Placer County

To plan, organize, direct, and supervise psychiatric nursing activities and programs within the Department of Health and Human Services; and to perform a variety of technical tasks relative to assigned area of responsibility.

The Supervising level recognizes positions that perform full, first-line supervisory responsibilities including planning, assigning, and evaluating the work of subordinates and is responsible for a program area within a work unit or department.

Receives general direction from assigned management personnel.

Exercises direct supervision over assigned professional personnel.

Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Recommend and assist in the implementation of unit goals and objectives; establish schedules and methods for clinical activities and programs; implement policies and procedures.
• Plan, prioritize, assign, supervise and review the work of staff involved in providing public mental health services.
• Evaluate operations and activities of assigned responsibilities; recommend improvements and modifications; prepare various reports on operations and activities.
• Participate in the selection of staff; provide or coordinate staff training; conduct performance evaluations; recommend discipline; implement discipline procedures as directed.
• Oversee medication crisis telephone calls and walk-ins; provide assessment of and intervention with clients.
• Provide monitoring of clients; provide specific medication counseling and education to clients regarding the need, purpose, and effects of prescribed medications.
• Provide direct medication treatment (under psychiatrist's orders); assist in preparing medication-only treatment plans.
• Assist in developing a medication education program; assist in developing standards and procedures for medication monitoring by nursing staff; plan and provide in-service training for division staff as directed.
• Make home visits to clients; make site visits to contracting providers to provide clients with medication supervision and instruction.
• Assess needs/situation of selected new clients and provide case management and supportive therapy through observation, history taking, physical examination, analysis, documentation of findings, and consultation with psychiatrist; provide referrals to community resources as needed.
• Answer questions and provide information to the public; investigate complaints and recommend corrective action as necessary to resolve.
• Build and maintain positive working relationships with co-workers, other County employees and the public using principles of good customer service.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

Experience and Training
Any combination of experience and training that would provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying.  A typical way to obtain the required knowledge and abilities would be:

Experience: Three (3) years of increasingly responsible experience in psychiatric nursing.

Training: Graduation from an accredited school of nursing.

Required License or Certificate:

• Possession of a valid license as a Registered Nurse issued by the California Board of Registered Nursing.
• May need to possess a valid driver's license as required by the position.  Proof of adequate vehicle insurance and medical clearance may also be required.

Knowledge of:

• Principles and practices of psychiatric nursing.
• Services and functions of other social and health agencies/providers relative to psychiatric nursing.
• Principles of supervision, training, and performance evaluations.
• Policies and procedures of a health and human services department, especially as related to the assigned division.
• Principles and practices of work safety, especially as related to communicable diseases.
• Pertinent local, state and federal rules, regulations, and laws.
• Differing cultural, religious, economic and social groups and their relationships to the delivery and acceptance of mental health care services.

Ability to:

• On a continuous basis, know and understand all aspects of the job; read, analyze, interpret, apply, understand, identify, recall, and explain work papers, patient charts, reports, special projects, technical and numerical information, policies and procedures, rules, laws, regulations, and medical best practices; observe and analyze situations and determine proper course of action; explain medical practices and procedures to patients; work under time pressure and complete a high volume of work with interruptions; handle multiple tasks at once and work with frequent interruptions; focus on a single task for long periods of time; maintain awareness of safety at all times.
• On a continuous basis, sit at a desk for long periods of time; intermittently walk, stand, bend, stoop, kneel, squat, crouch, twist, and reach while assisting patients, administering medications, handling supplies, conducting site visits, and making educational presentations; twist to reach equipment surrounding desk; perform simple and power grasping and fine manipulation; see, smell, and hear with sufficient acuity to perform essential job functions; speak, use telephone, write, and use a keyboard to communicate; lift moderate weight.
• Organize, implement, and direct psychiatric nursing activities.
• Supervise, train and evaluate assigned staff.
• Interpret and explain pertinent County and department policies and procedures.
• Provide professional psychiatric nursing care; administer and handle medications.
• Provide instruction regarding use, purpose, and side effects of various psychotropic medications.
• Observe, assess, and record client behavior as related to psychiatric condition/treatment.
• Provide crisis intervention as necessary.
• Act quickly and calmly in emergency situations.
• Obtain information through interview; work fairly and courteously with the public; and work effectively with interruption.
• Analyze situations quickly and objectively and determine proper course of action.
• Use a computer, calculator, typewriter, telephone, facsimile machine, postage meter, and photocopy machine.
• Use nursing care and clinical supplies and equipment, including blood pressure cuff, stethoscope, syringes, and needles.
• Work with various cultural and ethnic groups in a tactful and effective manner.
• Develop and recommend policies and procedures related to assigned operations.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both verbally and in writing.