Staff Nurse

The staff nurse provides nursing assessments, referrals, health education to individuals and their families experiencing mental illness. The staff nurse monitors medical issues, crisis, and health concerns and oversees the storage and administration of medications. This position collaborates with the psychiatrist, primary therapist and allied team members.

Essential Duties and Responsibilitiesinclude, but may not be limited to the following:

1. Provides health assessments for clients.

A.

Reports to work on time as scheduled and at the location assigned.

B.

Completes health assessments for all clients according to agency policy.

C.

Demonstrates good clinical judgment in determining optimum health care for client.

D.

Reports necessary information to psychiatrists and other staff, to allow for the development of client treatment goals and objectives when nursing intervention is indicated.

E.

Collects sufficient data to verify diagnoses.

F.

Collects vital signs data according to agency policy, and participates in nursing team rotation in the Wellness Center.

2. Medication stock.

A.

Coordinates the ordering of medications and other medical supplies and manages sample medications according to Agency policy.

3. Administers medications as ordered by staff psychiatrists.

A.

Demonstrates acceptable methods and charting techniques in medication administration.

B.

Properly notes orders and renewals.

C.

Observes clients for side effects of medications, and reports concerns to staff psychiatrist.

4. Evaluates nursing needs for the treatment planning process, and documents these needs in progress notes. Provides information necessary to develop nursing treatment needs for clients. May provide primary coordination for treatment planning.

A.

Develops specific nursing treatment goals based on client needs.

B.

Documents nursing interventions in progress notes.

C.

Completes all required documentation within established timeframes.

D.

Practices Person-Centered Planning principles.

E.

Maintains direct service hours.

5. Responsible for staying current in the field and up-to-date on LBS policies.

A.

Provide training & mentoring to newly hired nurses and nursing students from local

colleges and universities.

B.

Participates in committees requiring nursing input.

6. First Aid.

A.

Gives attention and provides treatment to clients who require first aid.

B.

Ensures universal precautions at all times during medical interventions.

7. Laboratory reports.

A.

Reviews laboratory reports and other medical reports in a timely manner to ensure proper medical care.

8. Provides necessary health care information and resources (nutrition, hygiene, to clients in regard to diet, administration of medication, hygiene, and other health information.

A.

Provides clients with information and procedures to obtain health care in the community when necessary.

B.

Identifies clients' nutrition, diet, and other health care needs.

C.

Develops treatment interventions addressing the needs of the client.

D.

Monitors all issues regarding infection control.

9. Completes all other duties as assigned in a reasonable established timeframe with quality expectations.

COMPETENCIES -

Critical Thinking - Consistently identifies gathers and applies relevant information to your work:

• Gathering information
• Applying Information
• Adaptability

The Staff Nurse assesses and understand normal or abnormal changes in patient conditions such as medication side effects) and determine what nursing intervention may be necessary to address those changes. Understands and interprets the patient's verbal and non-verbal communication. Determines the significance of vital signs, lab values, and data associated with physical assessment.

Cultural Humility-Demonstrates the value of diversity and inclusion; fosters an inclusive environment that facilitates a diverse team thriving within the organization:

• Awareness
• Advancing diversity and inclusion

The Staff Nurse separates personal biases from patient encounters to prevent making false assumptions that could negatively impact patient care. Considers own thought processes and the ways one reaches conclusions. When a personal bias is identified, the nurse take steps to eliminate it. In so doing, it will allow self to be engaged in more multi-dimensional, objective ways of thinking and eliminate barriers to equitable and quality care.

Growth Mindset-Views growth as important for personal and professional development; seeks out opportunities to expand skills, even if change is required; demonstrates curiosity and eagerness to learn:

• Learning-orientation
• Seeking and providing feedback
• Influencing others

The Staff Nurse is open-minded and demonstrates a willingness to learn and gain insight from professional experiences of peers while creating an environment to develop essential nursing skills. The nurse believes that skills and excellence will develop through hard work, sound strategies and an ongoing exchange of feedback.

Ownership and Quality of Work- Effectively manages own work, and work of teams when relevant, ensuring delivery of high-quality work:

• Taking ownership
• Quality of work product

The Staff Nurse retains professional accountability, individually and collectively as a team. Also, has a commitment to self and nursing career to advance, grow, improve, and adapt to work. Holds a personal pledge to apply talent, skill and energy to improve patient outcomes and takes ownership of ones actions.

QUALIFICATIONS - To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE - Registered nurse (associates degree) or Bachelorsdegree in nursing from an accredited college or university required. Ability to effectively treat consumers with mental illness using time limited treatment modalities, and quality care services. Preferred 2 years experience in working with the mentally ill population.

LANGUAGE SKILLS - Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written. Ability to establish professional working relationships with all staff. Appropriately articulates the view of the agency when networking in the community.

CREDENTIALING, LICENSURE. State of Michigan (LARA) licensure as a Registered Nurse.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS - The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

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