Behavioral Health Nurse Specialist - Center for Interventional Psychiatry

Western Psychiatric Hospital is hiring a Behavioral Health Nurse Specialist to support the Center for Interventional Psychiatry department!

The Center for Interventional Psychiatry (CIP) is seeking a full-time Behavioral Health Nurse Specialist to support its continued growth and expansion. This position offers a variable day/evening schedule, Monday through Friday, 8-hour shifts. The Behavioral Health Nurse Specialist will provide coverage across all current services and future program expansions within the Center for Interventional Psychiatry. Variable start times range from 6am - 2\:30pm, 7am - 3\:30pm, 8am - 4\:30pm, and 9am - 5\:30pm based upon departmental needs and case load.

BSNs or those enrolled in a BSN program are preferred. Prior psychiatric experience preferred.

Responsibilities\:

• Demonstrates accountability for professional development that improves the quality of professional practice and the quality of patient care.
• Actively participates in shared governance, goal setting and supports the change and transition process to improve quality of care and the practice environment.
• Serves as a highly engaged and full partner on the care team and responds willingly to care team member needs for assistance and partnership.
• Participates in work that improves patient care and the professional practice environment.
• Adapts to change and demonstrates flexibility with the change process.
• Applies the nursing process within the framework of Relationship Based Care to create a healing environment.
• Formulates daily goals and a plan of care for patients that involves the patient as partner and considers the individual needs of the patient in a holistic manner.
• Practices solid communication skills and can articulate and translate the patient's condition to other care providers and to negotiate and make recommendations for changes in patient care and management.
• Patient documentation is comprehensive and promotes communication between caregivers. Incorporates national professional organization as well as business unit and health system's goals to improve patient safety, quality and satisfaction.
• Creates a caring and compassionate patient focused experience by building healing relationships with patients, families and colleagues.
• Demonstrates knowledge of adult learning principles (and/or teaching children if applicable) and applies in teaching of patients, families, students and new staff.
• Provides detailed and appropriate teaching to patients and families to effectively guide them through the episode of care as well as transition to another level of care and/or home.
• Supports the development of students, new staff and colleagues.
• Creates an environment of open dialogue, inquiry and continuous development by asking for feedback and improving practice.
• Actively participates in department or quality improvement efforts. Identifies opportunity for quality improvement to colleagues and management.
• Identifies research issues or articles related to clinical specialty or areas of interest, discusses opportunities for quality improvement at multidisciplinary rounds, and influences patients' plans of care.
• Develops and maintains productive working relationships internally and externally by demonstrating accountability for actions, enthusiasm, motivation and commitment to patients and colleagues.
• Demonstrates an understanding of cultural differences and holds peers accountable for healthy relationships. Maintains a conscious balance between work and personal life.
• Models safe work hours, time management and healthy lifestyle.
• Communicates with peers and management any safety hazards identified in the workplace.
• Nurse is beginning to show advanced knowledge of psychiatric diagnoses and be able to differentiate diagnosis on assigned patients.
• Monitors psychiatric, medical, psychosocial status of assigned team.
• Provides patient/family education around psychiatric medication/diagnosis as needed.
• Provides routinely scheduled staff education on clinical issues.
• Participate as an integral professional member of a multidisciplinary team.
• Assist with coordinating plan of care and discharge/transfer as needed.
• Participates in patient rounding/patient consults.
• Monitors and tracks commitment status and collaborates with others.
• Has knowledge of psychiatric diagnosis and able to differentiate diagnosis on assigned patients in collaboration with psychiatrist.
• Initiates or reviews admission paperwork of all assigned patient and collaborates with the team.
• Works with team and pharmacy to acquire medication prior authorization as needed.
• Attend family meetings and interacts with families, as needed.
• Reviews medical H & P, progress notes and summarize medical course.
• Performs psychiatric review of symptoms.
• Completes and reviews medical reconciliation.
• Obtains collateral information from families and team.
• Assess for medication side effects ongoing which may include EPS, NMS, Serotonin Syndrome, Lithium toxicity, etc.
• Completes Drug and Alcohol inventory and assesses for any withdrawal symptoms.
• Reviews labs and documents any remarkable significant results.
• Completes physical exam as needed assessing for any abnormal movements, rigidity, cog-wheeling, weakness, gait problems.
• Completes suicide and homicide risk assessments.
• Summarizes cases and pulls together findings in impression including suicide lethality assessment / reassessment.
• Offer preliminary recommendations especially re\: any immediate safety needs and notification of appropriate staff.
• Communicates pertinent results to the psychiatrist.
• Checks for resolution/worsening of any identified problems i.e. delirium.
• Completes follow-up visits as needed and clinically appropriate.
• Assists with facilitating transfers as needed.