Registered Nurse CCBHC

Centerstone is among the nation’s leading nonprofit behavioral health systems with thousands of employees dedicated to delivering care that changes people’s lives. A dynamic, well-established organization, we offer rewarding opportunities to serve all ages in a variety of settings. Come talk to us about joining the Centerstone team!

JOB DESCRIPTION:

SUMMARY OF POSITION

ACT Registered Nurse provides nursing care to chronically or acutely sick patients, provides medication monitoring, adjusts medications within limits prescribed by Staff Psychiatrist.  This includes performing in liaison role between consumer and Staff Psychiatrist, lab, pharmacist, family or residential facility staff, and other community caregivers. Provides information, education and support for consumers; promotes wellness, recovery and skill building to sustaining better heath. Prevention training in the areas of wellness, recovery, managing symptoms, making healthy lifestyle choices, recognizing and responding to relapse, managing crisis and achieving and sustaining recovery and maintenance of appropriate documentation.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

• Observes patients on a day-to-day basis to identify and document emotional and physical conditions and patterns like suicidal or assaultive behavior and their response to medication or treatment.  Function in the role of liaison person between consumer and Staff Psychiatrist, lab, pharmacist, family or residential facility staff, and other community caregivers.
• Assists in the formulation of diagnosis, assessment, and implementing patient treatment plans which are observation-based and must be person centered, family centered, and service centered.  Provides intervention to those patients who experience acute episodes.  Perform physical assessment for physiological illness and make referrals to community physicians when indicated.
• Provides group or individual training focusing on improvement of the client’s functioning and health-related deficits.  (eg. Symptom/medication management, life skills, healthy eating, weight management, smoking cessation, recognizing the dangers of alcohol and other drugs, community reintegration, etc.)
• Assist service recipients with making linkage with internal and external resources as outlined in treatment plan and in coordination with Integrated Healthcare Services.  And maintain appropriate contact with referral sources including providing information on service recipient progress, behavior, and needs (with appropriate releases), and maintaining ongoing consultation when appropriate. 
• Assist client in making discharge plans and provide follow up services as assigned.
• Interview clients and collaterals regarding the adequacy of medical regimens prescribed by the Staff Psychiatrist, keep Medical Progress Notes for the Staff Psychiatrist’s reference, and advise or consult with the Staff Psychiatrist regarding any notable changes in consumer’s progress. Assist Staff Psychiatrist in evaluating and documenting consumer’s level of functioning for purpose of facilitating SSI and SSDI determination process.
• Attend staff meetings, clinical staffings, and other internal meetings as assigned.  Participate on committees as assigned, including quality assurance functions.  Maintain appropriate communication with other employees and work as an effective member of treatment team.
• Administers and gives medications to patients, monitors the dosage, side effects, use and documents patients’ reactions.  Provides medication training to the client or client’s family or guardian to administer the client’s medication, to monitor proper levels of dosage and watch for side effects.  Obtains laboratory specimens and help doctors with patient examination and continuity of care arrangements with other providers. Follows guidelines for disposal of biohazard waste.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Skill in written and oral communication
• Skill in customer service techniques
• Skill in establishing and maintaining interpersonal relationships with clients and staff
• Skill in problem-solving
• Knowledge of main effects, side effects and interaction effects of a broad range of psychotropic mediations.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education Level              

Graduation from an accredited Registered Nurse program

Years of Experience       

Direct Service Providers utilizing electronic/automated documentation systems will be required to undergo a computer and keyboarding assessment test to determine proficiency.

Certification/Licensure