Regular Nurse Psychiatric Hospital Unit Manager

Job Information

State of Tennessee Job Information

Opening Date/Time04/30/2024 12:00AM Central TimeClosing Date/Time05/06/2024 11:59PM Central TimeSalary (Monthly)$6,383.00 - $10,108.00Salary (Annually)$76,596.00 - $121,296.00Job TypeFull-TimeCity, State LocationChattanooga, TNDepartmentMental Health and Substance Abuse Services

LOCATION OF (1) POSITION TO BE FILLED: DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH & SUBSTANCE ABUSE SERVICES, MOCCASIN BEND MENTAL HEALTH INSTITUTE, HAMILTON COUNTY

Qualifications

Education and Experience: Qualified applicants must be currently licensed as a Registered Nurse and have experience equivalent to at least three years of full time work as a registered nurse, including at least one year of mental health nursing work experience.

Substitution of Graduate Education for Experience: A master's degree or higher in nursing may substitute for one year of the required work experience, there being no substitution for the required one year of mental health nursing work.

Necessary Special Qualifications: Must be currently licensed as a Registered Nurse in the State of Tennessee or hold a privilege to practice in the State of Tennessee under the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC).

Examination Method: Education and Experience, 100%, for Preferred Service positions.

Summary

Summary: Under direction, is responsible for professional nursing management/supervisory work of average difficulty within a state psychiatric hospital; and performs related work as required.

Distinguishing Features: An employee in this job classification is responsible for the management and supervision of a patient unit within a state psychiatric hospital. This includes the direct supervision of registered nursing staff, as well as other patient care and support staff within assigned patient unit.

Responsibilities

Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings:

* Monitors health status of the patients, efficacy of care, safety issues, and responses to treatments to determine patients' progress.
* Monitors unit activities to detect/prevent problems and intervene as necessary to promote and maintain a safe environment for patients and staff.
* Monitors staff during nursing rounds to assess work performance/level of care and determine if counseling, re-training, or other action is warranted.
* Utilizes various monitoring tools and techniques (e.g., cameras, observation of unit rounds, review of accountability and assignment sheets) to assess staff job performance and insure they are strictly adhering to policies and procedures while completing assigned tasks.

Getting Information:

* Interacts with patients to assess their condition, mental status, level of functioning, and progression, as well as to identify any areas of concern or complaints of the patient.
* Reviews patient admission/transfer paperwork to gather information needed to determine care needs (e.g., medication, dietary, and/or lab orders).
* Reviews reports of occurrences (e.g., staff and/or patient injuries), shift reports, emails, and other reports or sources of information to be informed of patient activities and care.
* May participate in daily meetings with nurses, clinicians, and/or other staff to obtain/provide information as necessary to ensure patient quality of care, treatment, and services.

Performing General Physical Activities:

* Performs physical hold/restraint techniques in accordance with Comprehensive Crisis Management to assist with assaultive or aggressive patients on assigned unit.
* May assist in moving patients using stretchers, wheelchairs, or other means.

Controlling Machines and Processes:

* Operates medical equipment such as nebulizers, CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machines, glucometers, oxygen concentrators, Doppler scanners, suction machines, and other medical devices to provide therapeutic patient care.

Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates:

* Oversees the delivery of nursing care, treatment, and services within assigned unit.
* Develops an Individual Performance Plan for every direct report staff member, making sure to include specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-sensitive (SMART) goals for performance.
* Implements corrective measures (i.e., discussions/coaching, written warnings, and/or recommendations for suspension or termination) as necessary to address inappropriate actions or poor job performance of direct report staff.
* Identifies methods and strategies to discuss with employees for improving performance.
* Identifies outstanding performance characteristics through personal observations and discusses with employees to encourage/acknowledge positive behavior.

Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People:

* Assesses the performance of each direct report employee as necessary to complete two formal interim evaluations and an annual performance evaluation which includes the determination of a final rating value.

Assisting and Caring for Others:

* Responds to medical emergencies by assisting in or performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), basic life support, or other needed emergency care.
* May administer medications and monitor patients for adverse drug reactions and side effects.
* Provides nursing care and performs procedures according to physicians' orders and nursing standards of practice.
* Utilizing therapeutic communication skills, talks with patients to assist them in moving toward recovery and discharge.
* Talks to staff and recommends coaching, counseling, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), remedial training, or other steps to resolve their problems or needs.
* May take patients' vital signs (e.g., temperature, blood pressure) and begin assessments of patients' temperament/functioning level to assist in the patient admission process.

Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material:

* Walks through unit to check for any safety hazards, maintenance needs, or issues of noncompliance (e.g., broken equipment; seclusion rooms not ready; temperature of refrigerators; status of crash carts, patient rooms, other patient care areas) with regulatory agencies (e.g., The Joint Commission, CMS, and licensure).

Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards:

* Reviews written documentation (e.g., incident reports, physicians' orders, debriefing forms) relevant to episodes of physical hold, seclusion, or restraint to check for accuracy of information and determine compliance with clinical standards of practice.

Making Decisions and Solving Problems:

* May review reports of problems relevant to performance improvement and quality management (e.g., sentinel events, staff performance problems) to complete a root cause analysis and make recommendations for corrective action.
* Reviews all available information relevant to an incident (e.g., seclusion/restraint, responses to violent behavior, medical emergencies) to determine any training needs or improvement in process.
* Reviews relevant information regarding direct report staff with performance problems and makes disciplinary action recommendations based on seriousness of the problem, prior disciplinary actions, and/or other factors.

Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others:

* Uses appropriate verbal strategies to de-escalate crisis situations with patients and avoid the need for physical intervention.
* Talks with involved parties to mediate staff disputes and resolve conflicts.

Developing and Building Teams:

* Conducts staff meetings and facilitates team-building activities to encourage effective communications and build trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.

Training and Teaching Others:

* May identify training needs and create annual training plan/schedule for direct report staff to ensure their educational needs are met and all required training is scheduled and completed.

Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work:

* Prioritizes tasks based on importance, urgency, and other scheduled activities.

Documenting/Recording Information:

* Completes various forms, including medication error reports, lab requisition, incident reports, and other reports related to unexpected occurrences for patients and staff.
* May write narrative notes to document medications administered, summaries, special observations, changes in condition, patient status/progress, and other relevant information to establish records of patient care activities.
* Documents the performance of direct report staff, including recording dates/specific details of employee conferences/counseling sessions and any incidents/events as they occur to ensure accurate assessment of performance when completing interim and annual evaluations.
* May complete Fall Documentation Record, Falls Risk Reassessment, and incident report when fall incidents occur.
* May write patient-specific treatment plan objectives.
* May update Patient Care Hand-off report by documenting changes in condition, new orders, and/or concerns as they occur throughout each shift.

Processing Information:

* Reviews records (e.g., physician orders, patient admission and discharge records, interdisciplinary progress notes, treatment plans, audit tools) to ensure accuracy and completeness.

Staffing Organizational Units:

* Conducts employment interviews in accordance with Department of Human Resources' Rules and other applicable policies, procedures, and guidelines to obtain information pertinent to making hiring recommendations/decisions.

Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates:

* Shares information (e.g., incident reports, change of shift reports, medication errors, and other patient related information) with hospital staff via verbal or written communications to assist them in providing a therapeutic and safe environment for patients and staff.
* Participates in regular meetings with other staff to report on resolution of issues, advise them of communications with outside agencies, or discuss other issues pertinent to ensuring patient quality of care, treatment, and services.

Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge:

* Utilizes the nurse reference book and other appropriate resources to acquire knowledge and ensure appropriate adherence to nursing policies/procedures and hospital instructions in performance of job duties.
* Attends annual mandatory training and reviews professional publications to keep up-to-date on the latest methods and technologies relevant to job duties and meet requirements for maintaining licensure.

Performing Administrative Activities:

* Securely maintains various records and reports (e.g., assignment sheets, employee files, accountability records, logs) for the appropriate timeframe.
* May enter and approve time and leave/overtime requests in the appropriate database following standard operating procedures.

Coaching and Developing Others:

* Mentors direct reports and other staff by providing feedback and information on organizational culture, policies, and procedures, task prioritization, and other work-related information.
* Talks with direct report staff to motivate and encourage them to achieve service excellence.

Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others:

* Explains information (e.g., patient rights, plan of care, unit rules, and other information) to patients at their level of understanding.

Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others:

* Coordinates and facilitates staff assignments; patient activities/movements; and outside services for appointments, escorts, and/or discharges to ensure therapeutic patient care.
* May coordinate treatment team meetings and physician rounds based on the unit schedule.

Communicating with Persons Outside Organization:

* May make presentations and/or represent the agency to educate/share information with the public.

Provide Consultation and Advice to Others:

* Based on observations and other available information, may make recommendations to supervisor and/or other management staff for improvements in operations/services (e.g., nursing services, food services, security, housekeeping, professional education programs) which impact the administration of nursing services and quality of patient care.

Scheduling Work and Activities:

* May generate a monthly schedule for unit staff to ensure minimum staffing requirements for quality patient care are met.
* May make patient assignments and break schedules for Psychiatric Technicians assigned to the unit.

Monitoring and Controlling Resources:

* Monitors staffing levels and the number of hours employees work per week to ensure staffing/overtime limits are not exceeded.
* Prioritizes the utilization of resources (e.g., clothing, hygiene supplies, medical supplies) to best address the needs of the hospital and patients.

Interacting With Computers:

* Uses office productivity software, such as medical records software (e.g., Avatar), employee/human resources management software (e.g., Edison), word processing, spreadsheet, and/or presentation programs as necessary to process information and create documents.

Thinking Creatively:

* May develop new processes or procedures for unit and staff.
* May develop policies and operational guidelines for staff under direct supervision.

Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information:

* May estimate the quantities of equipment and supplies needed for the unit.

Handling and Moving Objects:

* May lift/move mattresses, furniture, boxes of supplies, patient property, and other items.

Competencies

Competencies:

* Problem solving
* Delegation
* Fairness to direct reports
* Conflict management
* Directing others
* Informing
* Time management
* Confronting direct reports
* Integrity and trust
* Listening
* Composure
* Managing diversity

Knowledge:

* Basic knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, statistics, and their applications relevant to medication administration
* Basic knowledge of business and management principles involved in planning, resource allocation, leadership techniques, and coordination of people and resources
* Intermediate knowledge of the human body, including tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment
* Basic knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, government regulations, and agency rules relevant to nursing practice and patient care
* Intermediate knowledge of the Joint Commission and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) standards relevant to the care of psychiatric patients
* Basic knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo, including uses of chemicals and their interactions and danger signs
* Basic knowledge of principles and processes for providing services to customers (e.g., patients, families, and the community), including customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer service
* Basic knowledge of principles and methods for training, teaching, and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects
* Basic knowledge of medical equipment and tools, including their uses and maintenance
* Intermediate knowledge of the information and techniques needed to assess and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities, including symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures
* Intermediate knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for assessment, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions
* Basic knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, and personnel information systems
* Intermediate knowledge of the relevant information and techniques needed to provide/direct nursing care, including best practices and standards of care
* Basic knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders
* Basic knowledge of relevant policies, procedures, and strategies to promote safety/protection of people, data, property, and institutions
* Basic knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, ethnicity, cultures and their history and origins
* Basic knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology

Skills:

* Intermediate skill in giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times
* Intermediate skill in communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience (e.g., patients, families, clinicians and other support staff)
* Intermediate skill in understanding of the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making
* Intermediate skill in selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things
* Intermediate skill in the operation of medical equipment or systems (e.g., CPAP, nebulizers, glucometers, Oxygen concentrators, pulse oximeters)
* Intermediate skill in managing one's own time and the time of others
* Intermediate skill in using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems
* Intermediate skill in monitoring/assessing performance of oneself and/or other individuals to make improvements or take corrective action
* Intermediate skill in understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents
* Intermediate skill in using scientific rules and methods to solve problems
* Intermediate skill in talking to others to convey information effectively
* Intermediate skill in adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
* Intermediate skill in identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions
* Intermediate skill in conducting tests and inspections of patient environment/equipment to evaluate for quality and safety standards
* Basic skill in determining causes of errors and determining corrective plan of action
* Intermediate skill in considering the relative impacts of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one
* Intermediate skill in determining how a system/unit should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes
* Intermediate skill in identifying measures or indicators of employee performance and unit operations and the actions needed to improve or correct performance/operations, relative to the goals of the facility/hospital
* Intermediate skill in motivating, developing, and directing people as they work and identifying the best people for the job
* Intermediate skill in using mathematics to solve problems.
* Intermediate skill teaching others how to do something
* Intermediate skill in bringing others together and trying to reconcile differences
* Intermediate skill in persuading others to change their minds or behavior
* Intermediate skill in obtaining and seeing to the appropriate use of equipment, facilities, and materials needed for unit operations
* Basic skill in actively looking for ways to help people
* Intermediate skill in being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do
* Basic skill in performing routine maintenance on office equipment (e.g., printers, copiers, fax machine) and medical equipment (e.g., suction machine, nebulizer, glucometer) and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed

