RN Behavioral Health Nurse

Masonicare Health Center – Wallingford, CT

Night Shift / 40hrs/wk / EOW

**This role will work on a 50 bed Behavioral Health Hospital Unit**

The Behavioral Health Nurse provides professional nursing care to emotionally disturbed and/or mentally ill patients for Behavioral Health. Works with clinical and case management staff to coordinate care and assist in treatment plans for patients; and to perform related work. Practices Evidence-Based nursing.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Assumes the professional responsibility and accountability for a group of residents/patients including:
  • Medication/Treatment Administration
  • Teaching
  • Supervision of all nursing staff to assure implementation of the interdisciplinary care plan.

• Conducts intake assessments through interviews with patients and relatives to gather case history. Performs ongoing and systematic assessments utilizing the nursing process to establish a comprehensive goal directed interdisciplinary plan.

• Plans and provides nursing care for patients.
• Communicates and collaborates effectively with residents/patients, families, colleagues and other members of the interdisciplinary team to assure that treatment is appropriate to meet the age, needs and abilities of resident/patient and unit needs.

• Administers and notes reactions to psychotropic drugs and other medications. Arranges further medical attention when necessary.
• Assists the client in understanding the nature of emotional disturbances and accepting the need for treatment.
• Assists in maintaining a safe and secure environment for staff and patients.
• Tests for vital signs of pain and ensures treatments of pain.
• Documents all patient information on medical charts and follows physician’s written orders.
• Maintains patient confidentiality.
• Maintains accurate records and documentation of patient treatments, immunizations and laboratory results according to standard medical recordkeeping.
• Performs administrative assignments such as filing, answering phones, typing, and completing progress notes in the computer system.
• Provides courteous, high quality service to patients and members of the public by personally responding to requests for service or making appropriate referral.

• Supervises the care provided by CNAs & LPNs assuring adherence to the plan of care, resident profile, policies and procedures.

• Participates in educational programs, inservices, meetings and workshops and utilizes current literature to enhance professional skills and knowledge. Attends all annual mandatory programs.

• Participates in quality improvement activities as directed.

• Follows standards of the Diligent Minimal Lift Program.

• Performs other duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications:

Education: Graduate of accredited school of nursing. BSN Preferred.

Experience: Minimum one year clinical experience, preferably in an acute and/or Behavioral Health capacity.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations:

Current RN or LPN license in the State of Connecticut, in good standing

Key Competencies:

Knowledge of:

• Professional nursing principles, procedures, and techniques used in the care and treatment of psychiatric patients.
• Social, psychological, and physical factors of mental and emotional disorders. Medical and psychological terminology.
• Medications, including psychotropic drugs, and effects on psychiatric patients. Control, preparation and administration of medications.
• State of Connecticut laws and regulations for the nursing profession.
• Regulations pertaining to psychiatric nursing and the treatment of the mentally and emotionally disturbed patients.
• Theories, principles, and techniques of group and individual psychotherapy.
• Symptoms and behavior patterns of emotionally disturbed mentally ill patients.
• Medical and psychiatric emergency procedures.?

Ability to:

• Apply professional nursing care principles and procedures in the evaluation and treatment of geropsychiatric patients.
• Develop interpersonal therapeutic relationships with psychiatric patients.
• Keep accurate written charts and records of patient activities and progress.
• Comply with laws, rules, regulations, protocols, and procedures.
• Use professional judgment to ascertain and to apply appropriate intervention techniques with patients in crisis.
• Communicate effectively with a variety of individuals and function calmly in situations, which require a high degree of sensitivity, tact, and diplomacy.
• Provide prompt, efficient, and responsive service.
• Exercise appropriate judgment in answering questions and releasing information; analyze and project consequences of decisions and/or recommendations.
• Work as part of a team and to manage multiple priorities; to speak, read and write English in order to communicate with patients, residents and clinical staff; to effectively interact with residents and staff; organized; ability to utilize a personal computer/CRT to input and retrieve patient information; and familiarity with the Care Plan Development.

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