Registered Nurse II (Days)

The Metro Boston Mental Health Unit at Lemuel Shattuck Hospital seeks a compassionate, skilled caregiver to become part of a dynamic nursing team.

The selected candidate will provide and supervise the provision of direct nursing care and treatment to people served on DMH Continuing Care Units by participating as a member of the multi-disciplinary team, assessing health care and educational needs of patients and their families, assisting in admission and discharge of patients, facilitating milieu groups and supervising assigned staff.  Performs related duties as required.

Please note: This is a full-time (40hr/week) Day shift position: 6:45 AM-3:15 PM with alternating weekends off. Days off: Week 1: Tue/Sat, Week 2: Sun/Thu.

 Employees in this position will be required to perform "mandatory overtime"  

Duties and Responsibilities (these duties are a general summary and not all inclusive):

• Assists with patient admissions by collecting data, assessing learning needs, and participating in treatment planning with a multidisciplinary team.
• Assists patients in preparing for transfer or discharge to a less restrictive setting by providing health and mental health teaching to maximize the rehabilitation potential of each patient and by facilitating a therapeutic milieu group that meets minimally once per week.
• Practices principles of Safety, Hope and Healing, including prevention, trauma-informed care, de-escalation, and restraint/seclusion only when necessary to provide a safe environment.  Assists patients in reviewing and revising their Individual Crisis Plans (ICPP) and brings recommended changes to the Treatment Team.
• Performs related duties such as responding to health and safety issues and initiating appropriate action, communicating with appropriate staff, and preparing and maintaining pertinent documentation.
• Serves as a role model for staff at all times, by taking initiative in meeting patient needs, demonstrating professionalism and respect in all interactions, and working collaboratively with all colleagues.
• Investigates complaints by patients and others regarding such matters as methods of treatment, room assignments, etc., and attempts to resolve such complaints to promote patient safety and satisfaction.
• Supervises and provides leadership to nursing staff by utilizing professional standards of practice to ensure that patients receive appropriate care and treatment.
• Plans and assigns nursing duties according to the nature of the activity to be accomplished utilizing the principles and practices of supervision by evaluating the capabilities of subordinates (and available resources) to provide a safe and therapeutic environment.
• Evaluates the capabilities of subordinates to provide a safe and therapeutic environment, provides assistance to staff in improving their skills and abilities and completes formal employee evaluations (EPRS) in a timely manner.
• Evaluates nursing activities by reviewing patient medical records, observing nursing care, and visiting patients to ensure that nursing care is carried out as directed, and that treatments and medications are administered in accordance with physician orders.
• Participates in organized meetings and in team building to ensure total patient care needs are met, and to establish good working relationships.
• Actively supports the goals and mission of the organization and assigned unit by discussing strategies for achieving these goals with the Nurse Manager, and serving as a role model for coworkers, promoting the psychiatric rehabilitation model of treatment, and actively participating organizational committees.
• Actively participates in the identification, planning and implementation of hospital wide and unit based performance improvement and team building activities.  Remains informed of hospital and departmental policies and procedures, as well as Joint Commission and CMS standards, in order to ensure that regulatory and departmental standards are met, and a safe therapeutic environment is provided.

Required Qualifications:

• Ability to establish and maintain harmonious working relationships with others.
• Understanding of the principles and practices of nursing.
• Awareness of the problems in providing nursing services to special client groups such as the chronic, severely mentally ill.
• Keen knowledge of psychopathology and current treatment approaches used.
• Ability to set a positive working climate and to establish effective, productive working relationships with others.
• Capacity to maintain flexibility and deal with stress.
• Comprehension of the principles and practices of supervision, including planning and assigning work according to the nature of the job to be accomplished, the capabilities of subordinates and available work resources, and determining employees training needs.
• Knowledge of the methods used in employee evaluations and periodic reviews of work performance.
• Talent to accurately describe the physical, behavioral, and mental status of patients, in oral and written reports.
• Capable to transport heavy objects or persons.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Given the population served, bilingual or multilingual fluency. 
• 1+ years of experience supervising staff.
• Professional experience working with individuals who have acute mental illness.

Hospital Mission: 

At the Lemuel Shattuck Hospital, we take pride in helping people recover from illnesses and conditions that are often underserved or difficult to manage in other health care settings. The DMH units within the Hospital provide inpatient psychiatric services to adults with serious mental illness with the goal of enhancing autonomy, safety and return to the community. 

Patients are treated by a multidisciplinary team, led by attending psychiatrists which also includes psychologists, clinical social workers, psychiatric nurses, mental health workers, peer specialists, occupational therapists and rehabilitative staff specializing in vocational, recreational and expressive therapies. A variety of treatment modalities are used, including psychopharmacologic, psychotherapeutic (individual, group and family), psycho-educational, behavioral, cognitive and milieu therapies. 

Pre-Hire Process: 

A criminal background check will be completed on the recommended candidate as required by the regulations set forth by the Executive Office of Health and Human Services prior to the candidate being hired. For more information, please visit http://www.mass.gov/hhs/cori   

Education, licensure and certifications will be verified in accordance with the Human Resources Division’s Hiring Guidelines. 

Education and license/certification information provided by the selected candidate(s) is subject to the Massachusetts Public Records Law and may be published on the Commonwealth’s website. 

ADA Reasonable Accommodation:

If you require a reasonable accommodation with the application/interview process, please contact us at: EOHHS Candidate ADA Requests

For questions regarding this requisition, please contact Executive Office of Health and Human Services Human Resources at 1-800- 510-4122 Ext. #4
 

First consideration will be given to those applicants that apply within the first 14 days.

MINIMUM ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Applicants must have at least (A) one year of full-time, or equivalent part-time, experience as a registered nurse in a recognized hospital, clinic or medical facility, or (B) any equivalent combination of the required experience and the substitutions below.

Substitutions:

I. A Graduate degree with a major in Nursing may be substituted for the required experience .*

*Education toward such a degree will be prorated on the basis of the proportion of the requirements actually completed.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL LEVELS IN SERIES: Current and valid registration as a professional nurse under the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing.

*Recent graduates from an approved school of nursing must have applied for the first available registered nurse examination.

Based on assignment, possession of a current and valid Massachusetts Motor Vehicle Operator's license may be required.

Salary placement is determined by a combination of factors, including the candidate’s years of directly related experience and education, and alignment with our internal compensation structure as set forth by the Human Resources Division’s Hiring Guidelines. For all bargaining unit positions (non-management), compensation is subject to the salary provisions outlined in the applicable collective bargaining agreement and will apply to placement within the appropriate salary range.

Comprehensive Benefits

When you embark on a career with the Commonwealth, you are offered an outstanding suite of employee benefits that add to the overall value of your compensation package. We take pride in providing a work experience that supports you, your loved ones, and your future.

Want the specifics? Explore our Employee Benefits and Rewards!

Title 101 CMR 23.00 (“Regulation”) requires certain agency staff to have received the COVID-19 vaccination and Influenza vaccination, or have taken required mitigation measures, to prevent viral infection and transmission in State Hospitals and State Congregate Care Facilities. The Regulation applies to this position. Successful candidates will be required to acknowledge and attest to your vaccination status for both COVID-19 and Influenza. 

An Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer.  Females, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.

The Commonwealth is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, national origin, veteran status, or any other basis covered by appropriate law.  Research suggests that qualified women, Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color (BIPOC) may self-select out of opportunities if they don't meet 100% of the job requirements.  We encourage individuals who believe they have the skills necessary to thrive to apply for this role.