Description

Job Schedule: Full Time
Standard Hours: 40
Job Shift: Shift 1
Shift Details: Inpatient Behavioral Health Clinical Lead. Monday through Friday days, including alternating holidays and occasional weekends if needed.

Work where every moment matters.

Every day, over 30,000 Hartford HealthCare colleagues come to work with one thing in common: Pride in what we do, knowing every moment matters here.  We invite you to become part of Connecticut’s most comprehensive healthcare network. 

Charlotte Hungerford Hospital is a 122-bed, general acute care community hospital located in Torrington, Connecticut, that serves as a regional health care resource for the 100,000 residents of Litchfield County and Northwest Connecticut.  CHH offers personalized attention from an expert team of caregivers and physicians that utilize advanced technology and clinical partnerships in a convenient, safe and comfortable patient environment.

Job Summary

The role of Clinical Lead RN for Inpatient Behavioral Health is to have oversight of clinical operations for the shift they are working, as well as planning responsibilities for all shifts.  In collaboration with the Inpatient Nurse Manager & Administrative Director, the RN Clinical Lead will assume a leadership role as a system and clinical resource person for the staff.  The role will coordinate all patient flow through the Inpatient Department.  The TN Clinical Lead  will collaborate with the IP Nurse Manger to facilitate bed availability and placement of all patients.  The RN in this role will allocate resources, both staff and supply as necessary, to meet the demands of the Inpatient Department.   Reporting to the Inpatient Nurse Manager of the Department, this position functions in a clinical role to support staff in order to facilitate patient care.

Job Responsibilities

1. Prioritizes the needs of patients.
2.  Makes daily nursing assignments, including meal and break times, and facilitates appropriate referrals.
3.  Supervises and delegates tasks to unlicensed personnel (PCT, Business Unit Secretary, Transport  Aide, & Patient Observer), as appropriate.
4. Collaborates with Nurse Managers and Educators to maintain core and unit-based competencies required of all nursing staff for the unit.
5. Communicates effectively and coordinates patient flow with other disciplines including Physicians, Supervisors, Case Managers, and Bed Managers.
6. Intervenes with patients experiencing critical status changes or increased acuity.
7. Has working knowledge of all patients in the Department.
8. Adjusts  staffing according to patient care needs.  Provides input for effective use of staff (i.e., resolution of sick calls).  Collaborates Clinical Supervisors to assist with patient flow and critical patient care needs.
9.  Collaborates with and directs staff to ensure that safe, quality patient care is provided at all times.
   1. Approx. number of indirect reports – 10-12 per shift
10.  Ensures that Pyxis (narcotic) count is completed and correct at the beginning and at the end of each shift (7am, 3pm and 11pm).
11.  Ensures that daily checks on code carts, defibrillators, refrigerators, and other Department equipment are performed and documented.
12.  Projects needs for on-coming shift and prepares patient assignments accordingly.  Ensures Department staffing to cover sick calls and meal breaks.
13.  Expedites transfer of patients to assure optimal patient flow.
14. Works with the Administrative Director to assure regulatory and fiscal/budgetary compliance.
15. Provides leadership to Department staff in a coaching and supportive manner.
16. Initiates Chain of Command, in a timely fashion, regarding significant and/or reportable incidents pertaining to patients, staff, visitors, and/or work environment.
17. Assures that staff participates in service recovery and addresses patient complaints, as necessary. Assigns medical record audits and provides timely feedback to appropriate staff.
18. Monitors and maintains intra and inter-Department communication specific to change of shift report. Communicates bed availability, patient acuity, pending admissions/discharges/transfers, falls, restraints, wounds, staffing issues, and Code PERT information. Completes Charge Nurse Report.
19. Assists in the implementation of clinical pathways, standards of care, and guidelines for integrated patient care.
20. Assists the Hospital and Department in meeting its mission, values, and goals. 
21. Fosters continued professional development of self and Department staff members.
22. Participates in designated process improvement initiatives, serves on hospital committees, and reinforces new/revised policies and/or procedures.
23. Provides feedback to the Nurse Manager regarding employee performance.
24. Functions as a role model and clinical mentor.
25. Assists with facilitation of transfers.
26. Uses Microsoft Outlook and Meditech to communicate with Management and Department staff.
27. Provides leadership in creating, implementing and evaluating evidence-based processes that more effectively manage care for critically ill patients.
28. Serves as preceptor, mentor, and clinical resource for new and seasoned staff on Inpatient Behavioral Health.
29. Assesses learning needs and identifies gaps in knowledge for staff; in collaboration with Manager and Education, plans, delivers, and evaluates educational activities to address identified needs.
30. Demonstrates willingness to identify and/or assume activities relative to the developmental needs of the unit and the nursing department.
31. Demonstrates dependability/flexibility in meeting scheduling needs of the unit and Hospital.
32. Displays and upholds CHH core values of dignity, compassion, service excellence, community and integrity.  Consistently demonstrates caring for patients, for one another, and for the organization they are part of, and contributes to building trust, pride and camaraderie. 

Qualifications

Qualifications

• Current RN Licensure in the State of Connecticut
• BSN required
• MSN preferred
• Experienced Behavioral Health Nurse with 3-5+ years of clinical speciality experience

As a Hartford HealthCare entity, Charlotte Hungerford Hospital provides eligible employees with an extensive benefits package consisting of:

• Medical and dental benefits
• 401(k) plan with employer match
• Generous paid time off with accrual starting on the date of hire, including six paid holidays
• Additional voluntary benefits as well as employee discount programs
• Stress free commute; free parking and no shuttles
• Staff kitchen
• Individual offices for full-time clinicians            

With locations around the state, Hartford HealthCare offers exciting opportunities for career development and growth. Here, you are part of an organization on the cutting edge – helping to bring new technologies, breakthrough treatments and community education to countless men, women and children. We know that a thriving organization starts with thriving employees- we provide a competitive benefits program designed to ensure work/life balance. Every moment matters. And this is your moment.