PRIMARY FUNCTION:

To contribute to the overall operation of the department and the day-to-day care of adult and geriatric patients offered on the in-patient psychiatry units. To conduct nursing educational group and related activities, including programming. To collaborate with other health care professionals on patient treatment, diagnoses, discharge plans, and related information.

PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Conducts formal and informal nursing educational group and related activities.

Comprehends psychiatric diagnoses.

Assists in patient discharge and planning procedures.

Diffuses crisis situations, assist in calming patients who have potential for violence, and summons emergency assistance in transferring patients to seclusion room for restraints.

Communicates patients' individual, group and family behaviors to other psychiatric health care team professionals.

Serves as primary caretaker along with nurse, closely follows patients' progress and documents on patient’s records.

Precepts new Mental Health Associates and coordinates training with Unit Educator.

Assists with nursing procedures and activities for daily living, including vital signs, patient hygiene, urine collection, Accu checks and Breathalyzer.

Handles crises line telephone calls in absence of psychiatric crisis team.

Attends in-service meetings and unit meetings as required.

Monitors performance improvement protocol and compliance; submits monthly documentation as assigned.

Serves as representative on unit committees to provide input in formulating psychiatric protocol, standards and procedures.

Demonstrates skills and knowledge necessary to provide care to adult and geriatric psychiatric patients, including knowledge of growth and development, the ability to obtain information and provide care as needed.

Performs assigned work safely, adhering to established departmental safety rules and practices. Reports to supervisor, in a timely manner, any unsafe activities, conditions, hazards, or safety violations that may cause injury to oneself, other employees, patients and visitors.

Cross-trains to provide “as needed” coverage on the Psych Crisis Team.

Performs other related duties as required.

SCOPE, PURPOSE, AND FREQUENCY OF CONTACTS:

Frequent contact with patients, nurses, psychiatrists, social workers and other members of the health care team. Occasional contact with patient's family.

DIRECTION/SUPERVISION OF OTHERS:

None

DIRECTION/SUPERVISION RECEIVED:

Nurse Manager, Patient Care Coordinator, Clinical Nurse Specialist, Charge RN and Staff RN’s.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS:

B.S. Psychology, Sociology, Education or related discipline

1 year experience in nursing educational groups not required but preferred.

• -or—

A.S. Mental Health Services or related principle

3 years experience in nursing educational groups not required buy preferred.

An equivalent combination of education and experience may be substituted.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL, AND ABILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Knowledge, skills, and abilities related to patient safety; e.g., restraints and seclusion, suicide precautions,

crises intervention for adult and geriatric psychiatric patients.

Knowledge, skills, and abilities related to therapeutic communication with adult and geriatric psychiatric

patients.

Knowledge of psychiatric principles, treatments, diagnosis, and terminology.

Knowledge of procedures to effectively place a patient in restraint or therapeutic seclusion.

Ability to work comfortably with psychiatric patients, communicate effectively and activate varied

levels and models of care with a patient population displaying varied levels of behavior and reality

orientation.

Ability to procure, clarify and interpret information on verbal and non-verbal levels.

Ability to exercise PEAT skills, to recognize major changes in patient behavior which may indicate

an impending crisis, and to initiate the appropriate treatment and intervention.

Ability to facilitate and lead formal and informal nursing educational groups and related activities.

Ability to effectively diffuse crisis situations and handle occasionally abusive and combative patients.

Ability to offer valuable input and planning for multidisciplinary treatment to other health care professionals.

Ability to organize program workload and maintain it with minimal supervision.

Ability to utilize effective listening skills and remain empathetic.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

Psychiatric Emergency Assistance Training (PEAT) within twelve months in position. BLS Certification

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

Frequent walking, sitting and standing. Occasional bending, stretching, lifting, and stooping to provide

basic patient care

Skills

Required