Abilities:

* Intermediate ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong
* Ability to identify and understand the speech of another person
* Intermediate ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences
* Ability to coordinate two or more limbs (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while sitting, standing, or lying down as necessary to perform comprehensive crisis management techniques and/or lift/move patients
* Ability to quickly respond (with the hands/body movements) to a signal/event (e.g., emergency/crisis situation)
* Ability to exert muscle force repeatedly or continuously over time (e.g., as necessary to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) or physical holds on patients)
* Ability to speak clearly so others can understand
* Intermediate ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events)
* Basic ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules
* Intermediate ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand
* Intermediate ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem
* Intermediate ability to quickly and accurately compare similarities and differences when comparing things at the same time or one after the other
* Basic ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted
* Ability to quickly and repeatedly bend, stretch, twist, or reach out with one's body, arms, and/or legs as necessary to perform comprehensive crisis management techniques
* Ability to bend, stretch, twist, or reach with your body, arms, and/or legs as necessary to perform comprehensive crisis management techniques and/or lift/move patients
* Ability to coordinate the movement of arms, legs, and torso together when the whole body is in motion as necessary to perform comprehensive crisis management techniques and/or lift/move patients
* Ability to keep or regain body balance or stay upright when in an unstable position as necessary to perform comprehensive crisis management techniques, lift/move patients, or provide patient care
* Ability to exert muscle force to lift, push, pull, or carry patients and/or objects
* Ability to see details at a distance
* Ability to detect or tell the differences between sounds that vary in pitch and loudness
* Ability to see details at close range (within a few feet)
* Ability to see under low light conditions (e.g., in patient rooms during the night)
* Ability to see objects or movement of objects to one's side when the eyes are looking ahead
* Ability to tell the direction from which a sound originated
* Ability to match or detect differences between colors, including shades of color and brightness
* Ability to quickly and/or repeatedly adjust the controls of machines (e.g., medical equipment)
* Intermediate ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense
* Intermediate ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic
* Intermediate ability to choose the right mathematical methods or formulas to solve a problem
* Intermediate ability to remember information such as words, numbers, pictures, and procedures
* Basic ability to add, subtract, multiply, or divide quickly and correctly
* Basic ability to know one's location in relation to the environment or to know where other objects are in relation to oneself
* Basic ability to shift back and forth between two or more activities or sources of information
* Intermediate ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing
* Intermediate ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand
* Ability to keep one's hand and arm steady while moving arm or while holding arm and hand in one position as may be necessary in providing patient care
* Ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects such as medical devices/equipment
* Ability to quickly move hand, hand together with arm, or two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects such as medical equipment/devices
* Ability to focus on a single source of sound in the presence of other distracting sounds
* Ability to judge which of several objects is closer or farther away, or to judge the distance between oneself and an object

Tools & Equipment

Various medical devices/equipment (e.g., nebulizers, CPAP machines, glucometers, oxygen concentrators, Doppler scanners, suction machines, sphygmomanometers, and others)

Computer, printer, copier, telephone, and other office equipment

TN Driver Standards

State of Tennessee positions that may involve driving responsibilities require candidates to meet the following minimum driver qualifications:

* A valid driver's license
* For the past five years, the candidate's driver record must not have record of the following violations: driving under the influence (DUI), reckless driving, license suspension for moving violations, more than 4 moving violations.

Please include your Driver's License Information under the Licenses and Certifications section of your application.

Agencies may allow an exception based on other factors.