Registered Nurse - Behavioral Health Inpatient

RN - Behavioral Health Inpatient Services

• Work in a 26-bed adult inpatient psychiatric unit, featuring a 16-bed less acute unit and a 10-bed acute care unit.
• Provide 24/7 inpatient psychiatric care including diagnostic assessments, stabilization, and personalized treatment plans.
• Join a multidisciplinary team of Psychiatry, Nursing, Licensed and Unlicensed Professional Counselors, Occupational Therapy, RN Care Management, and Social Work.
• Thrive in a supportive and engaging team culture that fosters personal and professional growth.
• Access nursing leadership pathways, preceptorships, and a graduate nurse residency program to advance your career.
• Benefit from educational support for nursing certifications and mentorship from a dedicated Nursing Educator, Clinical Managers, and a Licensed Professional Counselor leader.
• Enjoy flexible self-scheduling
• Learn more about our safe staffing practices and low nursing turnover during your interview.
• Full time (72 hours biweekly)
• Shift: 12-hour Night
• Every third weekend
• Eligible for shift and weekend differential

The Registered Nurse is responsible and accountable for implementing, directing and coordinating the care of patients through the use of the nursing process: assessment, planning implementation and evaluation. Included is recognition and treatment of the physical and psychosocial changes unique to the age/population group served on the specific unit.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities

Job Class Specifics

• Demonstrates safe medication practice.
• Maintains a professional image that reflects the employee’s role in health care, with confidence and a positive impression.
• Completes chart check to ensure no missed orders.
• Accurately transcribes physician’s orders.
• Demonstrates therapeutic communication skills.
• Demonstrates ability to assess patient education needs and use of patient education resources.
• Demonstrates involvement in unit by attending 50% of staff/committee meetings and in-services for area.
• Demonstrates leadership through the nursing process and supervision while maintaining accountability for treatment and patient outcomes.
• Acts as a resource person regarding patient care, specialty area, orientation and teaching of staff.
• Responds to delays in a calm manner. Apologizes for inconveniences and gives alternatives.
• Analyzes assessment data, identifies priority problems and documents on Plan of Care in PCS for patients and families and significant others.
• Uses effective problem-solving skills to plan patient care.
• Identifies critical factors evidencing changes in patient condition and responds appropriately.
• Completes and documents discharge assessment against plan of care goals.
• Initiates and maintains Intravenous Therapy according to IV standards.
• Responds appropriately to emergency situations.
• Utilizes proper body mechanics to prevent injury to self and others. Safely positions, transfers and transports patients.
• Functions as a virtual nurse as assigned which includes, but is not limited to, admissions, discharges, education, documentation through a virtual platform and working collaboratively with the bedside nursing staff.

Department: Behavioral Health Services

• Applies physical and mechanical restraints and RN face-to-face assessment (or completes restraint competency for BHU).
• Describes intervention for least restrictive alternative to restraints and demonstrates correct performance of de-escalation techniques (Completed de-escalation training/renewals).
• Responds to behavioral health emergencies appropriately.
• Effectively facilitates group therapy and individual support (completed group therapy competency).
• Provides psycho-education (individual and group) to patients.
• Follows role and responsibility in assessing the reporting of physical, emotional, sexual abuse, and neglect in all populations.
• Demonstrates understanding of unit level leadership roles and identifies Manager on Call.
• Participates in MOCK, medical emergencies and/or RRT.
• Demonstrates ability to perform CIWA, AIMS, DAST/AUDIT, and Suicide Risk Assessment.
• Performs Physical and Psychosocial assessments accurately.
• Participates in the development of the safety plan and review the plans as needed.
• Describes Level of Care Policy, including responsibility and hand off process for every 15-minute safety checks.
• Administers medications as prescribed.
• Demonstrates knowledge of the principles of growth and development over the life span of the assigned patient population. Assesses and interprets patient age specific data and provides appropriate, age specific treatment. Provides direct patient care to assigned patient age group(s).
• Demonstrates a commitment to patient, visitor and staff by: complying with all applicable safety regulations; learning the impact of medical errors and methodology that will lead to reduction of errors; reporting actual and potential errors, as well as hazardous conditions; identifying opportunities to standardize processes and "error proof" systems that will lead to increased safety; and participating in safety education programs and root cause analyses as required.
• Maintains established policies and procedures, objectives, quality assessment, safety, environmental and infection control standards.

