New RN Graduate

Bi-lingual (English/Spanish) a plus

Must be able to work weekend shifts evenings & nights.

The Nurse Graduate is responsible for delivering quality general/psychiatric nursing care to patients who are hospitalized for treatment of psychiatric or emotional disorders; to support the hospital and program philosophy of care; to ensure the safety and well-being of each patient. The Psychiatric Graduate RN will provide professional nursing care to patients according to hospital policy and procedure; implement nursing care procedures, evaluate patient progress and modify care plans as necessary; will provide teaching to patients and their families.

Essential Duties:

• Plans and provides nursing care for patients through a systematic process of interaction with patients, the patient's significant others, and the appropriate health care providers, collects and analyzes data regarding the patient's physical, psychosocial, environmental, self-care, educational, spiritual, cultural, and anticipated discharge needs.
• Ensures each patient's unique needs are identified and incorporated into a comprehensive, individualized care plan including the severity of the disease, condition, impairment/disability as important elements of the plan.
• The care and treatment of the patients are rendered in a competent manner and are based on current developmental theory and psychiatric nursing knowledge and standards; care is evaluated against the goals and plan of care and is revised periodically, as appropriate.
• Ensures the care and treatment of the patients are rendered in a competent manner and are based on current developmental theory and psychiatric nursing knowledge and standards; care is evaluated against the goals and plan of care and is revised periodically, as appropriate.
• Provide direct care to patients, which includes facilitating social and emotional needs, supervising medication schedules, evaluating patient progress and patient's access to the appropriate level of care and setting.
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary professionals to determine and provide the best possible care for patients.
• Provide social support for patients by creating and encouraging patients to take advantage of opportunities such as support groups, social activities and other therapeutic measures.
• Maintains accurate records and documentation of patient treatments, immunizations, laboratory results, notes reactions to psychotropic drugs and other medications, written charts, patient activities and progress according to standard medical record keeping and hospital policy and procedures.
• Assists the client in understanding the nature of emotional disturbances and accepting the need for treatment.
• Comply with laws, rules, regulations, protocols, and procedures.
• Use professional judgment to ascertain and to apply appropriate intervention techniques with patients in crisis
• Assists in maintaining a safe and secure environment for staff and patients.
• Collect data including vital signs of pain and ensures treatments of pain and arranges further medical attention when necessary.
• Performs administrative tasks such as filing, answering phones and computer entry of progress notes.
• Responsible for organizing the activities and schedules for medical and/or non-medical tasks of the Child, Adolescent and Adult and support staff for a given shift.
• Maintains patient confidentiality.
• Performs related duties, as requested.
• Upholds the Organization's ethics and customer service standards.

This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. Employee may perform other related duties to meet the ongoing needs of the hospital.

Requirements

Must be 21 years old or older

Education - Associate Degree in Nursing, or completed BSN degree.

Experience – Have graduated with a Nursing degree at any level. This is an entry level RN position.

Licensure: Current LVP/ TX temporary RN License as required by the TX nursing board and must take and pass the NCLEX exam within 75 days (2.5 months) of receiving temporary permit. Must not have failed the NCLEX previously. **A new graduate who completes an accredited basic nursing education program within the United States, its Territories, or Possessions and who applies for initial licensure by examination in Texas may be temporarily authorized to practice nursing as a graduate nurse (GN) or graduate vocational nurse (GVN) pending the results of the licensing examination." This temporary authorization is not renewable and will expire the earliest date of any of the following: (1) when the candidate passes the NCLEX-PN® or NCLEX-RN® test; (2) when the candidate fails the NCLEX-PN® or NCLEX-RN® test; (3) or on the 75th day following the effective date of the temporary authorization [217.3(2)].**

Additional Requirements: Must pass a medication administration exam before administering medications. Must obtain and maintain approved CPR certification as well as successful completion of Management of Assaultive Behavior training including restraint and seclusion policies prior to assuming patient care responsibility. Will be under the supervision of a licensed RN.

