Registered Nurse V - Adult Services

Detailed Statement of Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provides direct patient care, custody, instruction and supervision to mentally ill and forensic patients on locked inpatient DMH psychiatric units.
• Identifies and provides the delivery of individualized patient care by assessing patient needs administering standard nursing treatment, planning nursing interventions, evaluating patients’ conditions and adjusting care in conjunction with other providers
• Works with patients by providing instruction to facilitate the independent management of their personal, hygiene and health needs.
• Identifies, evaluates and responds to changes in patient conditions, documenting and reporting such changes to the appropriate person to ensure prompt response to patient needs.
• Performs duties of medication and treatment nurse following pertinent policies and procedures in order to carry out physician’s orders in a safe and therapeutic manner.
• Provides psychosocial support to patients through individual counseling and group work, leading or co-leading groups as well as patient community meetings.
• Practices principles of Collaboration, Assessment, Recovery and Environment utilizing early intervention and de-escalation techniques to intervene in escalating situations, utilizing controlled takedown and principles of seclusion and restraint when they are unavoidable and necessary to maintain a safe environment.
• Maintains an awareness of the DMH regulations and Hospital Policy and Procedure regarding the use of Seclusion and Restraint, to maintain patient dignity and human rights.
• Provides nursing care for patients by following professional, hospital, departmental and certification standards in order to maintain quality care.
• Meets with patients to investigate complaints by patients and others regarding treatment, room assignments, etc. and attempts to resolve such complaints in order to enhance communication and patient satisfaction.
• Evaluates nursing activities on all shifts by reviewing patient charts, observing nursing care and visiting patients to insure that care is carried out as directed.  Participates in IOP activities and in Quality Improvement reviews on unit to insure continuous improvement in patient care standards are maintained.
• Supervises employees of a lesser grade through observation of staff, staff meetings, rounds and chart reviews and evaluation of performance to ensure continuous quality of patient care.
• Maintains and communicates to nursing staff a thorough knowledge of DMH, DPH, CMS and Joint Commission and HIPAA standards in order to maintain standards of care.
• Serves on various Hospital committees, nursing staff meetings, patient care conferences and in-service programs as required to maintain standards of care.
• Assesses educational needs and forward information to staff development for the purpose of developing programs to meet educational needs.

Required Qualifications:

• 3 Years as a Registered Nurse, Two (2) years’ of which experience as a Registered Nurse Supervisor.
• Current and valid