Registered Nurse - Mental Health

Registered Nurse

Plans, coordinates, and directs quality, compassionate care by maintaining standards of professional nursing practice and creating positive therapeutic relationships with patients / families. Provides leadership to other team members by articulating and delegating expected standards of care, supervision and encouraging team members, and supporting their contributions. Supervises LPNs, PCAs, PCA / ISs, OTs, and / or US.

Responsibilities :

• Assesses condition on each assigned patient on admission and on an ongoing basis to include but not limited to the patient's physical condition, psychological status, social status, spiritual and cultural needs, pain assessment / management, nutritional and functional status, developmental or age related factors, and discharge planning needs.
• Plans, provides, and documents patient and / or significant other education based on physical, behavioral, psychological, developmental, and age-related factors, after identifying barriers to learning.
• Evaluates and regularly reevaluates patient care; coordinates care planning with patient, family, providers and other disciplines to achieve patient-centered outcomes.
• Assigns and delegates nursing care to team members in accordance with the patient's needs and the capabilities of the team members.
• Applies safety principles when performing care and accurately documents observations, care provided and changes in care plan.
• Participates in transition rounds, care planning / problem identification and team shift reports.
• Assists in performance improvement (PI) activities by serving on PI teams as warranted, assisting with PI measures and supporting and implementing changes necessary for improvement.
• Performs initial and annual competency per job class.

DCH Standards :

Qualifications :

Current Alabama RN Licensure. Must be able to read, write legibly, speak, and comprehend English.

Physical : Physical presence onsite is essential. Hearing and vision must be normal or corrected to within normal range. Able to perform the duties with or without reasonable accommodation. Ability to tolerate prolonged periods of standing and walking. Ability to lift and carry 50 pounds with frequent lifting and / or carrying of objects weighing up to 25 lbs. Is able to push stretcher / wheelchair with average adult patient. Is able to do frequent stooping and on occasion crouching, crawling or kneeling. Ability to reach reasonable distances in any direction. Ability to run in emergency situations. Must be able to move fingers in a coordinated manner. Must have ability to feel and perceive temperature, texture, shape and size with fingertips.

Environmental : Includes exposure to human body fluids, disease, infection, lab chemicals and hazard materials and / or cleaning solutions. Requires wearing common protective or safety equipment.

Psychological : Includes demonstrating leadership skills, delegating to team members, addressing conflict, effective communication skills with all types of personalities, and being responsible for outcomes / results.