Description

American Traveler is hiring a travel RN Nurse Manager (Patient Care Manager) for an interim leadership role in an acute care psychiatric unit, requiring psychiatry experience with med-surg background and a NY RN license.

Details

• Acute care psychiatric unit with a max capacity of 40 beds, divided into sections
• Patient population includes adults and pediatric/adolescent patients with severe mental illnesses such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, anxiety, depression, and trauma; patients are typically medically stable with multiple comorbidities
• Nurse-to-patient ratios range from 1:6 to 1:12 depending on acuity
• Typical unit staffing includes 2 triage RNs, 4 RNs for adults, 1 RN for pediatrics/adolescents, and 1 charge RN (8 RNs total)
• Medications administered include IM injections and PO medications, including psychotropics such as Haldol, Zyprexa, and Ativan; no IV administration
• PCTs handle phlebotomy, 12-lead EKGs, 1:1 monitoring, transport, ADLs, contraband searches, and property inventory
• RT is available on-site and handles breathing treatments and respiratory escalation, including intubation when needed (patients are then transferred out)
• X-ray and CT available; PCTs handle patient transport for imaging
• No cardiac monitoring routinely; telemetry available for code situations; RNs are expected to identify major, life-threatening, and changing rhythms
• Security is available in-house 24/7
• Charting system: Altera (formerly Allscripts)
• Evening shift, 8-hour shifts; 3 shifts of 8.5 hours with a 1-hour lunch per week
• Every other weekend required
• May be included in the holiday rotation
• No on-call or standby requirements
• May be asked to float to inpatient units

Requirements

• Active NY RN license required
• Required certifications: BLS (AHA), ACLS (AHA), PALS (AHA), and CPI/CPIT
• Certification in Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing preferred
• Minimum 1 year of psychiatric nursing experience required
• Med-surg background (MS, MS-Tele, PCU, or ICU) strongly preferred
• MSN preferred
• Experience with de-escalation techniques and leather restraint use preferred
• Leadership or management experience in a psychiatric or clinical setting required for the Patient Care Manager role
• One supervisor reference from within the last year in the relevant unit and one peer reference from within the last 3 years required for consideration
• Annual skills checklist required for consideration

Additional Information

• This is an interim leadership (Patient Care Manager) role, reporting to the Director of Nursing (DON), filling a vacancy due to leadership turnover
• Key leadership objectives include rebuilding employee engagement, reducing regulatory reportable events, leading performance improvement and quality assurance initiatives, and strengthening team relationships and influencing behaviors
• Regulatory focus areas include restraints, behavioral health, infection control, and suicide prevention education
• Charge nurse does not take a patient assignment and instead coordinates the unit and supports staff as needed; Director oversees the entire facility
• Orientation includes 3 weeks total: 1 week classroom, 1 week on inpatient units, and 1 week on the assigned unit
• Scheduling is based on unit needs to fill gaps in permanent staff coverage; RTO requests will be considered and shift trades with permanent staff are permitted
• Royal blue scrubs required
• First-time travelers are welcome to apply