PRN Psychiatric Nursing Assistant I - Neuropsych Unit

University of Iowa Health CareDepartment of Nursing is seeking a PRN Psychiatric Nursing Assistant to perform specific tasks to assist members of the Nursing team in providing patient care under the direct supervision of Registered Nurses.

Neuropsychiatric Unit (2 JPW)

2JPW is a 22-bed unit that provides care for patients with general psychiatric conditions, with a particular emphasis on thought disorders such as schizophrenia, bipolar, and other psychoses. 2JPW also provides specialized services for patients with an intellectual disability and co-occurring mental illness with challenging behaviors.

Responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:

• Establish therapeutic relationships with patients, families and multi-disciplinary team.
• Participates in planning patient care appropriate for patient's condition and age.
• Documents patient behavior in a factual, legible manner and identifies material to report to the registered nurse.
• Maintains patients' safety and security by providing physical care and assistance; follows Standard precaution.
• Provides supervision of patients during activities.
  Identifies potential crisis situations, reports to the registered nurse, and intervenes.
• Perform patient personal hygiene such as bathing, toileting, feeding, dressing, grooming and oral care for patients.
• Take temperature, pulse and blood pressure.
• Clean equipment, patient bedside area and nursing unit.
• Set up rooms for patient admission.
• Transport patients by bed, cart or wheelchair.
• Transport equipment, specimens and supplies.
• Stock and supply patient rooms and Nursing unit.
• Perform basic CPR as required.
• Maintain patient confidentiality.

Aptitudes required in order to perform responsibilities:

• Work in an environment with conflicting demands and/or priorities and rushed and/or urgent timelines.
• Manage multiple assignments and provide quick reaction and immediate response to emergencies.
• Maintain attention to detail over extended period of time and continually be aware of variations in changing situations.
• Strong communication skills and a tolerance for an active work environment with potential for negative behavior.
• Work well with all levels and types of people.

Minimum Eligibility Requirements:

• Ability to read, write and follow instructions.

Desirable Qualification:

• Experience defusing volatile situations
• Be a Certified Nursing Assistant
• Have strong written communication skills with experience providing customer service relations
• Previous patient care experience in a Mental Health setting is highly desired.