LICENSED VOCATIONAL NURSE

Description

Position Title: Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN)

Program: Promise Wellness Center

Classification: Full Time 

Compensation: $32.00 to $34.00 per hour

Summary and Range of Authority: Under the direction of the Nurse Practitioner and Program Manager provides treatment to clients with all ranges of psychiatric symptom acuity and substance abuse.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Under the direction of the Psychiatrist and/or Nurse Practitioner, administers medication (including injections) and monitors results. Keeps Nurse Practitioner and/or Psychiatrist informed of changes in clients’ conditions.
• Consults in regards to clients with a multidisciplinary treatment team which includes the Psychiatrist, Nurse Practitioner and primary Clinician.
• Assists with crisis intervention and psychiatric assessments.
• Collaborates with client’s primary care physician and other health, community, social and welfare providers to coordinate care.
• Refers clients to the Nurse Practitioner or consulting Psychiatrist regarding changes in medication.
• Ensures that clients and family members are educated and informed about their medications and illness management.
• Performs face-to-face nursing assessments, screens for communicable and collects medical and medication history.
• Conducts quality assurance activities related to storing and dispensing of medications and ensures all local and state regulations are followed.
• Order refills of medications, actively obtains medication samples from pharmaceutical companies, inventory and store all medications and disposes of all expired medications as required by law. 
• Orders medical supplies as needed from the pharmacy or other medical supply business; disposes of and retains all used medical supplies as required by law.
• Conducts limited physical screening (i.e. when the psychiatrist prescribes intramuscular medications) and provide consultation to the staff on physical complaints of clients.
• Prepares Treatment Authorization Requests (TAR) for the psychiatrist and makes arrangements with the pharmacy.
• Prepares accurate and timely medical records of all services rendered.
• Develops and implement health and wellness groups, including but not limited to: Smoking cessation, diabetes management, and exercise and mental health, medication management.
• Other duties and responsibilities as assigned. 

Requirements

Required Education, Certifications/Licenses and Language/Cultural Skills:

• Bachelor’s degree in nursing and current valid license to practice as a Licensed Vocational Nurse in California.
• Current CPR certification
• Knowledge and experience relevant to work with diverse communities must be competent and comfortable in communicating mental health concepts to those with different cultures.

Minimum Experience and Qualifications Required:

• Minimum of one year of experience working with individuals with severe and persistent mental illness and co-occurring disorders.
• Knowledge of general medicine and its relationship to the treatment of mental disabilities.
• Knowledge of psychopathology, psychotherapy, psycho-pharmacotherapy and their applications within an outpatient setting. 
• Ability to maintain effective, caring relationships with clients, families, professionals and support services staff.
• Ability to work effectively both independently and as a member of the team.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Ability to serve a large volume of clients rapidly and affectively on a walk-in or appointment bases, within set time limits.
• Ability to work well with individuals from a variety of backgrounds, including the treatment team, pharmaceutical representatives, clients with mental health problems and their families.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to maintain strict confidentiality with regard to sensitive or proprietary information or materials.
• Will not be debarred or excluded from participation in Federal programs by the General Services Administration and/or the Department of Health and Human Services of the Inspector General.
• Must pass background check (Live Scan Fingerprint).
• Must be able to drive (when needed) for business purposes to other program locations in San Diego County. If employee drives his/her personal automobile for UPAC business, employee must have valid California driver’s license and comprehensive automobile insurance coverage, as required by law. 

Additional Preferred Education or Qualifications:

• Bilingual/bicultural
• Dem