Psychiatric Registered Nurse

Company: Amedisys
Location: Blue Ridge
Posted on: March 18, 2023

Job Description:

Overview
Responsible for furnishing comprehensive, skilled, medical, and behavioral health/psychiatric nursing services to all patients in their place of residence.

Responsibilities

• Assesses the medical, cognitive, emotional, psychosocial, safety, developmental status, and behavioral health/psychiatric nursing needs of the patient during the initial nursing evaluation.
• Supervises case load including LPNs and Home Health Aides assigned to the patient managed by the RN Case Manager. Facilitates care coordination with PRN staff when care is provided for caseload.
• Helps to achieve and maintain continuity of patient care by communicating information timely, effectively, and systematically with all patient care team members. Facilitates interdisciplinary communication and follow-up through care coordination on assigned caseload for duration that patients are on service.
• Assesses the appropriateness of care and criteria for acceptance to medical as well as behavioral health/psychiatric home health care.
• Reports the status of all new patients to the Clinical Manager and the patient's physician and/or psychiatrist.
• Evaluates the patient's management and compliance with the medical and psychiatric plan of care.
• Maintains awareness for indicators in patient's behavior that call for change in the treatment modality (crisis, suicidal ideation) as well as other medical signs and symptoms.
• Observes and evaluates the physical and mental status of the patient for complications and medication side effects and implements appropriate interventions while working closely with the physician and/or psychiatrist.
• Implements nursing actions that will promote, maintain, or restore physical and mental health, prevent illnesses, and effect rehabilitation.
• Instructs patient/caregiver in cognitive and technical aspects of care, medication regimes, disease processes, safety interventions, ADL care, coping skills, symptom management, and other interventions.
• Administers IM medications, performs lab draws and specimen collections, and educates patient and caregiver in appropriate medical techniques.
• Documents visit, including instructions and interventions, in an accurate and timely manner while complying with the home health care agency's policies and procedures.
• Documents all telephone calls and physician contact for inclusion in the patient's chart.
• Respects patient's and family's rights as defined by the Federal and State laws and Patient Bill of Rights. Respects patient's right to confidentiality and patient's property.
• Establishes emergency procedures, instructs patient/caregiver when to call nurse, MD and 911. Maintains patient safety while a crisis occurs, calling police/911, MD, and nursing supervisor on call, and then documenting in clinical record, and filling out completing an incident report after crisis.
• Communicates closely with MD, interdisciplinary team, care centers and institutions for continuity of care regarding patient's progress. Acts as a case manager in coordinating care for all medical patients and behavioral health/psychiatric patients as assigned.
• Uses universal precautions while administering care to patients and is knowledgeable of policies, procedures, and protocol regarding infection control.
• Supervises home health aides every two (2) weeks and reviews patient care plan as needed.
• Reviews treatment planning under the direction of a physician or psychiatrist every 30 days with updates every 60 days, or before or as patient status changes require. Nursing action, interventions, and goals are stated for each individual patient. Discharge summaries are completed after patient's discharge from home care services.
• Supports health care professionals within the care center for other patients with psychosocial issues, assisting in developing a treatment plan of care.
• Performs other duties as assigned.
  Qualifications
  
  • Current, unencumbered license to practice as a Registered Nurse specific to that state the employee is assigned to work by the company. May possess either a single state license in each non-compact state and/or a compact license in their state of residence that is accepted in all Nurse License Compact (NLC) participating states.
    • Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) documents the following: The mutual recognition model of nurse licensure allows a nurse to have one license (in his or her state of residency) and to practice in other states (both physical and electronic), subject to each state's practice law and regulation. Nurses must legally reside in a NLC state to be eligible to have a multi-state license. See list of Nurse Licensure Compact States (NLC)
      • A registered nurse must meet one of the following to meet CMS requirements for psychiatric nursing in the home care setting:
        • An RN with a Master's degree with a specialty in psychiatric or mental health nursing and licensed in the state where practicing. The RN must have nursing experience (recommended within the last three years) in an acute treatment unit in a psychiatric hospital, psychiatric home care, psychiatric partial hospitalization program or other outpatient psychiatric services.
        • An RN with a Bachelor's degree in nursing and licensed in the state where practicing. The RN must have one year of recent nursing experience (recommended within the last three years) in an acute treatment unit in a psychiatric hospital, psychiatric home care, psychiatric partial hospitalization program or other outpatient psychiatric services.
        • An RN with a Diploma or Associate degree in nursing and licensed in the state where practicing. The RN must have two years of recent nursing experience (recommended within the last three years) in an acute treatment unit in a psychiatric hospital, psychiatric home care, psychiatric partial hospitalization program or other outpatient psychiatric services.
        • NOTE: Experience must have been within the last five years. If not, documentation must support psychiatric retraining or classes or CEUs to update psychiatric knowledge.
        • Must have good verbal and written communication skills and evaluation techniques and demonstrate knowledge of clinical skills, judgment, current nursing practices and analytical capabilities.
        • Current CPR certification.
        • Must be familiar with Medicare, Medicaid, and other third-party payor guidelines.
        • Must have a current driver's license, agency-required automobile liability insurance, and availability of personal, dependable transportation to conduct home visits.
        • Able to assess patient status and identify requirements relative to age specific needs.
        • Must be familiar with general use and functions of the computer, such as, usernames and password concepts; internet; e-mail; navigation of computer desktop, including starting programs, using files, and windows, effectively use navigation buttons and tool bars; ability to self-manage online HR services and online training programs.Amedisys is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified employees and applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, pregnancy, marital status, national origin, citizenship status, disability, military status, sexual orientation, genetic predisposition or carrier status or any other legally protected characteristic.

Keywords: Amedisys, Chattanooga , Psychiatric Registered Nurse, Healthcare , Blue Ridge, Tennessee