Psychiatric Care Training

Overview

The SFDPH Psychiatric Nurse Training Program is designed to equip new graduate or inexperienced Registered Nurses with the skills and knowledge necessary to provide patient-centered psychiatric care within a recovery-based interdisciplinary team.

Essential Job Functions

By participating in this program, you will play a vital role in providing specialized nursing care in both acute psychiatric emergency and inpatient psychiatric settings. Your responsibilities will include:

• Designing and following interdisciplinary care plans

• Documenting relevant behaviors according to patient acuity levels

• Administering both scheduled and PRN medications for assigned patients

• Assisting with unit safety and milieu management for all patients

• Delivering patient-centered care within the Recovery Model of nursing

• Facilitating group sessions and offering continuous patient education

• Conducting ongoing assessments of patient behavior and psychiatric status changes

• Collaborating with the interdisciplinary team

Training Program Objective

Our objective is to equip you with the following skills and knowledge:

• Become proficient in the principles of the Recovery Model of nursing and integrate these philosophies into daily nursing practice

• Know when and how to appropriately intervene for patients experiencing psychiatric crisis

• Develop an understanding of psychiatric terminology and documentation in an acute care setting

Successful Applicant Profile

To thrive in our program, successful applicants should possess the following qualities:

• An interest in working with patients in an acute psychiatric setting is crucial

• A willingness to learn and implement recovery and harm reduction-based principles in nursing practice

• While not mandatory, experience using CPI intervention strategies is beneficial

• Possess a valid permanent/temporary (including interim permit) California Registered Nurse License