Nursing Services

Nursing care is provided by registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and mental health technicians who are qualified by education and experience to assume the responsibilities for patient care. The primary goal of Nursing Services is to provide planned, comprehensive, therapeutic, safe and consistent nursing care 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

One of the primary activities of nursing staff is the establishment of a trusting, therapeutic relationship with individual patients accomplished through daily, consistent contact.

Additional responsibilities of nursing staff include, but are not limited to:

• ensuring therapeutic context (milieu) and socio-psychological aspects of the patient’s environment;
• presenting a positive model of interpersonal relationships;
• offering opportunities for learning about self and exploring patterns of interaction within a safe environment;
• ongoing patient assessment and observation;
• support and education for self-care;
• proper nutrition and appropriate sleep patterns;
• detection and care for somatic aspects of the patient's health problems, including responses to medications and other treatments;
• assistance in therapeutic activities concerned with improvement of recreational, occupational and social competence;
• providing continuity of patient care from admission to discharge;
• participating in planned and informal group meetings to identify the process of interaction;
• and active participation in the multidisciplinary treatment team in cooperative planning for the implementation and evaluation of patient care.

The nursing staff maintains ongoing contact with the patient's family as appropriate. Nursing services provided will be defined according to the patient’s level of care.