Provides nursing care through physical and mental assessments, laboratory testing, plans of care and therapeutic treatments. Knowledgeable of a wide range of disorders; cognitive, emotional, developmental, social and behavioral. Performs crisis intervention. Participates in the department's performance improvement and Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) activities. Functions as a leader in the nursing department and has responsibility for maintaining compliance and ensuring overall nursing functions are followed.
Responsible for maintaining a therapeutic milieu that is safe and focused on delivering quality patient care. This includes leading the team that is on shift through appropriate assignments and thorough communication.
Conducts admission and daily shift nursing assessments for all patients. Identifies and manages patient medical conditions and changes in patient condition. Assesses pain and utilizes appropriate pain management techniques
Provides education to patients and families.
Conducts medication reconciliation as part of the medication management process. Administers medications utilizing safe medication practices and according to policy. Knowledgeable of medications, including psychotropic drugs, and their correct administration based on the age of the patient and their clinical condition
Follows Computerized Physician Order Entry (CPOE) protocols.
Establishes and maintains individualized treatment plans depending on patient need.
Works as an active member of the team and communicates with team members (physicians, therapists, administration, other departments etc.) regarding patient care issues.
Documents based on the policies.
Coordinates and supervises patient care as necessary.
Performs all aspects of patient care in an environment that optimizes patient safety and reduces the likelihood of medical/health care errors. This includes competence in using electronic medical record and CPOE for all physician/Nurse Practitioner orders as well as wristband scanning prior to medication administration.
Functions as a patient and family advocate, at all times.
Demonstrates the ability to be flexible, organized and function under stressful situations
Utilizes proper protocols for the use of Seclusion and Restraint, and the requirements associated with it.
Supervises and leads the nursing team that includes RN, LPN/LVN and MHT's in adhering to departmental policies and protocols.
Assists the CNO with ensuring the nursing vacancies are covered from shift to shift and house wide, (managing FTE's). May be involved in interviewing potential candidates as well as providing training and education to new employees.
Assists with ongoing training and education needs.
May be part of hospital governance meetings such as Performance Improvement or Safety.
Will assist with conducting performance appraisals, (90-day and annual), staff counseling's and corrective action.
Communicates with other nursing leadership members to obtain and keep supervisor shift report ongoing to keep nursing leadership informed of acuity, incidents etc.
Collaborate with other departments such as Intake to ensure bed management functions are adequate and safe.
May be required to review of incident reports and communicates to the CNO, that occur in the nursing department.
