Nurse Lead - DDRP

The Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD; Humble (TX); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Retirement plan with company match

Paid Time Off accrual

Cell phone discounts

Tickets at Work

Headspace subscription

Job summary

The Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD in Texas is seeking a Lead Nurse to provide nursing clinical supervision and leadership within the MH Forensic Division.

You will supervise RN/LVN and non-licensed staff, ensure compliance with Texas Nurse Practice Act, and collaborate with medical staff to deliver patient-centered care across shifts.

This role emphasizes mentoring, performance evaluation, and program improvement to maintain high-quality nursing services.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Nursing is required.
• Minimum 7 years registered nursing experience with 2+ years in mental health/behavioral health or IDD nursing.
• At least 2 years in a leadership/supervisory role in nursing.

Responsibilities

• Provide nursing clinical supervision and leadership within the MH Forensic Division.
• Oversee licensed nurses and non-licensed staff delivering nursing care.
• Ensure compliance with the Texas Nurse Practice Act and center policies.
• Mentor, coach and evaluate staff performance.
• Collaborate with medical staff and division leadership to deliver patient-centered care.

Skills

Nursing leadership

Clinical supervision

Mental health nursing

Texas Nurse Practice Act

Crisis intervention

Infection control

Time management

Communication skills

Team collaboration

Documentation accuracy

Education

Bachelor’s in Nursing

Job description

Brief Description

The Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD ("The HARRIS CENTER") is looking for a Lead Nurse to join our team. Provides nursing clinical supervision and leadership within the MH Forensic Division program and/or services and reports to the Division Nurse Manager. Works in collaboration with medical staff and Division administrative leadership to assure delivery of quality nursing services that are patient-centric. Provides oversight for licensed nurses and non-licensed direct care staff in the delivery of nursing care and delegated nursing acts. Monitors and supervises delivery of patient care, and documentation of service provision. Acts as role model and resource person and has the ability to effectively implement the nursing process under the requirements of the Texas Nurse Practice Act. Demonstrates effective utilization/deployment of nursing staff, encourages professional growth among nursing staff, and ensures delivery of quality nursing services. Scope of responsibilities may encompass more than one unit/program across more than one shift within a Division service area(s).

What You Will Do

• Demonstrates sound management and leadership skills in directing and supervising staff in care provision that supports quality and is patient focused.
• Provides clinical leadership and demonstrates decision making that is clinically sound, systematic, timely, researched and reflects awareness of impact including reporting to appropriate members of the health care team.
• Leads assigned staff in completing duties and assignments, and meeting program/unit productivity requirements.
• Assigns specific tasks and supervises other RN’s, LVN’s and non-licensed staff in service settings in accordance with program design and structure including prioritizing assignments and adjusting priorities when indicated.
• Participates in system and program improvement activities that support quality care delivery.
• Develops and implements operative guidelines that support nursing policies, procedures and practices.
• Participates and makes recommendations for hiring of licensed and non-licensed staff within Division service areas.
• Evaluates and documents employee performance in accordance with Agency requirements.
• Provides leadership activities such as mentoring, coaching, instructing, and corrective feedback when identified for improved employee performance.
• Serves as a resource to nursing personnel in implementing nursing care based on patient need, licensure and competency.
• Promotes positive work relationships with staff, team members, supervisors and other disciplines and/or agencies.
• Works independently with minimal supervision and demonstrates effective use of time.
• When a provider of nursing care meets the requirements of the Professional Standards of Conduct as identified in the Texas Nurse Practice Act and delivers care within the framework of Center policies, procedures and program operational guidelines utilizing the nursing process.
• Provides ethical nursing care in a confidential, caring, respectful, non-discriminatory manner.
• Performs related work as assigned, adapts to changing work requirements and complies with Center policies and procedures.

What Qualifications You Will Need

• Bachelor’s in Nursing

Experience

• Minimum of 7 years registered nursing experience and a minimum of at least 2 years of mental health/behavioral health or intellectual/developmental disabilities nursing experience.
• In addition must have a minimum of 2 years of documented experience in a leadership/supervisory role in nursing.

Required Knowledge, Skills And Abilities

• Knowledge of Texas Board of Nurse Examiners Nurse Practice Act and nursing care standards of practice.
• Knowledge of applicable pharmacy rules and regulations.
• Basic knowledge of Pharmacology including psychopharmacology..
• Knowledge of and ability to apply crisis intervention techniques.
• Understanding of Standard Precautions and infection control procedures for dealing with sharp instruments, needles, blood and body fluids.
• Understanding of good body mechanics to avoid injury.
• Basic knowledge of the principles of psychiatric/mental health nursing and/or developmental disabilities nursing.
• Knowledge of leadership and management principles.
• Effective communication skills (verbal and written).
• Effective data collection skills.
• Positive interpersonal skills.
• Good organizational skills with the ability to prioritize.
• Demonstrates initiative and self direction.
• Able to coordinate well with others and work effectively as a leader.
• Able to use all related medical equipment, machines and monitors.
• Able to execute standard word processing on computer.
• Demonstrates strong time management skills.
• Able to complete task and assignments independently.
• Demonstrates clinically sound decision making.
• Able to meet Agency/Unit mission and objectives through the effective use of leadership and management skills.
• Ability to develop therapeutic relationships and positive rapport with chronically mentally ill patients and/or developmentally disabled consumers.

What We Have To Offer

The Harris Center not only offers a competitive salary but also a suite of excellent benefits designed to enrich your life both professionally and personally. Imagine a future with a robust retirement plan complemented by our generous company matching – a testament to our investment in your long-term financial well-being. Experience the unique advantage of our prior service credit, accelerating your journey towards a more substantial Paid Time Off accrual, empowering you to enjoy well-deserved breaks.

• Enjoy Cell Phone Discounts, exclusive entertainment deals through Tickets at Work, and a free Headspace subscription for mental wellness.
• Additionally, our Employee Assistance Program supports your overall well-being.
• Take advantage of significant financial relief through student loan forgiveness as a valued member of The Harris Center team.

What Else You Should Know

• The position number associated with this posting is 64044

About Us

The HARRIS CENTER is the state-designated Local Mental Health Authority and Local Intellectual and Developmental Disability (IDD) Authority serving Harris County, Texas. As the largest behavioral and developmental disability care center in Texas, The Harris Center provided care to over 96,000 people in fiscal year 2023!

As part of its mission to transform the lives of people with behavioral health and IDD needs in the third largest county in the United States, The HARRIS CENTER provides a full continuum of services at 86 different sites across Harris County. In addition, services are provided in more than 40 different languages as well as sign language to better serve what is one of the most diverse and multi-cultural communities in the nation.

By utilizing the unique expertise of its more than 2,500 employees, The Harris Center is committed to meeting the behavioral health and IDD needs of Harris County residents and giving them hope to live to their fullest potential.

Contributes to suicide care and prevention by embracing our values and applying a trauma-informed approach rooted in safety, trust, choice, collaboration, and empowerment.