State of Maryland

A Security Attendant Licensed Practical Nurse is the lead level of practical nursing work providing care to mentally ill patients at Clifton T. Perkins Hospital where care is provided to mentally ill offenders, patients or residents who have been judged not criminally responsible for committing felonies; and to those who are too violent for a regular hospital or residential setting and who have been deemed dangerous to themselves or others.  Employees in this classification do not supervise other positions, but are responsible for assigning, reviewing and approving the work of and training Security Attendants Nursing Perkins.

Employees in this classification receive general supervision from a Registered Nurse.  Employees are assigned to day, evening, night or rotating shifts.  Employees are subject to call-in during emergencies and staffing shortages.  Employees may be required to move and position patients or apply physical restraints.

Positions in this classification are evaluated by using the classification job evaluation methodology.  The use of this method involves comparing the assigned duties and responsibilities of a position to the job criteria found in the Nature of Work and Examples of Work sections of the class specification.

The Security Attendant Licensed Practical Nurse is differentiated from the Security Attendant Nursing II Perkins in that Security Attendant Licensed Practical Nurse trains and assigns, reviews and approves the work of and trains Security Attendants Nursing Perkins and requires certification as a Licensed Practical Nurse while the Security Attendant Nursing II Perkins performs the full range of duties and responsibilities under general supervision.  The Security Attendant Licensed Practical Nurse is differentiated from the Security Attendant Nursing Supervisor in that the Security Attendant Supervisor has supervisory responsibility for lower-level Security Attendants.

Trains lower-level Security Attendants Nursing Perkins;

Assigns, reviews and approves the work of lower-level Security Attendants Nursing Perkins;

Directs and participates in providing psychiatric patient care;

Makes rounds with the Physicians, informing them of each patient’s emotional and physical condition;

Assists ward Physicians as necessary;

Participates in diagnostic and evaluation staff conference with the professional team and presents personal observations of the individual patient;

Schedules and participates in the Individual Treatment Plan;

Prepares patient care reports and daily patient notes;

Checks and compares patient medication records and treatment therapy with physicians’ orders on a daily basis;

Administers medications and assures that charts, medication records, and medication cupboards are kept according to Nursing Service policy;

Directs and performs inspections of wards and other areas for unauthorized objects or materials;

Directs and participates in security checks of detention screens, locks, tools, equipment, utensils, medications, or other items that may present a security problem;

Directs counts of patients and sharp objects;

Receives observations from lower-level employees at least once per shift;

Receives the previous shift’s report and provides a thorough report to the oncoming shift;

Directs and participates in resolving emergency situations;

Subdues and restrains potentially dangerous patients in accordance with training;

Assists Head Nurse with performance evaluations of subordinate staff;

Assists lower-level staff in preparing behavioral summaries on their assigned patients;

May order medication, household and cleaning supplies for the unit;

May direct and participate in the ward activity program;

Performs other related duties.

Knowledge of psychiatric nursing theory and practices and its application to maximum security patients;

Knowledge of nursing techniques and bedside care;

Knowledge of appropriate psychiatric ward management principles and hospital security measures;

Skill in taking patient’s vital signs;

Ability to train and guide new employees;

Ability to observe, assess and report the patient’s physical and emotional condition;

Ability to understand and follow Physicians’ instructions;

Ability to direct and supervise activities for patients;

Ability to control individuals or groups and remain calm in stressful situations, responding in an appropriate manner according to prescribed rules and procedures;

Ability to work in cooperation with various personnel in carrying out security functions;

Ability to communicate effectively with visitors, patients and co-workers;

Ability to prepare concise and accurate reports.

Education:   Determined by the Maryland Board of Nursing under Licensing Requirements for Practical Nurses.

Experience: Three years of experience in direct patient care in a psychiatric setting.

Note: Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience as a commissioned officer in Nursing classifications or Nursing or Health Care Specialist specialty codes in the Nursing field of work on a year-for-year basis for the required experience.

1. Candidates for positions in this classification must possess a current license as Practical Nurse from the Maryland Board of Nursing, 4140 Patterson Avenue, Baltimore, Maryland 21215.

2. Employees in this classification may be assigned duties which require the operation of a motor vehicle. Employees assigned such duties will be required to possess a motor vehicle operator’s license valid in State of Maryland.

1. Prior to permanent appointment, employees must satisfactorily complete a Maryland Department of Health approved in-service training program which includes modules in Behavior Management, Maladaptive Behaviors and Emotional Disturbance, Patients of Aggressive Behavior, Socialization and Vocational Skills, Resident Rights and conditions and procedures of court commitments and releases.

2. Employees in this classification will be required to provide the facility with a telephone number where they can be reached.

3. Employees in this classification are subject to substance abuse testing in accordance with Code of Maryland Regulations 17.04.09, Testing for Illegal Use of Drugs.

Class specifications are broad descriptions covering groups of positions used by various State departments and agencies. Position descriptions maintained by the using departments or agency specifically address the essential job functions of each position.

This is a Skilled Service classification in the State Personnel Management System.  All positions in this classification are Skilled Service positions.  Some positions in Skilled Service classifications may be designated Special Appointment in accordance with the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 6-405, Annotated Code of Maryland.

This classification is assigned to Bargaining Unit H- Public Safety and Security classes.  As provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 3-102, special appointment, temporary, contractual, supervisory, managerial and confidential employees are excluded from collective bargaining.  Additionally, certain executive branch agencies are exempt from collective bargaining and all positions in those agencies are excluded from collective bargaining.

Employees in this classification are eligible to receive overtime compensation.  An employee who works more than the normal workweek is entitled to be compensated for that overtime as provided by the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 8-305.