JOB TITLE: REGISTERED PRN NURSE

JOB CODE: 30480

DEFINITION: This is professional PRO RE NATA nursing in the physical, psychosocial, mental health, or rehabilitative health care of individuals on an as needed basis.

An employee in this job performs on an on-call intermittent basis as a PRN staff nurse within a patient care area in a state mental hospital, state general hospital or rehabilitative care facility. Assignments in this classification may involve responsibility as a PRN charge nurse of a patient care area usually on the evening or night shift. Employees associated with the direct delivery of physical, psychosocial, rehabilitative, or psychiatric and mental health nursing care provide nursing diagnosis and treatment to individuals with actual or potential health problems. Charge responsibility, however, involves more emphasis on the coordination of service, coverage of services, and the maintenance of records within a patient care area. Employees are responsible for developing and implementing plans of nursing care as part of the multi-disciplinary treatment plan by integrating all component functions of nursing care independently and through non-professional nursing personnel. Work involves identifying and assessing the health care needs and status of individuals; conferring with other disciplines within the facility; and selecting, implementing, and evaluating those therapeutic measures essential to the effective execution of a nursing regimen or prescribed medical regimen. Work includes continually assessing, recording, reporting, and evaluating signs and symptoms relative to the individual's rehabilitative, physical, or mental health status. Work is received in the form of oral or written instructions and is reviewed while in progress and upon completion by a professional nursing supervisor for adherence to established standards, application of nursing skills, and level of employee competence. EXAMPLES OF WORK: (NOTE: The examples of work are representative of the work, but every position classified to this job may not perform all examples of work listed. Conversely, this is not an all-inclusive list of work examples.)

• Provides direct patient care by utilizing the nursing process, i.e., assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and evaluation in order to maximize the treatment program of the individual.

• Observes, assesses, records, and reports those signs, symptoms, and processes which indicate the patient's responses to actual or potential health problems.

• Implements, reviews, and modifies nursing care plans for each individual in cooperation with the individual, family, and other members of the nursing staff.

• Under clinical supervision, explains to the patients and family members the policies, rules and regulations, procedures, and objectives as they relate to the health care system.

• Directs the work of non-professional nursing personnel engaged in the direct care and treatment of individuals.

• Provides orientation and on-the-job health care education to non-professional personnel engaged in direct patient care and treatment.

• Identifies actual and potential safety and health hazards within the assigned care area and takes appropriate action to eliminate them.

• Provides input in pre-discharge planning with patients, families, and other members of the health care system to facilitate continuity of care in the community.

• Prepares and submits records and reports as required in accordance with rules and regulations.

• Provides input to the nursing data base to the inter-disciplinary treatment team and provides input in the development, implementation, evaluation, and modification of comprehensive individualized treatment plans.

• Provides health promotion and maintenance through teaching, guidance, and counseling to patients, families, and other members of the health care system. Ensures that medical regimens are appropriately implemented within prescribed written orders.

• Observes, interprets, records, and reports the effect of pharmacological agents and therapeutic treatments.

• Performs related work as required.

ENTRY LEVEL KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Knowledge of the theories and practices of professional nursing.

• Knowledge of the theories and practices of professional psychiatric and mental health nursing.

• Skill in applying basic nursing practices and methodology.

• Ability to develop skill in the application of professional psychiatric and mental health nursing.

• Ability to apply basic psychiatric and mental health nursing concepts, techniques, and procedures.

• Ability to develop and apply the techniques needed in interviewing, observing, recording, and reporting signs and symptoms of patients' actual or potential health status.

• Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with employees of the health care facility.

• Ability to maintain records and prepare reports, i.e., nursing care plans, patients' charts.

• Ability to establish and maintain effective communications with patients, families, and other members of the health care system.

• Ability to provide guidance to patients and families in health promotion and maintenance.

• Ability to give, understand, and follow oral and written instructions.

• Ability to instruct and direct non-professional nursing personnel in the care and treatment of patients.

• Ability to identify actual or potential health and safety hazards.

• Ability to acquire new knowledges, skills, and techniques required to maintain current proficiency in nursing practice.

• Ability to develop the capacity to make independent judgments in relation to nursing care of the patient.

• Ability to express ideas clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.

• Ability to recognize the limitations of one's capabilities and to seek help and/or guidance when necessary.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

• All positions require active authorization to practice as a Registered Nurse in Pennsylvania.

• All employees possessing an active temporary practice permit must obtain licensure as a Registered Nurse within the one (1) year period defined by the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing.