Staff Nurse - Psychiatry and Behavioral Health Clinic

Role Overview

Staff Nurse - Psychiatry and Behavioral Health Clinic at American Hospital Dubai.

Role Purpose

This position conducts comprehensive psychiatric assessments including substance use screening and suicide risk assessments. The Staff Nurse provides specialized care for patients experiencing manic episodes, active hallucinations, and those diagnosed with borderline personality disorder, schizophrenia, and somatic symptom disorder. The role offers support and intervention for patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder and implements strategies for managing violent and assaultive behaviors. The Staff Nurse administers long-acting injectable antipsychotic medications and monitors for extrapyramidal symptoms in patients receiving such treatment, ensuring holistic care and safety for all patients under their care.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in nursing with minimum three years full-time course duration, OR
• Degree in nursing with minimum two years course duration and registration as a Registered Nurse from Canada, USA, UK, Ireland, South Africa, New Zealand, or Australia
• Minimum two years of recent post-graduate experience in Psychiatry and Behavioral Health Nursing
• Knowledge of and ability to render care and services based on age, appropriateness, and developmental needs of patients
• Skills in the assessment of patient and family's physical and psychological needs
• Skills in coordination and planning of care and prioritizing care based on individual needs

Special Provisions for UAE Nationals

• Graduates of UAE or non-UAE universities are exempted from the experience and clinical training requirements for the applied title (must submit copy of birth certificate and mother's family book)

Special Provisions for Non-UAE National Graduates

• Non-UAE national graduates from UAE universities must successfully complete six months of clinical training post-graduation in an APS health facility (except for Registered and Assistant Nurse titles)

Skills & Certifications

• Valid license or registration to practice in home country and/or country of last employment (where applicable)
• Basic Life Support (BLS) certification (minimum)
• Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) certification (essential)

Key Responsibilities

Patient Assessment & Care Planning

• Provide age-specific patient-centered care utilizing the nursing process
• Perform patient assessment using appropriate, problem-focused, and age-specific assessment techniques
• Perform continual critical care assessment of patient and family's physical and psychological needs
• Involve the patient, significant others, and health care providers in the plan of care when appropriate
• Coordinate and plan critical care or clinical pathway and prioritize care based on individual needs
• Revise the care plan as necessary
• Initiate appropriate transfer plan
• Recognize subtle cues to anticipate potential problems

Psychiatric Nursing Assessment & Intervention

• Assist in thorough psychiatric nursing assessments to evaluate patients' mental health status
• Administer substance use screening to identify patients at risk of substance abuse
• Aid in suicide risk assessments for psychiatric patients to ensure their safety
• Provide specialized care for patients experiencing manic episodes, ensuring their needs are met
• Offer support and intervention for patients experiencing active hallucinations to manage their symptoms effectively
• Assist in creating tailored care plans for patients diagnosed with borderline personality disorder
• Provide comprehensive care for patients diagnosed with schizophrenia, addressing their unique needs and symptoms
• Offer compassionate care for patients with somatic symptom disorder, addressing both physical and psychological aspects of their condition
• Support in implementing strategies for managing and supporting patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder
• Utilize appropriate techniques to manage violent and assaultive behaviors in patients

Medication Administration & Monitoring

• Administer long-acting injectable antipsychotic medications to patients as prescribed by the healthcare team
• Aid in assessments for extrapyramidal symptoms in patients receiving antipsychotic medications to monitor for side effects and ensure patient safety
• Perform safe handling and administrating of Narcotic, Controlled, and Semi-Controlled Drugs and documentation as directed by policies and procedures

Collaboration & Coordination

• Collaborate with a multidisciplinary team to provide patient care
• Participate in staff meetings and unit committees or projects
• Participate in developing and achieving unit goals

Documentation & Record-Keeping

• Document all relevant data in the medical record according to hospital and departmental standards

Safety & Compliance

• Maintain a safe environment for patients and staff
• Assume responsibility for meeting Joint Commission International Accreditation (JCIA) required mandatory education (fire, safety, infection control, and others)
• Maintain clinical and professional competency based on the latest research and established standards of practice
• Complete yearly the critical care nursing competencies (basic)
• Ensure completion of unit competencies (pain management and utilization of Emergency Department devices)

Quality Improvement & Continuous Learning

• Participate in unit-based Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) activities (data collection, CQI teams, incident reporting, customer complaint reporting, medication error reporting, etc.)
• Participate in ongoing educational activities
• Maintain mandatory educational requirements

Unit Support

• Ensure availability and maintenance of supplies and equipment needed for the unit and patient care
• Perform clerical duties when needed
• Perform additional duties when required