The Staff Nurse utilizes the nursing process to ensure delivery of patient care in accordance with established ANA Psychiatric-Mental Health Standards of Practice, regulations, and Silver Hill Hospital Standards of Care. The Staff Nurse reports to the Associate Director of Nursing/Nursing Supervisor or designee.
Schedule:
- 3 x 12-hour shifts per week
- Hours: 7:00am - 7:00pm
Duties/Responsibilities:
- Assesses patients upon admission and throughout hospitalization.
- Observes patient both formally and informally to better assess patient needs.
- Utilizes theory and critical thinking to formulate measurable objectives and relevant interventions for patients.
- Demonstrates knowledge and skills necessary to provide care or interaction appropriate to the patient population served by the assigned unit and the ability to assess and interpret age-appropriate data about the patient's status to identify age-specific needs and provide the care needed.
- Documents formal, written nursing assessment within 24 hours of patient's admission.
- Ensures that admission notes reflect patient's physical and emotional health care issues.
- Collects and delegates relevant baseline data from patients and significant others to nursing personnel.
- Maintains cooperative ongoing communication with patient, family, peers, ancillary nursing staff and interdisciplinary health team members regarding assessment and problem identification.
- Completes the initial care plan within 8 hours post admission and updates care plan as needed.
- Documents observations and patient's goals / interventions in the chart.
- Formulates nursing goals for the identified patients and includes the patient in this process when possible.
- Identifies those components of nursing care which may be delegated to allied nursing personnel and provides necessary teaching and guidance.
- Implements and evaluates the interventions to meet the patient's needs.
- Demonstrates knowledge and skill in the use of psychotherapeutic interventions - interviewing, problem solving, engaging patient in therapeutic relationship (limit setting, boundary maintenance), crisis intervention, etc.
- Identifies and teaches patients basic principles of physical/mental health related to their identified needs (ADL, discharge planning).
- Utilizes policies and procedures, standards and medication teaching tools in implementing and evaluating psychobiological therapies.
- Administers and evaluates the therapeutic and potential effects of pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments.
- Ensures that patients are adequately oriented to the milieu, including the Patient's Bill of Rights, and are familiar with scheduled activities and unit rules and routines.
- Observes, analyzes, interprets and records the effects of the milieu upon the patient.
- Identifies unsafe situations and responds appropriately.
- Evaluates patient outcome, institutes corrective action and follow-up.
- Participates in work groups and Ad Hoc Committees as necessary to evaluate unit manuals, policies/procedures, standard development and other areas that impact quality of care.
- Participates in staff meetings and is responsible for being aware of administrative and clinical issues.
- Responsible for assuming Charge Nurse functions on the clinical unit.
- Understand emergency procedures, fire drills and evacuation procedures.
- Provides mentorships for all new orientees.
- Assists, as requested, with Nursing new hires and orientation.
- Actively Participates in tracers on units.
- Contributes to department newsletters and other communications, as appropriate.
- Assists in providing quality improvement initiatives that focus on the effectiveness of patient care and the performance of staff.
- Maintains a consistent and reliable presence in assigned work areas by reporting to work on time, adhering to scheduled hours, and demonstrating dependable attendance to ensure operational and staffing needs are met.
- Performs other duties and responsibilities as assigned.
Required Skills/Abilities:
- Must have the ability to function optimally in a stressful environment, and the ability to remain calm in emotionally charged situations.
Education and Experience:
- Licensed in the state of Connecticut as a Registered Nurse (Licensure will be evidence of completion of educational requirement)
- CPR BLS certification, after hire and before assignment to direct patient care.