Qualifications and Standards

Education

• Graduate of an accredited School of Nursing required; Bachelor of Science in Nursing is preferred.
• Evidence of participation in educational programs to update and maintain current knowledge and clinical skills.

Experience

• Experience applying customer service behaviors and communication skills required.
• Previous nursing experience in specialty area preferred.
• For Cath Lab, one year of acute care nursing experience (ED, Cath Lab, CCU, IMCU, Tele-Observation) preferred.
• For Cardiac Rehab, two years experience in Critical Care and/or Progressive Care required.
• For Cardiovascular Services, two years of experience reading cardiac monitors and be self directed in responding to abnormalities or cardiac arrests codes as a team member.
• For Device Clinic, at least one year of device management services required. Successful completion of EKG course required. At least two years of acute care nursing required (Tele-Observation, IMCU, CCU, Cath Lab, ED).
• For Emergency Department, at least one year of RN experience in ED or Critical Care required.
• For Family Birthing Services, a minimum of 1 year Labor and Delivery experience (within the last five years); For Family Birthing position posted as a trainee position, requirement of at least 1 year of experience as an RN with preferred areas of ICU, CCU, IMCU, ED or internal nurse intern upon successfully completing accredited nursing program. Experience requirement does not apply to an RN in the Family Birthing Services Fellowship Program (FBSFP)
• For Infusion Services, 6 months of infusion nursing experience required, and 6 months Midline and PICC experience required.
• For Wound Care Center, two years experience and expertise in the nursing process related to wound care required. Experience in advanced wound care initiatives preferred.
• For Outpatient Behavioral Health Services, two years experience in Behavioral/Psychiatric nursing is required. Previous experience in a Behavioral Health Outpatient setting preferred. Child Abuse Recognition and Reporting Training in accordance with Act31 of 2014 required. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Clearance and finger printing required.
• For Rapid Admission, requires one year acute care experience and successful completion of EKG course within six months of hire.
• For SDS / PACU, must have experience with, and be familiar with, reading cardiac monitors and be self directed in responding to abnormalities or cardiac arrest as a team member. Must have recent clinical experience with cardiopulmonary resuscitation and have the ability to lead a Code Blue in the absence of a higher level professional.
• For Medical Surgical (Renal, Oncology and Pediatrics), pediatric experience is preferred.
• For One Med Surg Observation, at least on year of Med Surg, Telemetry or ED experience preferred.
• For Level II NICU, a minimum of one year NICU experience (within the last five years); For Level II NICU position posted as a trainee position, requirement of at least 2 years of experience in: NICU Level 1, Labor and Delivery, Post-Partum, Nursery, PICU, ICU, ED, or CCU. Or, for Level II NICU position posted as a trainee position, requirement of a new graduate RN with (A) practicum/capstone in Labor and Delivery, Nursery, or NICU, or (B) experience as Tech/Aide in Labor and Delivery, Post-Partum Nursery, or NICU.

Certifications/Licensure

• Eligible for or currently licensed as a Registered Professional Nurse in Pennsylvania.
• Certification in specialty preferred.
• CPR certification required.
• ACLS required for Cardiovascular Services, CCU, Device Clinic, Emergency, IMCU, FBS, Tele Observation, PACU/SDS, One Med Surg, or achieved within one year of start date.
• ACLS required for Cardiac Rehab or achieved within 3 months of hire/transfer.
• Proficiency in cardiac monitor interpretation, conscious sedation, and ACLS required for Cath Lab or achieved within 6 months of hire/transfer.
• ACLS required for Float Pool.
• PALS required for Emergency, PACU, and Pediatric trained staff within one year from start date.
• PALS and Conscious Sedation is required for SDS, or must be achieved within four months of hire/transfer.
• CNOR preferred for OR.
• CPAN/CAPA preferred for PACU/SDS.
• CRRN preferred for Rehabilitation Medicine.
• NRP required for Level II NICU.
• NRP and Fetal Monitoring education required for Family Birthing Services within one year from start date.
• PMH-BC preferred for BHS (IP and OP).
• Proficiency in cardiac monitor interpretation required for PACU/SDS, IMCU, Tele Observation, One Med Surg, CCU, Cardiac Rehab, Cardiovascular Services, Cath Lab, and Emergency.
• Temporarily reassigned personnel will work in a limited scope of practice consistent with credentials and be supervised by appropriately credentialed staff.
• WOCNCB or CWCN preferred for Wound Care Center.