Psychiatric Nurse Manager

The Psychiatric Nurse Manager supervises and manages health services by providing effective leadership and direction to medical/nursing department staff as well as providing direct medical services as needed to all individuals served. This role is responsible for ensuring consistencies in the standard of practice across clinical settings and will provide quality management, risk management, and utilization review as required. The incumbent will work cooperatively with management staff to ensure a safe clinical environment for individuals served, employees and visitors. It is expected that this salaried position will require working in excess of 40 hours per week and be readily available by telephone when off-site.

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES:

• Lead activities related to clinical nursing services ensuring patient needs are met in accordance with professional standards of medical and nursing care as mandated federally and by the District of Columbia.
• Develop, implement, and evaluate nursing/clinical methods to ensure effective and efficient use of staff, facilities, equipment, and other resources while maintaining patient care standards; revise policies as needed.
• Consult with Medical Director on patient care or nursing problems and interpret center policies to ensure consumer needs are met.
• Participate in treatment team meetings providing input or recommendations on clients’ medical and psychiatric conditions.
• Engage in clinical nursing investigations related to improving the delivery of services or lapses in the coordination of care.
• Provide on-going guidance and direction to agency staff in emergency medical or clinical situations.
• Ensure regular inspections and proper safeguards of equipment, supplies, storage of medications, and medical records.
• Recruit, hire, and train staff in the Nursing department, overseeing the orientation of new staff to their respective positions and supervises and evaluates the performance of the staff in the department.
• Administratively and clinically supervise all Registered Nurses, Certified Medical Assistants, and front desk staff, including contract staff and currently employed staff members acting part-time in any of these professional capacities.
• Ensure that all staff meet or exceed productivity requirements.
• Encourages continuous development of staff in the department and provides in-service training as needed.
• Ensures nursing personnel provide whole person assessments and treatments (medication, diet, rehabilitative nursing care, activities of daily living, safety, training in self-care, etc.), and ensures that optimal comfort and care is provided to each individual served.
• Ensure that the system for documenting nursing services provided to individuals served is in compliance with regulations and standards
• Serve as the Center’s Infection Control Monitor (while delegating reporting and teaching duties as needed to other nursing personnel) and ensure any incidents of non-compliance are immediately addressed.
• Perform record audits monthly to ascertain proper documentation of care given and counsels employees on proper documentation.
• Ensure quality assurance data is maintained and reports are prepared for the Quality Improvement Director and committee.
• Collaborate with a multidisciplinary team with the implementation of annual emergency training and emergency preparedness training.
• Establish and maintain positive, effective working relationships with other senior management, outside agencies, and the medical and mental health community.
• Participates in client home visits in the community, as necessary.
• May perform other duties as directed.

Requirements

• Requires a BSN degree and must be licensed as a Registered Nurse (RN) in the District of Columbia.
• A minimum of five (2) years of experience in nursing, clinical, and operational leadership, and solidly demonstrated management skills is preferred.
• Must have clinical management knowledge, data analysis, conflict resolution, and excellent writing skills.
• Ability to coordinate with a multi-disciplinary team within an outpatient mental health agency.
• Experience in program design and implementation in a nonprofit or clinical setting.
• Knowledge of sound ethical clinical practice and principles related to the care of mental health consumers.
• A superior communicator, who shares information readily and concisely, listens as well as gives advice and respects the abilities of others.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent computer skills, to include operating Microsoft Office Suite programs.
• Knowledge and ability to navigate an Electronic Medical Record (EMR), including data entry.
• Ability to relate to adults diagnosed with serious and persistent mental illness, using knowledge of concepts, principles, and theories related to mental health and mental illness.
• Ability to perform amicably in an environment serving the seriously and persistently mentally ill adult population.
• Ability to respect and uphold client confidentiality.
• Ability to exhibit a high level of organizational skills and ability to prioritize and multi-task without direct supervision.