Knowledge Skills and Abilities

• Knowledgeable of patient rights and laws pertaining to mental health and regulations pertaining to psychiatric nursing and the treatment of the mentally and emotionally disturbed patients. Theories, principles, and techniques of group and individual psychotherapy. Symptoms and behavior patterns of emotionally disturbed mentally ill patients.
• Advanced knowledge and clinical skills in diagnosis and treatment of mental health, professional nursing principles, procedures, and techniques used in the care and treatment of psychiatric patients, social, psychological, and physical factors of mental and emotional disorders.
• Knowledgeable of medical and psychological terminology, medications, including psychotropic drugs, and effects on psychiatric patients as well as control, preparation and administration of medications.
• Displays basic knowledge of treatment procedures; interventions common to acute psychotic as well as non-violent crises intervention practice, medical and psychiatric emergency procedures.
• Basic knowledge of abnormal psychology as typically found in the child or adolescent psychiatric population, application of this knowledge to child, adolescent or adult knowledge of medical terminology, especially those terms associated with child, adolescent or adult psychiatric care; thorough familiarity of psychopharmacy and the use of psychotropic medications with child, adolescent or adult psychiatric population, basic teaching and training skills helpful; problem-solving; organizational and time management; crisis intervention skills
• Ability to apply professional nursing care principles and procedures in the evaluation and treatment of psychiatric patients. Develop interpersonal therapeutic relationships with psychiatric patients.
• Communicate effectively with a variety of individuals and function calmly in situations, which require a high degree of sensitivity, tact, and diplomacy.
• Ability to exercise appropriate judgment in answering questions and releasing information; analyze and project consequences of decisions and/or recommendations.
• Ability to handle confidential information with great sensitivity.
• Well-developed verbal and written communication skills in English. Skill to communicate effectively in order to exchange and/or provide information, build and/or maintain cooperative relationships.
• Ability to effectively interact with persons of widely diverse roles, backgrounds, cultures, and socio-economic classes, those in crises or resistant or negative toward organization.
• Displays basic knowledge of treatment procedures; interventions common to acute psychotic as well as non-violent crises intervention practice.
• Basic knowledge of abnormal psychology as typically found in the child or adolescent psychiatric population, application of this knowledge to child, adolescent or adult knowledge of medical terminology, especially those terms associated with child, adolescent or adult psychiatric care.
• Skilled in facilitating and/or co-facilitating process-oriented and didactic groups.
• Skilled in problem solving, prioritizing and time management
• Crisis intervention skills and the ability to exercise self-control in potentially volatile situations such as being verbally or physically confronted in a threatening or aggressive manner; must be flexible and not easily frustrated in dealing with differences of opinions.

• Screening: Must successfully pass background check, drug screen, physical and be able to provide positive employment references.
• Physical Demands: With or without reasonable accommodations, must be able to stoop, kneel, crouch, reach, stand for sustained period of time, walk, pull, lift, raise and move objects from position to position (up to 50 lbs), finger grasp; feel sizes, shapes, temperatures, and textures; express or exchange ideas orally and potentially loudly, accurately, or quickly; visually detect, determine, perceive, identify, recognize, judge, observe, inspect, assess; perceive the nature of sound with or without correction; perform repetitive motions of the wrist, hands, or fingers. Light work most of the time, exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently; and occasionally medium work, that is exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 20 pounds of force frequently.

This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. Employee may perform other related duties to meet the ongoing needs of the hospital.

If you are among the most competitive and qualified candidates for the job, you will be contacted directly by one of our hiring managers. Due to the high volume of applications we receive, we are unable to respond to individual inquiries regarding your application status. Good Luck & we hope to meet you soon!

Dallas Behavioral Healthcare Hospital is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or protected Veteran status.

Benefits

Full-time employees are eligible for medical, dental, vision, company paid disability, 401(k) and a generous amount of paid time off.