Part-Time Behavioral Health Registered Nurse-WES Care
Pay Rate: $47-$50/hour based on experience.
Currently hiring to start mid-July/beginning of August
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION:
The Philadelphia Model: Addressing serious mental illness (SMI) in long-term care (LTC) will provide highly structured therapeutic residential behavioral healthcare and treatment for frail adults who are eligible for skilled nursing level of care who also have serious mental illness and who have reached maximum benefit from the mental health resources available elsewhere in the community or hospital. The program philosophy is to create a welcoming, safe, and supportive environment where frail older adults with SMI that may include other complex behavioral health needs and/or prior criminal history, and need long-term skilled nursing services- can receive the care and services needed to address their holistic needs free of stigma. A multidisciplinary team will provide both long-term care and behavioral health services in this integrated program.
All team members will adhere to the WES CARE philosophy of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and adhere to the mission to promote total wellness and provide high-quality residential health services to culturally diverse populations through a combination of compassion, innovative thinking, nimble and adaptive strategy, and engagement with clients, staff, and provider partners.
GENERAL OVERVIEW OF KEY ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES:
Under the direction and supervision of the Program Director and the Compliance Regulatory Nurse, in collaboration with the Director of Nursing, the Registered Nurse will demonstrate a commitment in the assessment and management of residents with psychiatric, mental health and/or substance abuse diagnosis. The Registered Nurse assesses, plans, implements, and evaluates behavioral health nursing care provided to residents and their families within the context of the program's philosophy and goals. Will be expected to apply all nursing service policies when rendering nursing care and providing health education to patients and families.
Recognizing that nursing care is one portion of health care, the Registered Nurse is expected to function as a member of a multidisciplinary team, interacting collegially with staff, physicians, consultants, and interdepartmental personnel.
ESSENTIAL & CORE FUNCTIONS:
• Practices psychiatric-mental health nursing in accordance with the philosophies, goals, and objectives of both Behavioral Medicine and the assigned unit.
• Provides quality behavioral health nursing care to all residents as defined by ANA Standards of Psychiatric Mental Health Clinical Nursing Practice, ANA Standards of Professional Performance, and long-term care regulations. Models ANA Standards.
• Intervene with residents by providing health promotion and health maintenance, intake screening and evaluation, milieu therapy, therapeutic use of self, self-care activities and bio-psychosocial interventions, health education, crisis intervention, individual and group counseling, and resident advocacy.
• Contribute to the development and evaluation of a goal-oriented care plan continuously based on nursing assessments and nursing interventions with residents and resident representatives.
• Completes daily chart reviews.
• Reviews Care Plan and updates information as needed.
• Implements and delegates behavioral nursing interventions that are consistent with the care plan and the medical regime.
• Implements Nursing policies and procedures.
• Supervises and directs unit staff, designating and reviewing assignments of Behavioral Health Techs, on appropriate assignment sheet.
• Assumes the charge role when designated.
• Participates in Performance improvement and Quality Improvement activities.
• Performs all duties in a cost-effective manner by judiciously using supplies and safeguarding of equipment.
• Acquires and maintains current knowledge of psychiatric-mental health nursing practice.
• Interacts with multidisciplinary team in a collegial manner. Represents nursing on his/her unit in nursing committees, as assigned.
• Participates in and uses research to improve clinical care, contributing to the further development of mental health nursing.
• Takes responsibility for personal and educational growth and development.
• Provides direct patient care as needed.
• Other duties as assigned.
EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE:
1. Graduate from a NLN accredited school of professional nursing, required. Baccalaureate degree, preferred.
2. Current Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Registered Nurse licensure and CPR Certification required.
3. Three (3) - Five (S) years of professional nursing practice in behavioral health required.
4. Direct Psychiatric or addictions nursing experience, desired.
5. Bi-lingual capabilities (English/Spanish) a plus.
6. Successful and satisfactory completion of facility orientation and required certifications required.
COMP.ETENCIES & PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS:
• Must possess a current working knowledge of: Behavioral health nursing theory, principles, and practices; general, rehabilitation, and/or geriatric nursing theory and practice; Infection Control standards; proper handling of biomedical hazards, explosive gas, body waste/discharges and other infectious materials; Age specific competencies; Medications, therapies and treatments used in behavioral medicine; De-escalation techniques, and Electronic Health Records.
• Must have effective communication and interpersonal skills, solid nursing, behavioral assessment, organizational, coaching and leadership skills, and solid computer skills.
• Must demonstrate ability to: Provide the full range of effective nursing care to residents; Provide care for the older adults while maintaining the dignity of all residents; Lead unit staff; Communicate
effectively in both written and verbal form; Work constructively with others and provide feedback when necessary; Prepare and maintain written and electronic records, reports, and correspondence; Remain calm during stressful situations; maintain confidentiality; Perform all responsibilities according to the Registered Nurse Practice Act and comply with all federal and state long term care requirements.
• Knowledge: Understands duties and responsibilities, has necessary skill set and technical skills. Understands company mission/values. Age Specific Competencies: Knowledge of the principles of growth and development over the life span, assess clinical data relative to the patient's age, Interpret the information needed to identify resident requirements relative their age-specific needs, and provide patient care for different age groups.
• Decision Making: Uses effective approaches for choosing a course of action or developing appropriate solutions and/or reaching conclusions.
• Relationship with Others: Demonstrates good rapport and cooperative working relationships; inspires confidence from residents, visitors, and staff by always performing in a highly professional manner and maintains a professional relationship.
• Customer Service: Demonstrates concern for meeting internal and external customers' needs in a manner that provides satisfaction for the customer within the resources that can be made available; shows empathy and compassion by providing resident-centered care in an insightful manner.
• Communication and Interpersonal Skills: Communicate information to individuals or groups; clearly and concisely convey information orally or in writing to individuals or groups to ensure that they understand the information conveyed. Listen and respond appropriately to others. Ability to establish effective working relationships that foster organizational success.
• Observation Skills: Demonstrates ability to properly recognize, monitor, analyze and recall situations.
• Quality of Work: Maintains high standards.
ORGANIZATIONAL ACCOUNTABILITY & RELATIONSHIPS:
1. The individual is to be supervised by the WES CARE Program Director.
ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITES:
Perform other duties and special projects as assigned.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while pe1fo11ning the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to pe1form the essential functions.
PHYSICAL and MENTAL DEMANDS:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing this job, the employee must be able to meet the physical and mental demands which may be strenuous at times. The employee must be prepared to work with uncooperative or aggressive residents.
At times, the employee may be required to stand, sit, walk, reach with hands and arms, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl for extended periods of time. The employee must occasionally lift, push, or pull light to medium objects up to I0 lbs. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. Regularly, the employee will be required to talk, hear, and use hands.
While working in client areas, the employee could be exposed to environmental hazards and contagious diseases. Knowledge of hospital health, infection control, ethics, and de-escalation polices is essential to successfully perform the functions of this position. All employees must follow the WES Infection Control policy and all federal, state, and local infection control regulations. Flexibility and scheduling are also necessary to complete required duties.
