Registered Nurse, Psychiatry

Overview

Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine is recruiting for a Registered Nurse, Psychiatry. Reporting directly to the Team Lead, Psychiatry. The Registered Nurse, Psychiatry will play a vital role in providing compassionate, skilled and comprehensive care to individuals experiencing mental health challenges, helping them achieve optimal mental health and quality of life.

Responsibilities

• Refers abnormal lab work to physician for appropriate follow up.
• Calls in prescription refills.
• Discuss day to day issues with supervisor for resolution.
• Educate patients and their families about mental health conditions, treatment options, and coping strategies.
• Monitor patients for medication efficacy, side effects, and adherence to prescribed regimens.
• Provide patient education regarding medication usage, potential side effects, and the importance of compliance.
• Utilize communication skills to establish rapport, build trust, and promote relationships with patients.
• Respond promptly and effectively to psychiatric emergencies, including de-escalation of aggressive or violent behaviors.
• Collaborate with the interdisciplinary team to develop crisis intervention plans and ensure patient safety.
• Provide emotional support and reassurance to patients experiencing acute psychiatric distress.
• Maintain accurate and detailed documentation of nursing assessments, interventions, and patient responses.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of treatment interventions and modify care plans as necessary.
• Monitor and report changes in patients' mental health status to the healthcare team.
• Availability to work on weekends and evenings to complete time sensitive projects.
• Acquires knowledge for new technology and policy/procedure revisions.
• All other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) preferred.
• Certification in psychiatric-mental health nursing (PMH-RN) preferred.
• Minimum of 2 years of nursing experience, preferably in psychiatric or mental health settings.

LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS, CERTIFICATIONS:

• Current licensure as a Registered Nurse (RN) in the state of Michigan.
• BLS Certification Required.

OTHER SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Strong assessment, critical thinking, and communication skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Compassion, empathy, and a nonjudgmental attitude toward individuals with mental illness.
• Knowledge of psychiatric disorders, psychopharmacology, and evidence-based therapeutic interventions.
• Demonstrate the competencies necessary to provide service appropriate to the age of the population served.
• Ability to adapt to a fast-paced and dynamic clinical environment.
• Knowledge of and able to use EMR
• Knowledge of the phone system.
• Knowledge and ability to use Outlook messaging, appointment scheduling and the calendar.
• Ability to accept and apply feedback.
• Regular and predictable attendance is expected.
• Demonstrates the ability to recognize priorities in organization of work flow.
• Able to perform duties independently, with a minimal need for direct supervision.

About Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine (WMed)

We are committed to excellence and health equity through transformative medical education, high-quality, patient- and family-centered care, innovative research, and community partnerships within a welcoming, supportive, and engaging culture. Our vision is health equity for all in Southwest Michigan through innovation in the practice and study of medicine.

The medical school is a collaboration of Western Michigan University and Kalamazoo's two teaching health systems, Beacon and Bronson Healthcare. The medical school is a private nonprofit corporation supported by private gifts, clinical revenues, research activities, tuition, and endowment income. WMed is the recipient of a $100 million foundational gift and the Empowering Futures Gift, a philanthropic commitment of $300 million to support the mission of the medical school. WMed contributes to the economic vitality of Southwest Michigan through the services we provide, as well as the creation of 1,600 new jobs, with an estimated annual economic impact of $353 million in Kalamazoo and Calhoun counties.

WMed is fully accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education and the Higher Learning Commission. The medical school offers a comprehensive, innovative four-year Doctor of Medicine degree program as well as a Master of Science degree program in Biomedical Sciences. We train physicians in 10 residencies and four fellowships accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education. To support our educational mission, we have Joint Accreditation for interprofessional continuing education, which incorporates accreditation by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education.

WMed Health is the clinical practice of the medical school with more than 300 providers offering comprehensive primary care and specialty services in several locations throughout the Kalamazoo and Battle Creek areas. Faculty in the Department of Pathology serve as the Office of the Medical Examiner for counties throughout Michigan and northern Indiana.

The W.E. Upjohn M.D. Campus located in downtown Kalamazoo serves as the primary educational facility with student study and social spaces, team-based learning halls, faculty and administrative offices, a state-of-the-art Simulation Center accredited by the Society for Simulation in Healthcare, basic science research labs, as well as toxicology and forensic pathology labs.

WMed builds upon Kalamazoo’s century-long foundation of drug discovery and medical device development with a strategic investment in clinical, laboratory, community, and educational research. The Center for Immunobiology, Center for Clinical Research, Research Histology Lab, Innovation Center, and Human Research Protection Program contribute to the medical school’s advancement of knowledge through innovation and discovery.

Equal Employment Opportunity Employer in compliance with applicable State and Federal law.