Community Health Nurse

Community Mental Health Nurse I

Under direction of Trinity County Behavioral Health Services Deputy Directors and Telepsychiatry doctors, the Community Mental Health Nurse I should plan and conduct a variety of community mental health nursing services. These services should: Promote and preserve the mental health and physical well-being of TCBHS clients; Provide education about psychotropic medications and their side-effects; Help clients understand the connection between physical and mental health; Educate about the management of psychiatric symptoms; Result in a greater degree of medication compliance.

(The following is used as a partial description and is not restrictive as to duties required.)

Plan, organize, and provide mental health nursing services; provide instruction as it relates to the management of symptoms of mental health disorders, psychotropic medication, and medication side effects; provide counseling and guidance for individuals, families, and groups; provide education about prevention of illness, disease control, health awareness, health maintenance, and health rehabilitation; identify and interact with primary care physicians, local community care resources, and/or local school districts to provide mental health screening for children. Develop service plans consistent with Best Practices for Mental Health Nursing as well as TCBHS program goals and objectives; provide referrals, teach and demonstrate health practices to individuals and groups; instruct clients in sexually transmitted disease prevention and follow-up. Identify individual and family problems which are detrimental to good health or mental health; make home visits where indicated to monitor individual progress and provide support with regard to mental health issues; work with families to alleviate mental health problems and promote good health habits; coordinate the care of individuals and families with other public and private agencies; identify special health needs for assigned cases, recommend and implement services to meet those needs; provide services in homes, schools, and the community as indicated; prepare appropriate records and case documentation. Arrange follow-up services based on findings; consult with physicians, and other staff regarding community health programs, patient reports, evaluations, medical tests, and related items; if directed by supervisor, consult with multi-disciplinary teams in order to identify and create plans of service for at risk families; teach community groups how mental health can be ameliorated or prevented; identify community mental health needs, develop mental health services, and improve existing services; prepare reports and maintain records; compile statistical information for program evaluation and planning purposes.

Minimum Qualifications

Knowledge of:

• Principles, methods, best practices in mental health nursing, and current trends in mental health nursing and preventive medicines.
• Federal, State, and local laws and regulations governing communicable disease, public health, mental health, substance abuse, and other disabling conditions.
• Environmental, sociological, and psychological problems related to community health nursing programs.
• Child growth and development.
• Causes, means of transmission, and methods of control of communicable disease.
• Methods of promoting child and maternal health, mental health and community health programs.
• Psychiatric medications and their side effects.

Ability to:

• Apply principles, methods, practices and current trends of a mental health nurse.
• Apply community aspects of nursing including community resources and demography.
• Plan, organize, and carry out mental health nursing activities in an assigned program.
• Identify the psycho/social and cultural issues encountered in a rural mental health program.
• Analyze and conduct health assessment as related to mental health and take appropriate action.
• Instruct clients in the importance and use of medications and in the prevention of mental health symptoms.
• Develop and maintain mental health and medication records and prepare clear and concise reports.
• Communicate effectively orally and in writing.
• Deal tactfully and courteously with the public, community organizations, and other staff when explaining TCBHS mental health issues an providing community services.
• Ability to manage and/or administer psychotropic medications.
• Establish and maintain cooperative working relationships.

Training and Experience: Any combination of training and experience which would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required knowledge and abilities would be:

• Completion of sufficient education and experience to meet State of California certification requirements.
• Some nursing experience in a community health setting is highly desirable.

Special Requirements:

• Possession of a valid license as a Registered Nurse in California.
• Possession of, or ability to obtain, an appropriate valid California Driver's License.

Supplemental Information

TYPICAL PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: Sit and stand for extended periods; normal manual dexterity and eye-hand coordination; lift and move objects weighing up to 50 lbs.; corrected hearing and vision to normal range; verbal communication; use of medical equipment within scope of practice and office equipment, such as computer, telephone, calculator, copiers, and FAX.

TYPICAL WORKING CONDITIONS: Work is performed in office, and home environments where there may be exposure to communicable diseases, blood borne pathogens; continuous contact with other staff and the public. Incumbents are expected to follow, model, and teach universal precautions. Incumbents may be required to drive in remote areas of the County in all weather conditions.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS This is the entry and basic working level in the Community Mental Health Nurse class series. Incumbents must have requisite nursing certification, but normally have limited community health nursing work experience. As experience is gained, incumbents are expected to increasingly learn to perform the full scope of community health nursing duties. This class is distinguished from Community Mental Health Nurse II in that Community Mental Health II nurses have responsibility for more independently performing a larger scope of community health nursing duties and activities. When a Community Health Nurse I incumbent becomes familiar with the Department and demonstrates good sustained work performance, they may be promoted to the Community Mental Health Nurse II level.

REPORTS TO Behavioral Health Deputy Director/Family and Children Services.

CLASSIFICATIONS SUPERVISED None.

DISASTER SERVICE WORKER In addition to our everyday duties, we have an added responsibility to help in a declared disaster. Under California law, all public employees are Disaster Service Workers and may be called upon in the event of a disaster. The roles and responsibilities for Disaster Service Workers are authorized by the California Emergency Services Act and are defined in the California Government Code 3100-3102; Labor Code 3211.92(b).