Discover the essential requirements, duties, responsibilities, and skills needed for a Psychiatric Nurse job description.
What does a Psychiatric Nurse do?
A psychiatric nurse is a healthcare professional who works with individuals experiencing psychiatric difficulties. They help create, administer, and review treatment plans that aim to improve mental health and prevent readmission to psychiatric institutions.
Job Description
We are looking for a detail-oriented psychiatric nurse to care for both inpatient and outpatient psychiatric patients. As a psychiatric nurse, you will collaborate with a team to develop evidence-based treatment plans, administer prescribed medication, and monitor changes in patients' symptoms. You may also need to use physical restraints to protect patients from harming themselves or others.
To be successful in this role, you should have empathy and resilience. A great psychiatric nurse continuously strives to improve their skills and provide the best care for their patients.
Job Duties and Responsibilities
- Evaluating patients' mental health status.
- Working with a team to develop treatment plans.
- Administering prescribed medications.
- Monitoring patients' adherence to non-medicinal treatments.
- Creating a safe and supportive environment for patients.
- Using physical restraints and providing comfort for highly agitated patients.
- Maintaining accurate records of patients' progress.
- Providing education and support to patients and their families.
Requirements and Qualifications
- Associate's or bachelor's degree in nursing (bachelor's preferred).
- Valid state nursing license.
- Preferred certification as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP-BC).
- Current Basic Life Support (BLS) training.
- Understanding of cultural attitudes towards mental health.
- Excellent triaging, diagnostic, and clinical skills.
- Strong interpersonal and collaboration abilities.
- Effective verbal and written communication skills.
- Resilience, empathy, and determination.
Psychiatric Nurse Salary
The earning potential of a Psychiatric Nurse can vary significantly based on factors such as geographic location, industry, professional experience, educational background, and the specific employer. On average, the annual salary for an Psychiatric Nurse in the United States is approximately $86200.
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