Job Description

The Care Center RN is responsible for providing administrative services to patients, their families, and fellow clinicians and delivering quality general/psychiatric nursing care to patients who are hospitalized for treatment of psychiatric or emotional disorders; to support the hospital and program philosophy of care; to ensure the safety and well-being of each patient. The Care Center RN will provide professional nursing care to patients according to hospital policy and procedure; will assess patient care needs, plan and implement nursing care procedures, evaluate patient progress and modify care plans as necessary; will provide teaching to patients and their families; will direct the work of nursing support staff through the use of appropriate delegation and supervision skills.

Essential Duties:

• Care Center calls must be documented and processed in accordance with Care Center policies.
• Mobile assessment visits are completed in a timely manner, and in accordance to hospital policy.
• Administrative approval obtained for all admissions.
• Admission data entry paperwork is completed in accordance with hospital policy.
• Follow up calls are made to those failing to show up for appointments.
• Pre-certification is obtained in accordance with insurance requirements, and verification of benefits email is sent
• Administration is notified of problems or significant events.
• Safety problems are identified and corrective actions taken.
• Answer alarms and investigate disturbances.
• Answer telephone calls to take messages, answer questions, and provide information during non- business hours or when switchboard is closed.
• Writes reports on an irregularities, property damage, theft, presence of unauthorized persons, or unusual occurrences.
• Responds to and documents telephone and face-to-face inquiries from persons seeking mental health care or information about mental health-related services.
• Complete admissions paperwork (if applicable).
• The care and treatment of the patients are rendered in a competent manner and are based on current developmental theory and psychiatric nursing knowledge and standards; care is evaluated against the goals and plan of care and is revised periodically, as appropriate.
• Plans and provides nursing care for patients through a systematic process of interaction with patients, the patient's significant others, and the appropriate health care providers, collects and analyzes data regarding the patient's physical, psychosocial, environmental, self-care, educational, spiritual, cultural, and anticipated discharge needs.
• Ensures each patient's unique needs are identified and incorporated into a comprehensive, individualized care plan including the severity of the disease, condition, impairment/disability as important elements of the plan.
• Provides direct care to patients, which includes facilitating social and emotional needs, supervising medication schedules, evaluating patient progress and patient's access to the appropriate level of care and setting.
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary professionals to determine and provide the best possible care for patients.
• Provides social support for patients by creating and encouraging patients to take advantage of opportunities such as support groups, social activities and other therapeutic measures.
• Conducts intake assessments through interviews with patients and relatives to gather case history.
• Makes nursing diagnosis of the medical and emotional status of patients and recommends treatment options.
• Consults with psychiatrists and other behavioral health staff in designing appropriate treatment plans for clients.
• Maintains accurate records and documentation of patient treatments, immunizations, laboratory results, notes reactions to psychotropic drugs and other medications, written charts, patient activities and progress according to standard medical record keeping and hospital policy and procedures.
• Assists the client in understanding the nature of emotional disturbances and accepting the need for treatment.
• Complies with laws, rules, regulations, protocols, and procedures.
• Uses professional judgment to ascertain and to apply appropriate intervention techniques with patients in crisis
• Assists in maintaining a safe and secure environment for staff and patients.
• Tests for vital signs of pain and ensures treatments of pain and arranges further medical attention when necessary.
• Performs administrative tasks such as filing, answering phones and computer entry of progress notes.
• Organizes the activities and schedules for medical and/or non-medical tasks of the Child, Adolescent and Adult and support staff for a given shift.
• Maintains patient confidentiality.
• Stays abreast of organization's programs and services.
• Participates in activities which enhance professional growth and development.
• Upholds the Organization's ethics and customer service standards.

Requirements

Must be 21 years old or older

Education - ADN or BSN from an accredited college or university.

Experience – Minimum of 2 years clinical experience, preferably in a behavioral healthcare setting, phone triage, tele-health or case management or combination of education and experience. Basic teaching and training skills a plus.

Required Licenses - Valid Texas RN license in good standing required or A valid RN compact license but must be able to obtain a TX RN license within 30 days of hire.

