Assesses & evaluates nursing & medical needs of patients who are institutionalized, initiates & directs implementation of nursing care plan, observes, evaluates & records patient behavior, condition & response to medication, treatments & therapeutic activities, coordinates clinical & medical appointments, provides professional nursing care (i.e., administers medications & treatments as ordered by physician, assists with physical examinations, takes & records vital signs), assists in feeding & grooming patients when needed, responsible for patient/family teaching & responds to emergencies.
Directs delivery of & evaluates psychiatric & nursing care of patients as delivered by lower-level professional & nonprofessional staff (e.g., LPNs, hospital aides, therapeutic program workers) on assigned shift, monitors LPN medication administration, documentation, patient care & operation of medical equipment & assists in orienting & training new nursing services employees.
Prepares & reviews records & reports (e.g., incidents, restraints/seclusions, nursing care plans, shift reports, transfers, admissions & discharges), updates nursing care plans, transcribes &/or verifies doctors' orders, writes & reviews treatment plans & writes nursing summaries.
Serves as interdisciplinary treatment team member, attends seminars, meetings & conferences & attends, conducts & participates in in-service training sessions/programs.
Knowledge of professional nursing procedures; psychiatric or developmentally disabled nursing; employee training & development; state & federal regulations, policies & procedures as related to nursing; public relations; counseling. Skill in operation of medical equipment. Ability to deal with some abstract but mostly concrete variables; write meaningful, concise & accurate reports; demonstrate physical fitness.
