COORD, MENTAL HEALTH

Westchester Medical Center; City of Poughkeepsie (NY); On-site; USD 95,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Westchester Medical Center in Poughkeepsie, NY is seeking a Nurse Coordinator with clinical expertise in Behavioral Health Nursing to provide direction and coordinate patient care and quality improvement activities.

The role involves supervising Behavioral Health and Turning Point units, acting as liaison to the Emergency Department, and developing staff learning opportunities while ensuring safe, high-quality patient care.

Qualifications

• Minimum of four continuous years in Behavioral Health Nursing or Surgical Nursing.
• Demonstrated leadership abilities.
• Current license in New York State as a registered professional nurse.
• CPR certification; CPI and department-specific advanced technical skills.

Responsibilities

• Assigns and delegates responsibilities to staff based on staff ability and unit acuity for assigned shift.
• Supervises Behavioral Health and Turning Point units to facilitate admissions to the program.
• Acts as liaison to the Emergency Department.
• Monitors unit protocols, policies and procedures and recommends changes.
• Investigates patient complaints and documents outcomes.
• Completes performance appraisals within established time frames.
• Coaches staff regarding substandard performance issues and sets goals.
• Provides learning opportunities through supervision and annual in-service.
• Develops educational programs specific to Behavioral Health Nursing.
• Facilitates problem solving and conflict resolution among staff.
• Ensures safe environment for patients and staff.
• Communicates standards of practice to staff and implements changes from committees.

Skills

Behavioral Health Nursing

Surgical Nursing

Leadership abilities

Education

Graduate of an accredited school of nursing

BSN preferred

Job description

Poughkeepsie , NY

Nursing/Nursing Management

Full Time

Days/Every other weekend

11am-7pm

The Nurse Coordinator is a clinical expert who acts as a liaison between staff and management, providing clinical direction and coordination of patient care and quality improvement activities and opportunities for staff development. Population served: Adults: Ages of 18 and above.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Assigns and delegates responsibilities to staff based on staff ability and unit acuity for assigned shift. Holds staff accountable for care of assigned patients and additional assigned tasks.
• Supervises Behavioral Health and Turning Point units to facilitate admissions to the program.
• Functions as liaison to the Emergency Department.
• Monitors the implementation of unit protocols, policies and procedures. Makes recommendations for changes in unit protocols, policies and procedures to improve the overall functioning of the unit.
• Assists the Department Manager to investigate patient complaints, work toward resolution, and document outcome.
• Completes assigned performance appraisals within established time frame.
• Coaches/counsels assigned staff regarding substandard performance issues.
• Collaboratively develops performance goals with staff and monitors progress. Provides feedback to staff regarding performance improvement.
• Provides learning opportunities for clinical staff through informal clinical supervision and structured annual in-service. Communicates staff learning needs. Develops and presents educational program(s) specific to Behavioral Health Nursing.
• Facilitates problem solving and conflict resolution among staff.
• Assists in supervision of personnel and to provide optimum assurance of safe environment for both patient and employee.
• Ensures that information is communicated to staff in a timely manner.
• Actively participates in development and implementation of the QI program.
• On a regular basis, ensures unit records are monitored for appropriate documentation. This includes, but is not limited to, medical records, restraint documentation, quality monitors, and accu-check. Facilitates resolution of identified problem in documentation.
• Assists Manager with incident review and assures appropriate clinical actions and reporting take place.
• Works with Director/Manager to communicate standards of practice to staff.
• Assists with implementation of necessary changes identified by Hospital-wide committees and regulatory agencies.
• Promotes interdisciplinary community. Assists with coordinating communication with Medical Staff. Independently identifies areas of improvement regarding the interdisciplinary community and facilitates improvements in communication and process. This involves working directly with involved staff to improve individual performances.
• Utilizing the nursing process collaborates with clinical team to supervise clinical management of patients with high risk or otherwise complex needs. Identifies areas of improvement in the nursing process and facilitates improvement in care.
• Demonstrates clinical expertise and acts as role model or staff.
• Assists in evaluating therapeutic programs and provided input/ideas for development of revised schedules.
• Assists in providing structure and resources for staff to improve programming, to include setting up group materials and teaching staff how to utilize these. Collaborates on assessment of staff adherence and compliance to the therapeutic programs bad aid with appropriate follow through for noncompliance.
• As necessary, covers the Department Manager as “bed nurse” to facilitate admissions/transfers/discharges for Mental Health Units.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

EXPERIENCE

• Minimum of four continuous years in Behavioral Health Nursing or Surgical Nursing.
• Demonstrated leadership abilities.

EDUCATION

• Graduate of an accredited school of nursing.
• BSN preferred.

LICENSES/CERTIFICATIONS

• Current license in New York State as a registered professional nurse.
• Certified in CPR, certified in CPI and department specific advance technical skills.

OTHER

• If applicable, the individual performing this job may reasonably anticipate coming into contact with human blood and other potentially infectious materials. Individuals in this position are required to exercise universal precautions, use personal protective equipment and devices, and learn the policies concerning infection control.