division of Parkwest Medical Center, has set a new standard for effective, innovative and caring mental health services in East Tennessee. With a combined total of more than 75 years of Psych experience, Peninsula has helped thousands of people recover from disorders and dependencies, and lead healthy, positive and productive lives. As a long-time pillar of mental health services, Peninsula offers both inpatient and outpatient services for children, adolescents and adults. Peninsula is a leader in East Tennessee in the changing mental healthcare environment.

The hospital is located in Blount County, well-known for its proximity to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, with outpatient centers in Knox, Blount, Loudon and Sevier Counties. Our secluded in-patient lakeside property provides a view more associated with summer camp than a typical Psychiatric Hospital setting. The facility sits on the shore of well-known Fort Loudon Lake.

Staff include Activities Coordinators, Behavioral Health Counselors, Advance Practice Providers, Outreach Specialist, Psychiatric Technicians, Registered Nurses and Licensed Practical Nurses. In-patient staff work 12-hour shifts and rotate weekends and holidays. Staff members of varying experiences are welcome, from new graduates to the more experienced healthcare professionals.

Unit E - Woman's Thought

The Women’s Unit is a 12-bed unit serving female adult patients. Patients treated on this unit are experiencing acute symptoms of their disease which require more intensive monitoring. The floor plan of the acute unit allows for this increased monitoring. This is an exciting unit where you will be exposed to patients dealing with a variety of psychiatric symptoms including depression, anxiety, and disordered thoughts. Staff may also work on other units in the hospital, offering the opportunity to work with many different types of patients. The care team consists of psychiatrists, nurse practitioners, therapists, discharge planners, registered nurses, psychiatric technicians, and others who work together to develop a comprehensive treatment outline and care plan. Our goal is to provide excellent care for all our patients in a safe, therapeutic environment. This unit creates a 6-week schedule which is released two weeks before the schedule starts. Staff preferences are considered and may be accommodated when they align with the overall staffing needs of the unit and facility.

Position Summary

Responsible for quality patient care by providing clinical direction as part of a patient care team and by using the nursing process in assessing, planning, implementing, and evaluating the delivery of patient care.

Unit and Clinical Responsibilities

• Provides proper supervision and guidance in the daily activities of the program as part of a patient care team.
• Responsible for maintaining a safe and therapeutic patient environment as part of a patient care team.
• Demonstrates and maintains competence in therapeutic communication, supportive counseling, small group dynamics, scheduled activities, and the therapeutic milieu to manage the unit, to provide support and limits for the patients, and to carry out the Treatment Plan for each patient.
• Implements the use of restrictive measures with patients as necessary in collaboration with medical staff when least restrictive measures have failed and provides clinical supervision during the intervention.
• Assists in the training, orientation, and teaching of new staff members as directed by the Nurse Manager or Nurse Supervisor.
• Performs medication administration duties.
• Implements physician orders accurately and with proper documentation.
• Solicits administrative or medical consultation to assure quality patient care.
• Accesses emergency medical care for patients, provides a report to the Emergency Room, assures that a report from the Emergency Room is provided before the return of the patient, and facilitates the receipt of records. Provides for patient stabilization.
• Determines patient acuity and makes patient care assignments to appropriate nursing staff.
• Facilitates the admission process and discharge process and assures that all relevant information is comprehensive, accurate, and appropriately documented.
• May perform 24-hour chart reviews.
• Participates in the treatment team process by interacting with the multidisciplinary team of care providers.
• Applies Infection Control, Hospital Emergency, Hazardous Materials Management, and Patient/Proprietary Information Confidentiality policies.
• Advocates for the rights of the patients and is able to process patient complaints and concerns.
• Formulates nursing diagnosis (using NANDA taxonomy) and uses standard DSM IV classifications of mental disorders to express conclusions supported by the collection of data.
• Develops treatment plans with specific goals that are patient-centered, time-oriented, and measurable and that are unique to each patient’s needs.
• Can perform ECG, VP, and Bedside Glucose Meter procedures.
• Understands and is familiar with all Hospital policies and procedures, especially those relevant to his/her respective program.
  
  
  

Training and Development Responsibilities

• Maintains all necessary certifications and training (ex. CPR, de-escalation and physical intervention training, etc…).
• Attends on regular basis staff training and development sessions and unit staff meetings in order to enhance job knowledge.
• Will provide input for policy changes that impact programming and patient care.
  
  
  

Personal Responsibilities

• Is punctual and prepared to perform duties and responsibilities.
• Presents a professional image, both in appearance and delivery of service.
• Communicates with supervisory staff all work-related issues, concerns, and problems.
• Works well with co-workers and ensures that necessary communication and cooperation takes place.
• Able to demonstrate consistently the ability to hold accountable self and co-workers.
• Adheres to the ethics and values of the organization as outlined in the PBH “Standards of Performance”.
• Understands the mission of the organization and is able to communicate such to others.
• Maintains a positive attitude and shows the ability to problem-solve through the chain of command.
• Adheres to and promotes patient rights.
• Strives to provide exemplary customer service.
  
  
  

Minimum Education

A graduate of an accredited nursing school.

Minimum Experience

Previous experience in the practice of psychiatric nursing desired but not mandatory.

Licensure Requirement

Current licensure as a registered professional nurse in the State of Tennessee. CPR required.

RN license