RN II - DCB 3D Adult Psychiatric Unit (Day Shift)

UTHealth Houston's John S. Dunn Behavioral Sciences Center, the largest academic psychiatric hospital in the country, is hiring a Registered Nurse II to join their team of professionals on the day shift supporting the Dunn Center 3D Unit. The DCB 3D serves adult psychiatric patients, primarily individuals experiencing psychosis, suicidal thoughts, or other mental health crises. In this position, the RN assesses patients' medical and psychiatric needs and provides professional nursing care in response to those assessments. The RN directs and supervises care delivered by Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVNs) and Psychiatric Technicians in an inpatient psychiatric setting. This position is ideal for candidates who are passionate about working in behavioral health, enjoy engaging directly with patients, and are committed to maintaining a safe, therapeutic environment while collaborating closely with an interdisciplinary treatment team.

Unit Information and Work Environment

DCB 3D is a 24-bed adult psychiatric unit that cares for a mix of male and female patients. The unit emphasizes patient engagement, safety, recovery-focused and trauma-informed care, teamwork, and service excellence.

Typical Staffing Levels and Team Structure

• 3 Registered Nurses (RNs)
• 3 Psychiatric Technicians (Psych Techs)

Schedule: Day Shift, 7am-7pm. Nurses work 7 shifts in a two-week period (3/4 split matrix schedule / Matrix scheduling pattern with alternating weekends - Weekends are defined as Friday, Saturday, and Sunday)

Orientation Schedule: All new hires will go through a 4-week mandatory orientation process

• 2 Week Hospital Wide Education Orientation: 8:00am - 4:30pm

• 2 Week Unit-Based Orientation

Please note: Team members will be required to float to other behavioral health units based on staffing needs and patient census.

The John S. Dunn Behavioral Sciences Center at UTHealth Houston, inclusive of the Harris County Psychiatric Center (HCPC), offers individualized inpatient treatment options for a variety of behavioral health disorders across the 23 units on-site. These units include treatment in child/adolescent, adult/geriatric, co-occurring disease, psychosis, and competency restoration units.

What we do here changes the world. UTHealth Houston is Texas' resource for healthcare education, innovation, scientific discovery, and excellence in patient care. That's where you come in.

Once you join us you won't want to leave. It's because we reward our team for the excellent service they provide. Our total rewards package includes the benefits you'd expect from a top healthcare organization (benefits, insurance, etc.), plus:

• 100% paid medical premiums for our full-time employees
• Generous time off (holidays, preventative leave day, both vacation and sick time - all of which equates to around 37-38 days per year)
• The longer you stay, the more vacation you'll accrue!
• Longevity Pay (Monthly payments after two years of service)
• Build your future with our awesome retirement/pension plan!

We take care of our employees! As a world-renowned institution, our employees' wellbeing is important to us. We offer work/life services such as...

• Free financial and legal counseling
• Free mental health counseling services
• Gym membership discounts and access to wellness programs
• Other employee discounts including entertainment, car rentals, cell phones, etc.
• Resources for child and elder care
• Plus many more!

Position Summary:

Assesses patients' medical and psychiatric needs and provides professional nursing care in response to this assessment. Directs and supervises the delivery of care by other nursing team members (LVNs and Psychiatric Technicians) in an inpatient psychiatric setting.

Position Key Accountabilities:

1. Assesses patient needs, plans and implements patient care activities and evaluates the patients' response to the treatment.
2. Assists patient and families in discharge planning, including instructions concerning medications, safety issues post-discharge, home care, potential problems and appropriate follow-up for additional support needed.
3. Participates in regularly scheduled team conferences and collaborates with the related health care providers in treatment, discharge planning and provisions of care.
4. Functions as the liaison between patients and physicians, other multidisciplinary team members and community agencies/resources.
5. Documents patient care and outcomes per hospital policy and accrediting agencies.
6. Administers medication and other therapeutic interventions, as ordered by the physician.
7. Makes decisions based on experience and training as to whether emergency situation exists and responds to emergency situations. May administer CPR and/or other first aid measures.
8. Remains abreast of developments in the field of nursing by attending seminars and workshops, communicating with peers and reading pertinent literature.
9. Performs other duties as assigned.

Certification/Skills:

Current State of Texas Registered Nurse license. CPR certified.

Minimum Education:

Bachelor's degree in nursing from an accredited nursing school with one year nursing experience; OR Associates degree in nursing from an accredited nursing school with three years nursing experience; OR Nursing Diploma (3 year program) and two years nursing experience; OR will accept ADN with two years' experience at HCPC as a Staff Nurse I.

Minimum Experience:

Years of experience varies based on education level.

Physical Requirements:

Exerts up to 50 pounds of force occasionally and/or up to 20 pounds frequently and/or a negligible amount constantly to move objects.

Security Sensitive:

This job class may contain positions that are security sensitive and thereby subject to the provisions of Texas Education Code § 51.215

Residency Requirement:

Employees must permanently reside and work in the State of Texas.