Mental Health Nurse - Hospital

• Uses the full scope of the Nurse Practice Act to assess plan organize and provide nursing care to assigned patients;
• Follows prescribed doctors orders concerning treatments and medications;
• Documents patient treatment and dispensing;
• Makes patient observations and records and reports on all pertinent information including changes in patient condition and general progress;
• Provides follow-through on judgment within the scope of accepted nursing practice;
• Assists doctors in examination and treatment;
• Provides unit organization and is responsible for the completion of all delegated and indicated nursing duties by the end of the assigned shift;
• Assists in training supervision and evaluation of new and ancillary personnel;
• Maintains current knowledge of nursing care developments and therapeutic measures;
• Attends department in-services and staff development programs;
• May participate in quality assurance/utilization review or other non-direct patient care nursing assignments;
• May interpret and monitor cardiac rhythms depending on area of assignment;
• Participates in crisis response interventions de-escalation and physical interventions when required to ensure patient safety;
• Performs Registered NurseMental Health duties in a training or closely supervised capacity while gaining knowledge of the full scope of responsibilities listed below; and
• Performs other related duties as required.

Registered Nurse-Mental Health

• Administers psychotropic medication monitors drug effectiveness and side effects and provides drug education to clients and clients families;
• Conducts initial interview and ongoing assessment of clients presenting problems including mental status level of functioning developmental status social and employment skills co-occurring substance abuse problems and mental and physical health educational needs;
• Provides periodic and ongoing re-assessment of changes in clients mental and physical health status nutritional status and progress toward recovery;
• Provides individual counseling leads or co-leads group counseling sessions and conducts family conferences;
• May provide functional and clinical supervision to student nurses and other disciplines;
• Evaluates client outcomes and periodically consults with the psychiatrist to determine the need for adjustments in the Care Plan;
• Participates in team meetings to discuss ongoing client needs and progress shift activity and adherence to program policies and procedures such as documentation and timeliness of services and/or treatments provided;
• Assesses clients suicidal or homicidal tendencies potential for violence toward self or others and grave disability; makes independent judgment with respect to clients need for involuntary treatment; and where appropriate signs application for immediate 72-hour detention at a hospital facility or schedules an appointment for evaluation and treatment at mental health clinic;
• May provide triage information and referral when appropriate and may assess incoming clients for assignment within the unit or department;
• Provides crisis intervention including evaluation counseling and consultation with law enforcement agencies; may be designated to escort patients for involuntary admission under Section 5150 of the Welfare and Institutions Code; explains and enforces legal rights;
• Participates in the development or amendment of program policies and procedures;
• Coordinates various tasks relative to the delivery of services in assigned program; and
• Performs other related duties as required.

• Requires six (6) months of recent full-time acute care registered nursing experience in an acute hospital or equivalent setting or
• Completion of the Ventura County Medical Center competency requirements* as evaluated and approved by the Chief Nursing Executive. These competency requirements are in conformance with the California Board of Registered Nurses nursing requirements.

Registered Nurse-Mental Health

• Requires one (1) year of full-time professional registered nursing experience providing direct patient care in a mental health setting

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Graduation from an accredited School of Nursing
• Must possess and maintain a current valid license as a Registered Nurse issued by the State of California or Registered Nurse licensure in another state with California licensure pending
• Must possess a current valid Basic Life Support (BLS/CPR) certification by first day of employment and maintain it thereafter
• Must possess a current valid Crisis Intervention (CPI) certification within six (6) months of hire and maintain it thereafter
• Must possess a current valid Violence Prevention (AVADE) certification within six (6) months of hire and maintain it thereafter
• Must successfully complete the Health Care Agency Pharmacology examination within three (3) months of hire

DESIRED:

• Experience caring for patients with multiple diagnoses such as mental disorder substance abuse and/or homelessness
• Experience in an Inpatient Unit Emergency Room Quad Jail Mental Health Unit or equivalent environment
• Bilingual skills in English and Spanish

Working to thorough knowledge of: the theory techniques and practices of professional nursing; medical terminology and hospital routine and equipment; medicines and narcotics; mental and medical nursing theories and practices; theory of human growth and development; current mental health treatment approaches; community resources and their interrelationships; mental health laws as related to patient care; and social and political factors influencing mental health care delivery.

Working ability to: plan and organize nursing care; train and supervise non-professional staff; maintain confidentiality of patient/client information; work effectively in different healthcare and/or hospital departments or shifts as required; establish and maintain the confidence of and working relationships with professional staff patients and families and other related entities; communicate effectively both orally and in writing; participate in comprehensive planning in consultation with a multidisciplinary team; make independent decisions on behalf of patients; and provide effective functional supervision and leadership.