State of Maryland

A Registered Nurse Perkins MDH36 is the full performance level of nursing work providing care to mentally ill patients at Clifton T. Perkins Hospital Center. Employees in this classification may supervise Licensed Practical Nurses and non-licensed nursing and support staff.

Employees in this classification receive general supervision from a higher-level nurse. Employees are assigned to day, evening, night or rotating shifts which may include holidays and weekends. Employees are subject to call-in during emergencies and staffing shortages. The work is performed at Clifton T. Perkins Hospital Center where care is provided for mentally ill patients who have been judged not criminally responsible for committing felonies, and to those who are difficult to manage in a less secure setting and who have been deemed dangerous to themselves or others. Employees are required to observe infection control precautions in order to prevent contamination and spread of disease. Employees may be required to lift patients or apply physical restraints. The work may require long periods of standing, walking, bending and reaching.

Positions in this classification are evaluated 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 Registered Nurse Perkins is differentiated from the Registered Nurse Charge Perkins in that the Registered Nurse Perkins is a staff nurse and performs the full range of duties and responsibilities under general supervision while the Registered Nurse Charge Perkins is in charge of nursing care for a designated work area on a particular shift and supervises assigned staff which may include Registered Nurses.

Provides general nursing care to patients at Clifton T. Perkins Hospital Center;

Administers prescribed medications and treatments in accordance with approved nursing techniques;

Assesses the current health status of patients and identifies nursing needs;

Observes, evaluates and validates with patients the effectiveness of nursing measures and revises the care plan as necessary;

Works with a health care team in developing and implementing appropriate nursing care measures, health programs and patient care plans;

Interprets plan to allied nursing personnel and provides guidance and advice in implementing the plan;

Assesses the appropriateness of patient seclusion or restraint;

Assesses physical complaints by patients and provides appropriate referrals and follow-up services;

Records and reports the health status of patients and other appropriate information;

Encourages and assists the patient in understanding present health status, by developing self care measures and attaining and maintaining optimal health;

Interprets agency policies, objectives and services to patients and their families;

May provide counseling, guidance and education necessary in the treatment of physical, mental and emotional health problems;

May provide appropriate referrals and follow-up services;

May assume charge responsibilities under supervision of head nurse or shift supervisor on a temporary basis;

May supervise patient care as delivered by paraprofessional staff;

Performs other related duties.

Knowledge of the principles, practices and theory of the registered nursing process;

Knowledge of personality development theories for evaluating behaviors and reactions of patients;

Skill in observing and measuring the effects of nursing intervention;

Skill in providing accurate nursing documentation and record keeping;

Skill in assessing physical, emotional and social needs of patients;

Skill in developing a plan of care for the patients;

Ability to communicate effectively with patients, professional and nonprofessional workers and the general public;

Ability to establish effective working relationships with community health, welfare and educational agencies, patients and their families, and the general public.

Education:   Determined by the Maryland State Board of Nursing under the licensing requirements for Registered Nurses.

Experience: None.

1. Candidates for positions in this classification must possess a current license as a Registered Nurse from the Maryland State Board of Nursing, 4140 Patterson Avenue, Baltimore, Maryland 21215 or possess a current multi-state license in party states that candidates have declared as primary states of residence.

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 the State of Maryland.

3. Employees in this classification may be required to successfully complete and maintain current certification of cardiopulmonary resuscitation training.

1. Employees in this classification are subject to call-in and, therefore, will be required to provide the facility with a phone number at which they can be reached.

2. 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 department or agency specifically address the essential job functions of each position.

This is a Professional Service classification in the State Personnel Management System.  All positions in this classification are Professional Service positions.  Some positions in Professional Service classifications may be designated as 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 E, Health Care Professionals 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.