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Psychiatric School Nurse Job – Friendship Academy

The Watson Institute is hiring a full-time psychiatric school nurse at Friendship Academy, a special education school for children ages 5 to 21 with emotional and behavioral disorders located 4 miles east of Pittsburgh, PA. This position works Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Job Benefits

At the Watson Institute, we invest in our employees personally and professionally. Check out a few of the employee benefits you’ll receive as a Watson employee:

  • Access to Tuition Reimbursement to pursue further education and advanced degrees.
  • Qualifying employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program
  • Ongoing professional development through continued education opportunities, training, and direct staff support
  • Excellent medical, dental, and vision coverage, and additional voluntary benefits
  • 403b retirement plan with employer contributions and match after 1 year of employment

Learn more about what it’s like to work at the Watson Institute!

Employment Type: Full-time

School Nurse Job Responsibilities:

  • Provide health care for acute/chronic injuries or illnesses
  • Medication management including reordering medications, collaborating with pharmacies and securing insurance authorizations
  • Act as liaison between the psychiatrist, clinical team and families
  • Provide prescribed medication to patients and observe and report effectiveness to the psychiatrist.  Initiate referrals, where necessary, for routine physical examinations, dental examinations, immunizations, etc.  Provide screening tests (audiometric, visual) as needed.  Develop and maintain a health and immunization record on each patient
  • Provide mental health and medical services to outpatient program
  • Function as the primary health educator to patients and provide health education classes related to diet, growth, nutrition and hygiene, STDs and family planning where indicated
  • Work closely with the psychiatrist identifying the psychiatric needs of each patient in a manner that constitutes good nursing practice
  • Participate in the team approach, interacting on a therapeutic level with children
  • Participate in the development of treatment plans and in the twenty-day reviews of that plan
  • Attend meetings and staff conferences that contribute to the staff’s understanding of the dynamics of the psychosomatic concept
  • Counsel parents, when indicated, on diet, health habits, or medical management
  • Participates in the orientation and training of student nurses in placement
  • Responsible for training all staff in health related issues, i.e., bloodborne pathogens
  • Comply with local, county, state and federal authorities regarding all health requirements
  • Assist as delegated by the Clinical Director in agency compliance with all accreditation bodies
  • Assist in periodic reports to the Clinical Director concerning utilization of the Wellness Center and related issues
  • Work in a cooperative and mutually supportive manner with all other nursing staff in the Wellness Center
  • Other duties as assigned

Nurse Job Requirements:

  • Bachelor’s degree in nursing required
  • Current PA Registered Nurse license required
  • Experience in the field of psychiatric nursing
  • Current PA clearances:  Acts 34, 114 and 151
  • Excellent communication skills required
  • Ability to exert moderate physical effort in light work, typically involving some combination of bending, stooping, squatting, reaching, kneeling, or brisk walking
  • Ability to physically restrain students for their safety and the safety of others
  • Ability to work independently