RN - 1st Shift

ESSENTIAL FUNCTION: Plans, organizes, coordinates, monitors, and evaluates client care provided by staff under his/her supervision. Accurately assesses client’s needs and prioritizes care. Develops effective client care plans. Utilizes knowledge to facilitate psycho-educational groups. Oversees and manages unit. Effectively supervises those employees assigned to the unit. Documents service provision in an accurate and timely manner. Administers medications as ordered by the physician. Provides professional psychiatric nursing care, via own task functions and supervision of the task of other nursing personnel on their shift. Ensures all members of on his/her team provide quality and effective nursing care. Assists Nurse Administrator(s) and RN Shift Supervisor to improve inpatient nursing services care delivery systems. Excellent time management skills are vital to satisfactory job performance. Legible hand writing and good documentation skills are essential.Assists with the performance evaluation of staff under his/her supervision. Demonstrates accuracy in the observation recording of clients’ behavior and activity. Ability to successfully complete initial and annual Techniques for Effective Aggression Management (TEAM) physical restraint and verbal de-escalation training. 

RESPONSIBILITIES: Facilitates the maintenance of a therapeutic milieu with the cooperation of other disciplines. Ensures client activities take place as scheduled. Functions as a member of the multi-disciplinary team which develops and implements treatment plans and goals for all clients assigned to the unit. Interacts with clients to establish a therapeutic relationship and facilitates achievement of treatment plan goals in accordance with the nursing directives contained therein. Provides direction and supervision to LPN’s and Behavioral Technicians.

KNOWLEDGE AND JOB SKILLS: Clinical skills in psychiatric and basic medical/ surgical nursing and are fundamental to this position. Good assessment skills are key to this position. Knowledge of comprehensive or holistic approach to client care is helpful. Ability to work within a multi-disciplinary team is vital to satisfactory job performance. Must have a functional knowledge of the Baker and Marchman Acts. Demonstrates skills that ensure safe and effective client care. Good verbal and written communications skills are fundamental to satisfactory job performance. Excellent crisis intervention and conflict resolution skills are key to this position. Managerial or supervisory skills are necessary. 

CORE COMPETENCIES:

1. Age Specific: Assessment, Interpretation, Intervention, Knowledge, Developmental Stages, Enhances Family Involvement
2. Basic Job Readiness: Courtesy, Flexibility, Reliability, Responsiveness
3. Personal Effectiveness: Communication, Interpersonal Skills, Self-Management, Thinking Skills
4. Organizational/Management: Compliance, CQI Commitment, Linking/Networking, Management of Information, Organizational Participation, Safety
5. Performance Specific: Assessment, Crisis Management, Customer Focus, Empowerment/Advocacy, Medication Issues, Psychosocial Interventions, Treatment/Service Planning.

JUDGMENT: Must be able to make sound psychiatric and medical decisions. Must be able to utilize judicious reasoning during times of crisis or conflict and move the situation to therapeutic resolution. Must be able to discern essential information to be shared with staff.

JOB REQUIREMENTS:

• Education: Graduation from an accredited school of nursing meeting minimum standards of the Florida State Board of Nursing as a Registered Nurse.
• Experience: Two (2) years progressive experience in nursing.
• Personal Qualities: Must be assertive and have a tenacious work ethic. Must be honest, dependable, well-organized, detail oriented, and self-directed. Must be able to work with a minimum of supervision. Must be able to work cooperatively with a variety of disciplines. Demonstrates leadership and is able to encourage and influence others in a positive, proactive manner. Must be flexible, patient and remain calm in crisis situations. 
• Supervisory Responsibilities: LPN’s and Behavioral Technicians assigned to the team/unit.
• Special Factors: Advises RN Shift Supervisor and/or Nurse Administrator(s) in matters of concern to nursing care and client’s needs. Must demonstrate the ability to interact cooperatively with multiple disciplines and personalities. Collaborates with other clinical team members to ensure a therapeutic environment.  
• Staff Development: Completes all administrative and competency requirements as set forth in Individual Training Plan.