Position Summary

Inpatient Psychiatric Nurses care for clients living with mental illness and/or substance use disorders which have led to the need for acute treatment by means of involuntary hospitalization. Psychiatric nurses are responsible for the direct care of clients located in either/or the Evaluation and Treatment or the Secure Withdrawal Management unit of Recovery Place Kent. Registered nurses will work in collaboration with a multidisciplinary team of medical and clinical professionals to administer safe and therapeutic treatment to clients. With a focus on therapeutic client interaction, registered nurses will be responsible for providing safe and therapeutic nursing services to clients by means of assessment, diagnosis, care planning, and treatment.

Essential Job Functions

General Job Functions:

● Primary accountability for a patient care, including ongoing assessment, medication management, withdrawal, and ancillary medical needs (i.e. wound care, ostomy care, etc.) as per protocol 

● Assess patients’ medical status and refers as necessary

● Prioritize RN and LPN responsibilities independently, or with supervision, based on patient care needs, unit milieu, and number/discipline of assigned staff available to provide care

● Administer and perform prescribed treatments and medical interventions, including transcribing and administering routine and prescribed medications in accordance with procedures established by medical staff and nursing leadership

● Complete medical treatments and other tasks within the scope of licensed practical nurses and the program services and procedures (i.e. phlebotomy, immunizations, EKGs, TB testing, wound care, ostomy care, etc.)

● Conduct facility admissions, obtain physical health data, complete health history screens (to include HIV, TB, etc.) and complete necessary documentation

● Inventory and care for patients’ personal possessions

● Complete ROI’s and coordinate care with external agencies and/or facilities as per policy and regulations

● Complete patient transfer processes to include sending appropriate medical documentation to other units/facilities, informing the patient of transfer, coordinating with clinical staff, and completing appropriate transfer forms

● Participate in comprehensive clinical pass-down reports at shift changes

● Collaborate with Licensed Practical Nurses, Nurse Manager, Charge Nurse, Providers and Clinical Team on complex care issues and concerns

● Record patient observations and activities in patient records accurately and timely in accordance with nursing standards and organizational policy and procedure

● Maintain a safe environment applying principles of medical asepsis, infection control techniques and universal precautions. Follow agency infection control plan and policies

● Follow all policies and procedures with regard to patient information protection, including mental health and alcohol-drug patient confidentiality (42 CFR) and HIPAA (45 CFR)

● Maintain and demonstrate a current working knowledge of applicable clinical procedures and nursing care based on company policy and State and Federal guidelines

● Actively and compassionately interact with patients to encourage engagement in treatment

● Assist with therapeutic milieu management

● Utilize verbal and physical de-escalation techniques to manage behaviorally escalated/aggressive patients

● Apply and/or facilitate the safe and appropriate application of restraints as per policy and protocol

● Demonstrate respect for, and enforce patient rights, and maintain confidentiality as per HIPPA and agency policy

● Complete and document medication teaching for patients and legal representatives during hospitalization and prior to discharge

● Attend mandatory trainings and staff meetings

● Perform other duties as assigned within appropriate scope

● On-Call must work at least 3 shifts per month, one being a weekend

● On-Call must work at least 1 major and 1 minor holiday per calendar year

● On-Call must check their emails on a weekly basis to stay active in the system and be aware of up coming schedules

Charge Job Functions:

● Functions as the shift supervisor to support staff in making front-line operational decisions; consultation with Nurse and Program Managers on day shift and On-Call Administrators on night shift

● Work with facility Admissions Coordinator to screen referrals from local Emergency Departments for clinical propriety

● Physically receive patients at the facility and assist RNs and LPNs to complete various aspects of facility intake, which may include completion of initial health screenings, skin assessment, medication reconciliation, hygiene protocols, belongings inventories, etc.

● Assist RN’s and LPN’s in various aspects of client discharge as necessary

● Oversee clinical staffing assignments; trouble-shoot short notice call outs on second shift, adjust staffing in accordance with pre-determined algorithms for census and acuity

● In coordination with Nurse and Program Managers, oversee and provide clinical supervision to nursing staff and mental health specialists

● Other administrative duties as assigned

Minimum Qualifications

Education:

● Washington State License as a Registered Nurse 

● BLS certified

● CPI Certification required within 6 months of hire (training provided by Valley Cities)

Experience:

● Two or more years experience in psychiatric nursing required and one year experience in an acute care setting preferred

● Psychiatric and/or Acute Care experience preferred, though not exclusionary

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

● Must be able to work with respect and tolerance in a multidisciplinary setting

● Psychological Resilience; ability to tolerate the daily stress of an acute psychiatric care setting

● Able to interact with patients with sensitivity, tact and respect while setting firm limits and boundaries when necessary

● Excellent verbal and written communication skills

● Ability to effectively prioritize multiple tasks and demands

● Knowledge of theories of human behavior, personality development, and etiologies of psychiatric and substance use disorders 

● Familiarity with Washington Administrative Code regulations and professional standards governing the care and treatment of mentally ill patients in the acute care setting

● Computer/technology literacy and proficiency

● Pass required WA State background checks

Working Conditions

Direct nursing care requires the ability to lift, push, pull, twist, stoop, and lift up to 50 lbs. without assistance. Most work takes place in usual office working conditions, where the noise level in the work area is typical of most office environments with telephones, personal interruptions, and background noises. Perform duties of a nurse as needed, which will include exposure to hazardous materials (such as body fluids, needle sticks). In the event of emergency, disaster, or extreme weather conditions, the Charge Nurse may be required to remain in facility to ensure patients receive proper care if there is a staffing shortage.