Registered Nurse - Intake (Santa Rosa)

Key Responsibilities:

• Collects and analyzes data regarding the patient's physical, psychosocial, environmental, self-care, educational, spiritual, cultural and anticipated discharge needs; determines patient's alcohol or drug toxicity; identifies signs of withdrawal; conducts screenings or assessments to determine needs of treatment.
• Prepares written report of assessment results in a timely manner and includes recommendations for the level of care and treatment needs.
• Assesses need for involuntary hospitalization evaluation and contacts county crisis team, law enforcement or 5150 certified AVDMH employee as needed to ensure the safety of client and others.
• Enters the data of calls and assessments in the computer system in a timely manner.
• Distributes documentation of admissions to the Business Office, Admitting Unit and the Utilization Review Department.
• Communicates with managed care organizations to obtain insurance pre-authorizations in a timely manner
• Assess patient needs, nursing staff resources and complete patient/ unit assignments based on acuity, patient treatment plans goals and unit operations
• Perform related duties as assigned.
• Coordinate team members’ immediate response during psychiatric crises and provide effective leadership at all times.
• Provide direct supervision to nursing staff throughout the shift in conjunction with the Nurse Manager, House Charge or CNO as appropriate.
• Identify staffing needs based on staffing plan and acuity assessments.
• Apply nursing process/process improvement to all levels of the organization. The scope of this process ranges from patient needs to the hospital needs as a whole. This includes ability to assess, collect data, define problems, set goals, initiate interventions and evaluate interventions. Complete timely Incident Reports and submits them to the Nurse Manager or House Charge.
• Provide patient care by routinely demonstrating knowledge of mental health diagnoses, standards of care, evidenced based practice, medications (including old and new psychotropic medications,) high risks for mental health patients, National Patient Safety Goals, and models of care.
• Work with nursing and other clinical staff to plan and document patient care. Document care plans on the MDTP and include patient problems, goal for hospitalization and short term goals. Include interventions provided by team members to assist patient in returning to a reasonable mental health status.
• Provide clinical summary information to other team members at treatment team meetings, shift reports and other hand-offs. The RN provides continual oversight of all patients and unit operations.
• Assess all patients’ status, provide direct care to assigned group of patients, prepares and administers medications as needed, and ensure necessary documentation is completed at the end of each shift.

Requirements

Knowledge and Experience:

• Current California state licensure as a Registered Nurse.
• Inpatient experience preferred
• Familiarity with continuum of care and clinical terminology
• Knowledge of DSM III-R diagnostic criteria

• Current CPR certification

Skills and Abilities:

• Maintains confidentiality of patients at all times
• Knowledgeable of patient rights and laws pertaining to mental health
• Assessment and intervention skills
• Persuasive manner and skills in overcoming denial and resistance to treatment
• Ability to concentrate on task in high traffic areas
• Ability to deal with crisis and potentially combative patients while maintaining personal and emotional equilibrium.
• Sensitivity to and willingness to interact with persons of various social, cultural, economic and educational backgrounds
• Proficiency with software and/or equipment (Microsoft Office applications including Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint)
• Strong organizational skills with ability to prioritize projects, work relatively independently, manage multiple tasks, and meet deadlines
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Good judgment, problem solving and decision-making skills
• Demonstrated commitment to working collaboratively as well as possessing the skills to lead, influence, and motivate others
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, expanding organization

Physical Requirements:

While performing the duties of this job, this position is frequently required to do the following:

• Use standard office equipment and access, input, and retrieve information from a computer. Use computer keyboard with manual and finger dexterity and wrist-finger speed sufficient to perform repetitive actions efficiently for extended periods of time.
• Communicate effectively in person or via telephone in a manner which can be understood by those with whom the person is speaking, including a diverse population.
• Give and follow verbal and written instructions with attention to detail and accuracy.
• Perform complex mental functions and basic arithmetic functions; interpret complex laws, regulations, and policies; collect, interpret, and/or analyze complex data and information.
• Vision: see details of objects at close range.
• Coordinate multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Reach forward, up, down, and to the side.
• Ability to stoop, lift, finger (pick, pinch or type and grasp)
• Sit or stand for minimum periods of one hour at a time and come and go from the work area repeatedly throughout the day.
• Lift up to ten (10) pounds.

Benefits

• Medical
• Vision
• Dental
• 401(k)
• 3.5 Weeks Paid Time Off
• $25,000 Life insurance policy is provided at no charge to the employee