Additional Requirements: Must pass a medication administration exam before administering medications. Must obtain and maintain approved CPR certification as well as successful completion of Management of Assaultive Behavior training including restraint and seclusion policies prior to assuming patient care responsibility.

Knowledge Skills and Abilities

• Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing i.e. legible handwriting and ability to read and understand written instructions to include writing techniques for reports and appeals and verbal presentations for telephone interactions.
• Ability to apply professional nursing care principles and procedures in the evaluation and treatment of psychiatric patients. Develop interpersonal therapeutic relationships with psychiatric patients.
• Ability to effectively interact with persons of widely diverse roles, backgrounds, cultures, and socio-economic classes, those in crises or resistant or negative toward organization.
• Ability to exercise appropriate judgment in answering questions and releasing information; analyze and project consequences of decisions and/or recommendations.
• Ability to exercise self-control in potentially volatile situations such as being verbally or physically confronted in a threatening or aggressive manner; must be flexible and not easily frustrated in dealing with differences of opinions.
• Ability to handle confidential information with great sensitivity.
• Basic data entry skills required, and preference for basic computer skills.
• Basic knowledge of abnormal psychology as typically found in the child or adolescent psychiatric population, application of this knowledge to child, adolescent or adult knowledge of medical terminology, especially those terms associated with child, adolescent or adult psychiatric care; thorough familiarity of psychopharmacy and the use of psychotropic medications with child, adolescent or adult psychiatric population, basic teaching and training skills helpful; problem-solving; organizational and time management; crisis intervention skills
• Displays basic knowledge of treatment procedures; interventions common to acute psychotic as well as non-violent crises intervention practice, medical and psychiatric emergency procedures.
• Familiarity with continuum and basic knowledge of medical and psychological terminology, human behavior or principles of psychology, teaching or assisting with activities of daily living and human growth/development.
• Knowledgeable of medical and psychological terminology, medications, including psychotropic drugs, and effects on psychiatric patients as well as control, preparation and administration of medications.
• Basic knowledge of abnormal psychology as typically found in the child or adolescent psychiatric population, application of this knowledge to child, adolescent or adult knowledge of medical terminology, especially those terms associated with child, adolescent or adult psychiatric care.
• Knowledgeable of patient rights and laws pertaining to mental health.
• Must be able to work and concentrate amidst distractions such as noise, conversation and foot traffic; ability to handle interruptions often and be able to move from one task to another.
• Skills in problem solving, prioritizing, organizational and time management
• Well-developed verbal and written communication skills in English. Skill to communicate effectively in order to exchange and/or provide information, build and/or maintain cooperative relationships.

Physical Requirements/Environmental Conditions

With or without reasonable accommodations must be able to:

• Ability to stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, reach, stand, walk, push, pull, lift, grasp, and be able to perceive the attributes of objects such as size, shape, temperature, and/or texture by touching with skin, particularly that of the fingertips.
• Ability to express and exchange ideas via spoken word during activities in which they must convey detail or important spoken instructions to others accurately, sometimes quickly and loudly.
• Hearing to perceive the nature of sound with no less than 40 db loss @ Hz, 1000 Hz, and 2000 Hz with or without correction; ability to perceive detailed information orally and make fine discriminations in sound.
• Perform repetitive motions with wrists, hands, and fingers. Individual must be able to exert up to 100 pounds of force occasionally and to be able to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects. Have the ability to lift and carry 20 pounds frequently, 10-50 pounds occasionally.
• Have the ability to communicate clearly and see well enough to read charts, treatment plans and typewritten material, hear well enough to detect noises on the unit/department and have the ability to discern odors frequently.
• Must be able to meet the physical demands of the position to include both sitting for long periods of time and walking the grounds and units of the facility.

This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. Employee may perform other related duties to meet the ongoing needs of the hospital.

If you are among the most competitive and qualified candidates for the job, you will be contacted directly by one of our hiring managers. Due to the high volume of applications we receive, we are unable to respond to individual inquiries regarding your application status. Good Luck & we hope to meet you soon!

Dallas Behavioral Healthcare Hospital is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or protected Veteran status.

Benefits

Full-time employees are eligible for medical, dental, vision, company paid disability, 401(k) and a generous amount of paid time off.

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