Join The Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD as a Staff Nurse, RN and unleash your innovative spirit with our FSPA program. The Nurse Staff, FSPA, RN provides nursing care to patients/individuals with mental and/or developmental disabilities within the Forensic Single Portal Authority (FSPA) Program. Duties include delivering nursing care and coordinating nursing activities as a member of the interdisciplinary team. Utilizes the nursing process to plan, implement, document and evaluate nursing care provided under the requirements of the Texas Nurse Practice Act within the Standards of Nursing Practice. Monitors and ensures patient request regarding treatment and monitors patients on the State Hospital Waitlist within the FSPA Program.
Your Role in Action:
Nursing Process
1. 1.Utilizes a five-step systematic nursing process to deliver consumer services. This process includes assessment, analysis, planning, implementation and evaluation.
2. 2. Demonstrates decision making that is clinically sound, systematic, timely, well researched and reflects awareness of impact.
Delivery of Nursing Services
- As a Registered Nurse, the delivery of nursing service is key to providing effective and comprehensive patient. This encompasses: Implementation of Care Plans: Executing nursing interventions as outlined in care plans, ensuring that all actions align with best practices and patient-centered goals.
- Medication Administration: Safely administering medications, monitoring for effectiveness, and managing potential side effects while providing patient education regarding their medication regimen.
Documentation and Reporting
1. Documents relevant information regarding nursing care in consumer records, charts and reports.
2. Documents observations of consumer signs, symptoms, test results, behaviors and response to medications and treatments. Complies with established Agency policies/procedures, accrediting/regulatory bodies and performance contract documentation requirements.
Individual/Patient/Family/Staff Education
1. Utilize a problem-solving approach as the basis for decision making in practice, including reporting relevant information to other members of the health care team or supervising Registered Nurse/Physician/Nurse Practitioners.
2. Provides to other members of the health care team, health education and information on disease processes and medications in order to meet/address consumer health care needs.
3. Informs, explains and educates consumers and family members regarding medications, relevant treatment information, and disease processes. Provides pertinent health information at an appropriate level and includes meaningful literature to support understanding. Provides nursing care with the focus on consumer, environmental, and technical safety.
4. Addresses any concerns regarding medication effectiveness or side effects.
Individual/Patient Safety
1. Performs technical nursing skills within the scope of practice for a RN and in accordance with Agency policies and procedures for individual and/or multiple consumer assignments.
2. Monitors for medication adherence and notifies treating physician and team immediately regarding non-compliance.
3. Assigns specific tasks, activities and functions and maintains appropriate supervision of other RNs, LVN’s and unlicensed personnel in agency settings for consumers with a variety of health care needs in accordance with program design and structure, if applicable.
4. Demonstrates behaviors that promote development of positive outcomes in relation to the practice of professional nursing.
5. Provides ethical nursing care in a confidential, caring, non-judgmental, non-discriminatory manner.
Coordination of Care
1. Comprehensive Assessment: Conducting through evaluations of patient’s health status, needs, and preferences to create individualized care plans.
2. Collaborative Development: Working with interdisciplinary team, including physicians, nurse practitioners, social workers, to design and implement a cohesive care plan that addresses all aspects of a patient’s health.
3. Communication Facilitation: Ensuring effective communication among various healthcare providers, patients, and families to promote understanding of treatment plans, progress, and any required adjustments.
4. Transition Management: Overseeing clients transitions between different care settings, ensuring continuity and appropriateness of care throughout, and discharge.
5. Monitor and Evaluation: Continuously monitoring clients progress and outcomes, adjusting care plans as necessary, and advocating for patients to ensure their needs are met throughout the healthcare process.
6. Education and Support: Providing education to clients and or families regarding diagnoses, treatment options, medication management, and self-care techniques to empower them in their health journey.
Professionalism
1. Integrity and Accountability: Maintains a reliable practice that fosters trust among patients and colleagues and demonstrates honesty in all professional interactions; takes responsibility for actions.
2. Continuous Learning: Commits to ongoing education and professional development to stay current with evidence-based practices, advancements in healthcare, and changes in nursing standards.
3. Compassionate Care: Provides patient-centered care that reflects empathy, understanding, and respect for individual preferences, values, and cultural backgrounds.
4. Advocacy: Acts as a patient advocate, ensuring their needs and preferences are met while navigating the correctional system, and promoting their rights.
5. Communication Skills: Exhibits clear, compassionate, and effective communication with patients, families, and team members, ensuring that information is conveyed accurately and respectfully.
6. Complies with Agency policies and procedures.
7. Performs other related work as assigned. Adapts to changing work requirements.
What qualifications you will need:
Education:
- Associate's degree Nurse (ADN) from two-year College
Experience:
- Minimum 1 year at entry level to 2 years nursing experience (not including clinical hours required for education).
- For RNs with at least 2 years of experience, a minimum of at least 1 year of mental health/behavioral health/intellectual/disability nursing experience is preferred.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:
- Knowledge of Texas Board of Nurse Examiners Nurse Practice Act and Standards of Nursing Practice.
- Knowledge of applicable pharmacy rules and regulations.
- Basic knowledge of Pharmacology.
- Knowledge of therapeutic communication.
- Understanding of Standard Precautions and infection control procedures for dealing with sharp instruments, needles, blood and body fluids exposure.
- Understanding of good body mechanics to avoid injury.
- 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 team member.
- 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.
- Able to establish therapeutic relationships with chronically mentally ill patients and/or developmentally disabled consumers.
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Demonstrates clinically sound decision making.
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 provides care to over 90,000 people and has an annual budget of over $300 million.
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 80 different sites across Harris County. In addition, services are provided in more than 40 different languages as well as sign language in order to better serve what is one of the largest 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.
What else you should know:
- Your workplace: Based at 1200 Baker Street – Harris County Sheriff's office.
- Work schedule: Monday - Friday; 8a - 5p
- Your flexibility, our commitment: This role requires adaptability with flexible scheduling as well as provides ethical nursing care in a confidential, caring, non-judgmental, non-discriminatory manner.
- The environment: Be prepared to navigate challenging situations - you may occasionally encounter unfavorable conditions.
- Your interactions: Engage with a diverse range of individuals, some of whom may be emotional, physically hostile, agitated or uncooperative. This is an opportunity to employ your strong interpersonal skills and patience to make a real impact in their lives.
- This posting is associated with position #62102.
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. As a qualifying entity, our employees are eligible for various student loan forgiveness programs, designed to alleviate the financial burdens associated with higher education.
