The inpatient Child Psychiatric Unit is a 12-bed unit. It is a short-term child oriented program designed to provide crisis intervention and stabilization to children 3-13 years of age. The average length of stay is three to seven days. Each patient receives an initial psychiatric evaluation upon admission. While on the unit treatment may include additional psychological and medical evaluations as needed.

The treatment team can consist of the following: Attending Psychiatrist, Individual Therapist (Residents/Fellows), Medical Students, Psychology Interns, Family Therapist (LSW), Expressive Art Therapist, Educational Assistant, Registered Nurses, and Child Psychiatric Specialists.

The Adolescent Psychiatric Unit (APU) is a 14-bed short-term treatment unit that provides an extensive bio-psychosocial and treatment services to the adolescent population between 14-17 years of age. The program is designed to provide a safe and therapeutic environment to facilitate stabilization, evaluation, treatment, and follow up care of the hospitalized adolescent. Milieu Management is utilized to effect a positive change in the patient’s behavior by providing a supportive and nurturing environment that encourages and reinforces constructive interactions with others.

All nursing practice is based on the legal scope of practice, national and specialty nursing standards, Children's National Policies and Procedures, and
in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations. The Professional Model of Care requires registered professional nurses to be responsible and
accountable for their own practice. Children's National supports the development of RN relationships within the community; specifically those
relationships associated with the health and well being of the community at large.

Minimum Education
BSN Graduated from an approved school of nursing. (Preferred)

Minimum Work Experience
1 year RN experience (Required)

Required Skills/Knowledge
The licensed Registered Nurse will successfully complete the hospital and nursing orientation at Children’s National.
Keep knowledge base current with new information or changes in specialty area.

Required Licenses and Certifications
Registered Nurse in District of Columbia Registered Nurse licensed in the District of Columbia, Maryland or Virginia dependent upon location of practice. (Required)

Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation CPR (Required).

Functional Accountabilities
Transformational Leadership

• Contribute to Magnet re-designation as evidenced by independent updating of professional profile and initiation of council involvement, committees, task forces and /or community outreach.

• Demonstrate critical thinking skills by problem solving appropriately during patient care.

• Communicate to reflect development of plan of care and ability to advocate to meet patients’ needs.

• Independently initiate escalation of issues utilizing chain of command.

• Demonstrate proper use of the currently identified hand off processes.

• Demonstrate a collegial and respectful relationship with ancillary staff.

• Participate in implementing change and support management decisions.

• Role model behavior that reflects empathy, concern and a desire to help others.

Structural Empowerment

• Independently maintain regulatory requirements e.g. license, BLS.

• Plan for attendance at mandatory education and professional activities to enhance nursing practice.

• Demonstrate professional review of peers through timely participation in evaluations.

• Seek out opportunities to participate in enhancing departmental goals by ensuring adherence to national safety standards and service excellence standards; support advancement of education and certification as well.

• Collaborate with members of the healthcare team and role model professional behavior and teamwork with coworkers.

• Utilize resources as needed and know when to escalate to next level.

Exemplary Professional Practice

• Utilize assessment data gathered from patient and family to ensure completion of data base and plan of care within identified timeframes.

• Demonstrate clinical skills with complex patients that reflect analysis of patient status and appropriate interventions.

• Role model skill in prioritization and organization for complex patient with rapidly changing needs.

• Documentation exemplifies adherence to the highest standards of practice.

• Anticipate and proactively plan for educational needs verified with patient and family throughout the hospital/outpatient stay and prior to discharge.

• Role model organizational skills, adjust for changes and is able to complete assignment on time.

• Demonstrate caring in all encounters with patient and family as evidenced by feedback from parents and an increase in patient satisfaction scores.

Safety

• Speak up when team members appear to exhibit unsafe behavior or performance

• Continuously validate and verify information needed for decision making or documentation

• Stop in the face of uncertainty and takes time to resolve the situation

• Demonstrate accurate, clear and timely verbal and written communication

• Actively promote safety for patients, families, visitors and co-workers

• Attend carefully to important details - practicing Stop, Think, Act and Review in order to self-check behavior and performance

Organizational Accountabilities
New Knowledge, Innovations, and Improvements

• Identify ways to improve operations through quality improvement and assist in implementation of solutions.

• Identify self learning needs and take initiative to meet those needs.

• Ensure care is based on evidence with the literature and benchmarking

Organizational Commitment/Identification

• Partner in the mission and upholds the core principles of the organization

• Committed to diversity and recognizes value of cultural ethnic differences

• Demonstrate personal and professional integrity

• Maintain confidentiality at all times

Customer Service

• Anticipate and responds to customer needs; follows up until needs are met

Teamwork/Communication

• Demonstrate collaborative and respectful behavior

• Partner with all team members to achieve goals

• Receptive to others’ ideas and opinions

Performance Improvement/Problem-solving

• Contribute to a positive work environment

• Demonstrate flexibility and willingness to change

• Identify opportunities to improve clinical and administrative processes

• Make appropriate decisions, using sound judgment

Cost Management/Financial Responsibility

• Use resources efficiently

• Search for less costly ways of doing things