Psychiatric Nurse

Psychiatric Nurse

Responsibilities:

• Assesses the patient's physiologic health status
• Conducts patient interview, explains policies and procedures to patient/significant others, reviews patient's chart and answers
• questions correctly and courteously;
• Assesses gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, respiratory, renal and neurological health status;
• Determines mobility, sensory deficits, prostheses use, and skin condition and adjusts plan of care, as appropriate;
• Assesses level of pain and pain management;
• Communicates/documents patient's physiologic health status and plan of care.
• Assesses patient's psychosocial health status
• Elicits perception of medical/nursing care and the expectation of care;
• Determines coping mechanism, knowledge level, and ability to comprehend;
• Identifies cultural/ethnic requirements to reduce anxiety and ensure patient satisfaction;
• Communicates and documents psychological status and care plan; support group, counseling services, social services.
• Identifies patient outcome
• Develops criteria for measurement of patient outcomes;
• Identifies actual/potential patient problems;
• Identifies patient's need for teaching based on psychosocial and developmental assessment;
• Develops patient outcome statement (s) and establishes individualized patient goals.
• Formulates the plan of care and establishes the priorities necessary to achieve expected outcome
• Identifies care activities and establishes the priorities necessary to achieve expected outcome;
• Coordinates the cost-effective use of supplies, equipment and medication to achieve expected outcome;
• Documents the plan of care and collaborates with physicians and other health team members
• Implements the plan of care
• Maintains constant vigilance over patients care to ensure that safety precautions/needs are followed (Side rails up, call lights and
• bedside stand within reach, etc.);
• Collaborates with the appropriate physician on patient's plan of care;
• Accurately interprets and implements treatment regimen as prescribed by the Physician;
• Assists the Physician during treatments and/or diagnostic procedures;
• Keeps the Patient Care Manager/designee and/or physician, abreast of changes in patient's condition and/or treatments, as appropriate;
• Uses clinical judgment in delegating assignments to the Patient Care Associate, Support Care Associate and Clerical Service Associate
• in providing patient care, and ensures that assignments are completed in a timely fashion
• Performs grade I-IV Decubitus Care
• Performs preventive skin care measures
• Applies simple dressings, maintaining principles of aseptic technique;
• Applies warm & cold compresses, consistent with facility procedure;
• Performs irrigations, consistent with Facility procedure;
• Performs other procedures related to skin care, as necessary.
• Administers medications correctly and safely
• Correctly identifies medication: action; dosage; side effects and implications for the patient;
• Meets standard on medication administration examination;
• Demonstrates preparation of local solutions;
• Demonstrates preparation of I.V drips;
• Administers and documents medication correctly;
• Administers IVP medication as per department policy and procedure;
• Educates patients and significant others related to drug and food interactions.
• Participates in patient and family education
• Provides the patient with an explanation of his/her condition as indicated;
• Communicates assessment data in an orderly fashion by recording, updating and verbalizing pertinent information to care team
• members and to appropriate agencies;
• Recognizes and utilizes health teaching opportunities and resources /materials available for this teaching;
• Provides for early discharge planning and appropriate referrals for post-hospital care;
• Evaluates the effectiveness of teaching by feedback from patient/family and documents same.
• Performs related duties, as required.

Education:

• Minimum one (1) year of counseling experience in an addictive disease treatment setting is preferred
• Minimum one (1) year of clinical experience in Behavioral Health, Psychiatry, or Psychology
• Graduation from an accredited program of registered nursing and possession of a valid and current Registered Nurse license