Registered Nurse - Extended Acute Adult Inpatient

WellSpan Health; Mount Gretna (PA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive health benefits

Retirement savings plan

Paid time off (PTO)

Education assistance

DailyPay

Job summary

WellSpan Health seeks a dedicated registered nurse for an Extended Acute Behavioral Health Unit in Mt. Gretna, PA. The role provides professional nursing care as the primary nurse on the unit, coordinating with a multidisciplinary team to support adults (18+) with severe mental illness.

Shifts run 3 pm–3 am, full-time, with every-other weekend and rotating holidays. The unit emphasizes recovery-focused plans and reducing readmissions while promoting patient safety and collaboration.

Qualifications

• Diploma or Associate's degree required; BSN preferred.
• No experience required.
• Basic Life Support (BLS) required on hire.

Responsibilities

• Provides professional nursing care as primary nurse for patients on the unit.
• Administers prescribed treatments, medications, and nursing interventions.
• Coordinates care planning with other disciplines and documents patient response.
• Ensures safe transitions of care and effective handoffs.
• Demonstrates commitment to safety, quality, and evidence-based practice.

Skills

Patient care

Nursing assessment

Team collaboration

Documentation

Leadership

Education

Diploma program

Associate's degree

BSN preferred

Tools

EMR system

Job description

Job Description

Full-time (72 hours biweekly)

3 pm to 3 am

Every-other weekend and rotating holidays

Sign On Bonus Eligible

Program Description For Extended Acute Behavioral Health Unit

Join a specialized team caring for adults (18+) with severe and persistent mental illness in an extended acute care setting. With an average length of stay of 3-6 months, this unit focuses on reducing hospital readmissions through individualized, recovery-oriented treatment plans.

Working within a multidisciplinary team, you'll support patients in building the skills, stability, and resources needed to successfully transition to a less restrictive community-based level of care.

General Summary

Provides professional nursing care at the beginner practitioner level in accordance with the principles of patient and family-centered care based on the nursing process and according to the clinical standards of the hospital. Acts as a primary nurse for patients on the unit. Coordinates care planning with other disciplines. May require specialized skills depending on unit assignment.

Responsibilities

Duties and Responsibilities

Essential Functions

• Provides and coordinates direct care in accordance with the principles of patient and family-centered care based on the nursing process and according to the clinical standards of the hospital. Acts as a primary nurse for patients on the unit. Synthesizes patient data to develop outcome-driven plans.
• Safely and independently administers prescribed treatments, medications, and nursing interventions based on assessment and plan of care.
• Appropriately organizes and prioritizes time based on patient condition and expected workload. Identifies changes in patients’ status and acts accordingly. Knows and can activate resources to achieve outcomes for patients.
• Identifies and communicates individualized patient needs for safe handoffs during transitions of care. Collaborates with patient/family in care planning with all disciplines.
• Appropriately and correctly documents the patient response to interventions and progress toward outcomes. Identifies and documents variances. Appropriately utilizes flow sheets, progress notes, and/or electronic medical record for documentation. Is able to identify system and unit-based nursing sensitive indicators; i.e. falls, pressure ulcers.
• Identifies own areas of professional growth and development in performance improvement efforts. Recognizes the value of evidence-based research as it applies to best practice.
• Promotes a professional practice environment that supports patient safety and quality through interdisciplinary collaboration, Shared Decision Making activities including peer review. Integrate shared decision making by unit committee membership or by supporting and helping fellow co-workers attend committee meetings and/or work on SDM projects. Serves as positive role model.
• Begins to provide leadership for problem solving and goal formation. Negotiates for a win-win solution.
• Delegates aspects of care to other nursing personnel in order to meet patient needs. Helps assistive personnel organize and set priorities for work. Monitors completion of tasks that are assigned or delegated to the patient care team.
• Promotes collaboration and cooperation among physicians, nursing staff, and other members of the interdisciplinary team. Contributes to effective communications among all team members. Begins to display conflict resolution and negotiation skills to maximize team performance.
• Virtual Nursing.
• Variation of duties may result based on the assigned customer care unit(s). This may include differences in the specific clinical skills required of the RN. Unit based skill lists outline expectations beyond the house wide RN requirements. SYS-NURS-L Nursing Education Requirements Policy outlines current certification(s) required for specific areas of nursing practice and is considered to be part of the job description.

Common Expectations

• Demonstrates knowledge of the principles of growth and development over the life span of the assigned patient population. Assesses and interprets patient age specific data and provides appropriate, age specific treatment. Provides direct patient care to assigned patient age group(s).
• Demonstrates a commitment to patient, visitor and staff by: complying with all applicable safety regulations; learning the impact of medical errors and methodology that will lead to reduction of errors; reporting actual and potential errors, as well as hazardous conditions; identifying opportunities to standardize processes and \"error proof\" systems that will lead to increased safety; and participating in safety education programs and root cause analyses as required.
• Maintains Adheres to established policies and procedures, objectives, quality assessment, safety, environmental and infection control standards.
• Enhances professional growth and development through advanced/continuing education to maintain up-to-date knowledge, skills, and competencies.
• Provides outstanding service to all customers; fosters teamwork; and practices fiscal responsibility through improvement and innovation.

Qualifications

QUALIFICATIONS

Minimum Education

• Diploma Program Required or
• Associate's Degree Required
• Bachelor's Degree Nursing (BSN) Preferred

Work Experience

• No experience. Required

Licenses

• Licensed Registered Nurse Upon Hire Required or
• Registered Nurse Multi State License Upon Hire Required and
• Basic Life Support Upon Hire Required

Benefits Offered

• Comprehensive health benefits
• Retirement savings plan
• Paid time off (PTO)
• Education assistance
• Financial education and support, including DailyPay
• Expanded Paid Parental Leave

For additional details: Benefits & Incentives | WellSpan Careers (joinwellspan.org)

About Us

WellSpan Health’s vision is to reimagine healthcare through the delivery of comprehensive, equitable health and wellness solutions throughout our continuum of care. As an integrated delivery system focused on leading in value-based care, we encompass more than 2,300 employed providers, 250 locations, nine award-winning hospitals, home care and a behavioral health organization serving central Pennsylvania and northern Maryland. Our high-performing Medicare Accountable Care Organization (ACO) is the region’s largest and one of the best in the nation. With a team 23,000 strong, WellSpan experts provide a range of services, from wellness and employer services solutions to advanced care for complex medical and behavioral conditions. Our clinically integrated network of 3,000 aligned physicians and advanced practice providers is dedicated to providing the highest quality and safety, inspiring our patients and communities to be their healthiest.

About The Team

WellSpan Philhaven

Situated on more than 200 acres, WellSpan Philhaven’s main campus in Mt. Gretna, PA, is a tranquil place with walking trails nestled within a picturesque forest and adjacent to an operating farm. The campus provides an atmosphere of peace and serenity for our clients. Our most comprehensive continuum of care, which includes more than 20 programs and services is located at this main campus.

At WellSpan Philhaven, we help address mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, attention deficit disorder, phobias, post-traumatic stress disorder and more.