RN, Inpatient - PrairieCare

We are a psychiatric healthcare system, dedicated to providing mental healthcare for all, with seven locations in the Minneapolis/St. Paul metro area, and two additional sites located in Rochester and Mankato. With a robust benefits package, career advancement opportunities, and great workplace culture, we value our employees and the work they do each day for our patients and families. Our services span the full continuum of care for patients, with a variety of roles and opportunities for job-seekers looking for more than a job, but a place where you can grow in your career.

PrairieCare is a proud to be accredited as a Pathway to Excellence® organization, designated by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) – the only current hospital in Minnesota to hold this prestigious credential. This achievement showcases PrairieCare’s commitment to a workplace dedicated to shared decision-making, leadership support, safety, quality, well-being, and professional development. A Pathway environment is a wonderful place for nurses to work & we’d love for you to join our team!

The Psychiatric/Mental Health RN is responsible for managing the care of adolescent patients (ages 4-18 years old) and/or young adult patients (ages 18-35 years old) experiencing psychiatric/mental health disorders. Care management for these patients requires psychosocial, physical, and behavioral assessments related to specific conditions and requires providing individualized interventions based on these assessments. The Psychiatric/Mental Health RN is responsible to assess, plan, implement, evaluate, and supervise nursing care of patients within the area of assignment pursuant to the policies and procedures of Prairie Care. Requires knowledge of nursing practices, which can be gained only through an accredited school of nursing.  Oriented and educated in gender, cultural, and age appropriate care for the assigned unit.

Responsibilities and Accountabilities:

• Assesses and monitors child and adolescent patients’ daily functioning and assist in mental health symptom management
• Demonstrates purposeful, informed, results-oriented critical thinking, resulting in safe, quality care and good nursing judgment
• Monitors own level of expertise continuously using ongoing self-assessments
• Collaborates with team, seeks timely advice, and gives and always accepts feedback to ensure safe patient care.
• Effectively uses therapeutic approaches to manage milieus with a focus on reducing the use of restraint and seclusion when possible.
• Uses reassurance and reflective listening when talking with patients and families
• Approaches patients leading by being curious not furious, appreciating that patients do well if they can
• Plans and facilitates nursing groups with patients when scheduled during shift
• Responsible for nursing assessment upon admission and the necessary discharge planning required in the hospital program.
• Tracks and communicates pertinent medical and psychiatric information both verbally and through written documentation in EHR. Documents patient assessment findings, behavioral and psychosocial responses to nursing interventions, and progress towards problem resolution.
• Administers medications in an accurate manner consistent with policy and good nursing practice including verifying allergies and/or contraindications and monitoring for side effects. Educates patients and families about medications
• Performs appropriate interventions as ordered by physician in an accurate and timely manner including needed testing such as lab draws, EKG, UDS, Genesight, and HcG testing. Documents results and provides safe handoffs to providers about the results
• Knowledgeable of and performs safe infection control practices including good hand hygiene, standard precautions, cleaning equipment and the environment, reporting and managing of suspected infectious/contagious diseases, and teaching patients’ practices such as washing their hands and covering their cough.
• Provides care in a non-judgmental, non-discriminatory manner that is sensitive to the patient’s developmental age and to the patient’s and family’s diversity, preserving their autonomy, dignity, and rights.
• Maintains confidentiality in matters related to patients and families.
• Maintains current competency in child and adolescent psychiatric/mental health nursing including the safe use of restraints and seclusion and effective de-escalation of patients using collaborative problem solving, therapeutic self, relationship-based care, and trauma informed practice
• Ability to intervene in pre-crisis or crisis situations by utilizing de-escalation techniques, limit setting, and the use of least restrictive interventions
• Knowledgeable of the Joint Commission standards for restraint/seclusion use and documentation requirements.
• Leads and delegates tasks to Psychiatric Technicians that are within their scope of practice
• The RN can function independently and as the Charge Nurse

• Graduate of an accredited nursing school with a Nursing Degree.  BSN preferred.  Current licensure as an RN with the Minnesota State Board of Nursing is required.
• Evidence of 1 year of psychiatric/mental health nursing experience within the past two years preferred
• Additionally, the RN may have professional certifications, including but not limited to an RN ANCC Certification in Mental Health Nursing, Pediatric Nursing, and/or Holistic Health
• Must have critical thinking skills and ability to problem solve
• Ability to communicate and make safe judgment calls in stressful situations
• Ability to multi-task, use time efficiently, and prioritize appropriately
• Ability to communicate in a professional manner in both verbal and written format, and models a positive teamwork attitude
• Must have basic computer skills using Microsoft Office products and EHR
• Ability to react quickly and calmly as part of a team to handle volatile and potentially emergent situations
• Quality Management- the individual looks for ways to improve and promote quality and demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness
• After training, be able to manage disruptive and explosive patients.

PrairieCare is a psychiatric healthcare system experiencing rapid growth in the Twin Cities and southern Minnesota. With multiple sites across the metro, including locations in Rochester and Mankato, PrairieCare has quickly grown to become one of Minnesota’s largest providers of mental health services to children, adolescents, adults, and their families.

PrairieCare does not discriminate against any person based on race, color, national origin, disability, or age in admissions, treatment, or participation in its programs, services, activities, or employment. PrairieCare is an Affirmative Action Employer/Equal Opportunity Employer supporting Veterans, Disabled, and other protected individuals and is committed to a diverse workforce.

PrairieCare is committed to ensuring equal employment opportunity, including providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with a disability.  Applicants with a physical or mental disability who require a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process please email hr@prairie-care.com for assistance.

Offers of employment from PrairieCare are conditional and contingent upon successful clearance of all background studies.

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