Montefiore Einstein’s state-of-the-art Center for Children’s Mental Health (MECCMH) provides intensive inpatient psychiatry services for Bronx treatment for youth and adolescents with serious behavioral health conditions including severe depression, anxiety, trauma, suicidal thoughts, psychosis and other acute psychiatric conditions.  

The Staff Nurse I/II maintains standards of the practice for nursing as defined by the American Nurses Association Code of Ethics, Nursing Scope and Standards of Practice and Nursing’s Social Policy Statement. The Registered Nurse actualizes the vision, mission and values of MMC and contributes to quality improvement through the balanced scorecard framework.

The Staff Nurse I/II will provide direct care on the Child & Adolescent Behavioral Health Unit, supporting youth in acute psychiatric crisis. The Staff Nurse I/II integrates behavioral health expertise with trauma-informed principles to deliver safe, therapeutic, and developmentally appropriate care. The Staff Nurse I/II participates in performance improvement/research activities; maintains professional practice standards and clinical expertise; and demonstrates leadership skills. The Staff Nurse I/II demonstrates core and unit specific competencies based on the patient population served, with a focus on psychiatric care and behavioral health nursing practices.  

Essential Functions:
•    Demonstrate leadership skills in the coordination and delivery of patient care by coordinating an interdisciplinary plan of care congruent with accepted LOS parameters for all assigned patients. Delegate aspects of care of the patient to team members consistent with capabilities and responsibilities of caregiver
•    Negotiate with team member if unable to fulfill role responsibilities; escalate as per MMC policy and procedure
•    Establish therapeutic relationship with patient/family and wishes related to care decisions are assessed and documented
•    Assume charge nurse assignment
•    Systematically assess health care of patients/families and responses to care rendered
•    Complete documentation reflecting interdisciplinary team approach as per policy, including teaching/learning needs of patients and families prior to discharge
•    Optimize achievement of patient outcomes.
•    Participate in identification, investigation, and resolution of actual and/or potential risk management/quality care/ethical issues.
•    Incorporate effective problem solving/conflict resolution/consensus building into daily practice
•    Evaluate patient progress toward health goals and modify critical path or plan of care accordingly
•    Develop, coordinate, and provide direct care for specific patient assignment
•    Provide a safe environment for patients/families and provide comprehensive direct patient care to assigned patients
•    Communicate effectively with patient/ family and members of the health care team
•    Maintain competencies and participate in activities contributing to the growth and development of self, colleagues and the nursing profession
•    Provide care appropriate to the age of the patients served
•    Establish a teaching and discharge plan based on documented patient/family learning needs, chronological maturation, and cognitive ability

Qualifications:

Required:
•    Current New York State License and Registration as a Registered Professional Nurse 
•    Minimum of Associate’s Degree required 
•    Minimum of 1-2 years of acute or inpatient behavioral health nursing experience, preferably in child/adolescent behavioral health
•    Current Basic Life Support (BLS) 
•    Willingness to complete training in crisis management within 6 months of hire

Preferred:
•    Minimum of 2-3 years of experience working with children and adolescents in behavioral health or acute care settings
•    Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)