Job Description:
The Psychiatric Nursing Manager is responsible for overseeing the daily operations of the psychiatric nursing unit, ensuring high-quality patient care, effective staff management, and compliance with all regulatory requirements. This leadership role involves supervising nursing staff, developing policies and procedures, collaborating with interdisciplinary teams to deliver holistic, evidence-based psychiatric care, as well as serving as a liaison between the nursing staff and the BHU Program Director. The Psychiatric Nursing Manager will facilitate educational processes that include assessment, development, planning, implementation and evaluation of competency assessment, continuing education and leadership development. Teamwork is a vital component of patient care; therefore, incumbents will be expected to demonstrate their commitment to the same through effective collaborative efforts.
Key Responsbilities:
- Performs all job responsibilities in alignment with the core values, mission and vision of the organization.
- Maintains current knowledge in present areas of responsibility (i.e., self-education, attends ongoing educational programs).
- Maintains knowledge of up-to-date Medicare/Medicaid and other regulatory standards and requirements.
- Demonstrates accountability for identifying own learning needs.
- Assists with staff meetings and completes mandatory in-services and requirements as well as competency evaluations on time as requested by the Program Director.
- Provide leadership, guidance, and supervision to psychiatric nursing staff, including RNs, LPNs, and mental health techs.
- Coordinate and manage the delivery of nursing care to patients with acute and chronic psychiatric conditions.
- Development, implementation and follow up of nursing audit tools (Columbia Suicidal Screening Tool; 24hr chart checks; AIMs; etc).
- Assist team in areas of nursing related deficits: admissions, discharges, order entry sets, etc.
- Analyze clinical trends and data to identify patterns for continuous quality improvement and development, alongside infection control.
- Ensure compliance with healthcare regulations, safety protocols, and accreditation standards.
- Participate in hiring, onboarding, performance evaluations, and professional development of nursing staff, including RNs, LPNs and mental health techs.
- Serve as the liaison between direct-care nursing staff and the Program Director as well as between direct-care nursing staff and the Intake Coordinator.
- Develop, implement, and monitor unit nursing policies, procedures, and quality improvement initiatives.
- Serve as QBI/Safety Care trainer and maintain yearly recertification.
- Collaborate with psychiatrist, nurse practitioner, social worker, therapists, and other healthcare professionals to support integrated care plans.
- Monitor patient care outcomes and adjust nursing practices as needed to improve quality and safety.
- Actively engage as a member of the interdisciplinary treatment team by attending and contributing to regular treatment team meetings. Ensure that patient care goals are clinically appropriate, clearly defined, and consistently evaluated for progress throughout the patient’s stay. Collaborate with physicians, therapists, and other healthcare professionals to adjust care plans as needed to meet patient needs and improve outcomes.
- Review and organize charts of discharged patients to ensure that charts are complete and accurate prior to the chart being scanned in the EMR.
- Assist Program Director with auditing charts that are flagged according to Utilization Review Management guidelines/policies.
- Complete and oversee staffing schedules to ensure adequate coverage and effective workload distribution.
- Accountable for maintaining appropriate staffing levels. In the event of call-outs or staffing gaps, the Nursing Manager will be expected to cover nursing shifts or coordinate alternative coverage.
- Serve as a clinical resource and role model for staff in managing psychiatric emergencies and therapeutic interventions.
- Promote a safe, supportive, and inclusive environment for patients and staff.
Qualifications:
- Education: Minimum of an Associate’s Degree in Nursing (ASN) required.
- Licensure: Current RN license in Georgia; Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing Certification preferred. Department specific certifications.
- Experience: Minimum of 2-4 years clinical practice as a registered behavioral health nurse.
- Other Requirements: Have near normal hearing: (hear alarms/telephone/normal speaking voice); Have near normal vision (clarity of vision both near and far/ability to distinguish colors); Have good manual dexterity; Have good eye-hand-foot coordination; Ability to perform repetitive takes/motions.
- Skills:
- Strong leadership, organizational, and communication skills.
- In-depth understanding of mental health disorders and treatment modalities.
- Ability to manage crises, make decisions under pressure, and foster team collaboration.
- Familiarity with electronic medical records (EMRs) and healthcare data systems.
Benefits:
- Health, Dental, Vision, 403(b) retirement plan, company-sponsored life insurance, and rich accrual of paid time off.