ABHS·Scranton, Pennsylvania
The Staff Nurse oversees medication self-administration, infection control, and the coordination of medical care for residents. They bridge the gap between psychiatric and physical health while ensuring compliance with state and national accreditation standards.
The Staff Nurse is responsible for overseeing the persons served medication self-administration, medication refills, infection control, and lab coordination. This role ensures the safe and accurate person served self-administration of medications, the maintenance of clinical health records, and the coordination of medical care for all residents. The Staff Nurse bridges the gap between psychiatric care and physical health, ensuring that the facility remains in compliance with state regulations and standards for medication management and infection control.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Medication Management and Safety
Oversee the entire medicationself-administrationprocess, ensuring zero-error tolerance and strict adherence to physician orders.
Conduct regular audits of the Medication Administration Records (MAR) and Narcotic counts to ensure regulatory compliance.
Serve as the primary point of contact for the consulting pharmacist and local pharmacies to manage deliveries, refills, and medication destruction.
Resident Health and Coordination of Care
Perform initial health screenings and ongoing nursing assessments for residents,identifyingany acute or chronic medical issues.
Coordinate with the Medical Director (Psychiatrist) to implement changes in psychiatric medication andmonitormetabolic or side-effect concerns.
Facilitate communication with external Primary Care Physicians (PCPs), dentists, and specialists to ensure residents' physical health needs are addressed.
Regulatory Compliance and Quality Improvement
Ensure themedicaldepartment is "survey-ready" for state licensing audits andnationalaccreditation bodies (The Joint Commission).
Develop and implement infection control policies, TB testing protocols for staff/residents, and emergency medical response procedures.
Participate in Quality Improvement (QI) committee meetings, reporting on medication errors, health trends, and immunization compliance.
Candidates must hold a valid RN or LPN license and be a graduate of an accredited School of Nursing. A minimum of three years of nursing experience, preferably in behavioral health, is required.
Market context
Pennsylvania nursing roles are typically in steady demand across hospitals, outpatient settings, and long-term care, especially for RNs with current state licensure and BLS certification. These positions are competitive because employers often prefer candidates with a BSN and recent medical-surgical experience, and this platform’s AI-summarized requirements and benefits help you review the original posting faster. Before applying, confirm your Pennsylvania RN license, BLS status, and whether your experience matches the unit’s preferred background.