Psychiatric Nurse

Position: PSYCHIATRIC NURSE 2
The Nevada Division of Child and Family Services (DCFS) is recruiting for a Psychiatric Nurse II to be located in Sparks, NV. This position actively participates on a multidisciplinary team providing nursing care and treatment to children and adolescents with behavioral and emotional disturbances in a 24 hour/7 day a week residential treatment setting. Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility (PRTF) North serve children between 12-17 years of age.

The program uses nationally recognized models of care, including a Psycho-educational model, the Trauma Informed Care Model and Recovery Model. PRTF North also incorporates Aggression Replacement Training into its philosophy of care. Work responsibilities include but are not limited to: providing professional nursing care to adolescents, medication management and administering medications as  prescribed by the agency psychiatrist and monitoring for side effects, maintaining client safety, coordinating admissions to acute care facilities if youth safety is compromised, coordinating youth admission and discharges, completing referrals, participating in on going professional development trainings, providing quality assurance, and working in the milieu monitoring daily activities while providing psycho-social rehabilitative services.

Incumbents must have a current license to practice as a Registered Nurse in Nevada. This is a full-time position that includes a variable work agreement with overtime after 40 hours per week. This position requires work in the evenings and/or weekend hours.

Applicants must be authorized to work for ANY employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa at this time.

Under general supervision of a higher level nurse, Psychiatric Nurses provide professional nursing care to individuals with developmental delays, developmental disabilities, intellectual disabilities or social, emotional and/or behavioral disorders, in an institution or out-patient setting in accordance with the authorized scope of practice specified in the Nurse Practice Act.

Current license to practice as a Registered Nurse and two years of professional nursing experience, one of which included working in a facility or institution with individuals with mental illness, developmental disabilities or intellectual disabilities; OR one year of experience as a Psychiatric Nurse I in Nevada State service; OR an equivalent combination of education and experience as described above.

Identify patient health care needs utilizing physical and behavioral professional nursing assessment skills; make comprehensive clinical observations and evaluations of health needs including subtle abnormalities and changes in condition; record and report indicative signs and symptoms of physical and mental condition.

Prepare nursing care plans by assessing patient's psychological and physical condition and conferring with other health care professionals; evaluate needs and develop nursing diagnoses, plans for treatment, services and health education based on the present and predicted needs of the patient; identify immediate and long-term care goals; review and revise care plans as needed.

Participate in multi-disciplinary treatment teams by coordinating health services and treatment; collaborate with professional and paraprofessional staff to ensure optimum health care.

Administer medications intravenously, subcutaneously, intramuscularly, topically and orally as prescribed by a physician or designee as allowed in the practice setting; ensure correct time, dosage and appropriate route of administration; count controlled medications to ensure security; monitor patient for medication side effects and/or allergic reaction; observe patient to determine if medication is effective for prescribed treatment and document; if necessary, notify appropriate personnel of action taken.

Maintain safety, health and wellbeing of individuals in the therapeutic environment as allowed in the practice setting; may assist in physically restraining patients who are a threat to themselves or others and may be hostile and combative; follow facility procedures regarding techniques and duration of confinement; notify appropriate personnel of action taken and document as required.

Triage and assess patient's physical and mental health status and recommend admission for inpatient or outpatient services according to established policies and criteria.

May serve as a community liaison nurse, assisting patients in making the transition from institution to the community or assisting patients which are community based, by providing a broad range of nursing services.

Assist in physical examinations and diagnostic testing; obtain samples for laboratory tests as ordered by a physician or designee; perform assigned laboratory tests.

Develop/implement nursing discharge plans; work with other disciplines to coordinate services; ensure that appropriate referrals are made; educate patients and families on…