Registered Nurse

POSITION SUMMARY 

The Registered Nurse in a Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility (PRTF) provides comprehensive clinical care, medication management, and health monitoring for adolescent or pediatric patients with complex behavioral health needs. The role collaborates closely with interdisciplinary treatment teams to assess clinical stability, implement individualized care plans, and respond effectively to psychiatric or medical emergencies.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTION AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Customer Service:

• In-person and telephone communication are consistently attentive, responsive and reflects "helpfulness"
• Professional awareness and boundaries are observed. Unnecessary self-disclosure is minimized.
• Telephones are answered by the third ring whenever possible and with a professional greeting. Dedicated extensions/mobile phones with voice mail have a personalized greeting, and messages retrieved/responded to in a timely manner.
• Critical customer encounters are met with advanced customer service skills and resolved.

Nursing Services:

• Complete a comprehensive nursing assessment and patient interview according to policy.
• Document patient information and nursing care.
• Document and reassess any significant changes in the patient’s condition.
• Verify the accuracy of patient records.
• Employ principles of communication, interviewing techniques, problem solving and crisis intervention when performing psychotherapeutic interventions.
• Ensure intervention is based on knowledge of psychiatric and medical nursing procedures.
• Accurately administer medication to patients.
• Transcribe and carry out Physician Orders.
• Utilize appropriate interventions in psychiatric and medical emergencies.
• Maintain Standards of Nursing Practice.
• Develop a plan of care with specific, measurable goals and objectives with interventions unique to patient’s needs.
• Update and revise the plan of care as the patient’s condition changes.
• Document the treatment plan, nursing interventions, and the patient’s response to the intervention.
• Provide education to patients and families based on their needs.
• Provide and document discharge instructions including food and drug interactions, diets, and activities as appropriate.
• Act as the patient’s advocate and ensure patient rights are upheld; able to preserve confidentiality as outlined in “Confidentiality Statement”.
• Complete intake calls, assessments, and business office paperwork as required.
• Follow facility and departmental policies and procedures.
• May be required to perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned by supervisor.
• Report all instances of alleged patient abuse, staff misconduct, and other unusual incidents to the Director of Nursing.
• Ensure that personal performance meets TJC, CMS, and state regulatory requirements.
• Comply with established measures for infection control, OSHA regulations, and risk management.
• Adhere to all facility safety management policies, including maintaining compliance with environment of care modules.
• Ensure that the physical environment of the area is monitored for safety, cleanliness, and attractive appearance and all deficiencies are corrected in a timely manner.

Therapeutic Milieu:

• Ensure patients are adequately integrated into the unit.
• Monitor unit activity and encourage patient participation.
• Provide structure and maintain a therapeutic environment.
• Act as a role model to promote therapeutic communication.

Medical Records and Confidential Communication:

• Appropriately considers the sensitivity and confidentiality of medical/psychiatric information along with the need-to-know before sharing information with others.
• Medical records entries are legible, errors minimized, timely completed and include signature with professional designation. Users of computer aided records should not share passwords and signoff to reduce unauthorized utilization.

Skills

• Knowledge of psychiatric and medical nursing procedures.
• Knowledge of all code procedures.
• Knowledge of all Mental Health Laws and Child Abuse/Neglect/Maltreatment laws.
• Ability to operate in an unstructured environment, orchestrate a myriad of activities and
• manage multiple priorities within complex and changing systems.  

Education / Licensure: 

• Must be a graduate from an accredited school of professional nursing; bachelor’s degree preferred. 
• Current unencumbered Registered Nurse licensed by the Nevada State Board of Nursing. 

Additional Requirements: 

A minimum of 2 years’ experience as a registered nurse in behavior health care facility preferred. Timely renewal of cardiopulmonary resuscitation certification (CPR or BLS), annual professional skills verification and Handle with Care (HWC) (psychiatric crisis management) certification.