Staff Nurse

Act Nurse (Rn)

The Act nurse (RN) provides community based support and services to conduct assessments, referrals, treatment planning and health education to Act consumers and their families. The Act nurse monitors medical issues, crisis, and health concerns and oversees the storage and administration of medications. This position collaborates with the psychiatrist, community physicians, and other team members.

Essential duties include:

• Reports to work on time at the assigned location.
• Completes all required training within Agency designated timeframe.
• Completes all other duties as assigned.
• Possession of a valid Michigan Driver's License with a good driving record.
• Access to a private vehicle for day-to-day job performance, when needed. Practices safe driving habits.
• Administers medications as ordered by staff psychiatrists.
• Knowledge and understanding of drug diversion tactics.
• Utilizes precautions to minimize drug diversion.
• Direct, coordinate and provides necessary health care information to clients in regard to diet, administration of medication, hygiene, and other health information as indicated or requested. Follows up with community physicians regarding health and medical conditions.
• Provides health assessments for clients.
• Responsible for transporting consumers to community appointments, clinic appointments, activities and other resources as identified in their person-centered plan.

Responsibilities include, but may not be limited to the following:

• Assesses overall physical health of consumers as part of a comprehensive assessment and on an ongoing basis for all Act consumers according to agency policy.
• Demonstrates good clinical judgment in determining optimum health care for client.
• Integrates necessary information into the development of client treatment goals and objectives when nursing intervention is indicated.
• Collects sufficient data to verify diagnoses.
• Maintains adequate stocks of medications for the Act program to meet client needs, and coordinates the ordering of medications and other medical supplies.
• Monitors Act consumers' medication supply and alert psychiatrist and/or pharmacy when consumer will need medications.
• Demonstrates acceptable methods and charting techniques in medication administration.
• Properly notes orders and renewals.
• Observes clients for side effects of medications, and reports concerns to staff psychiatrist.
• Takes lead role in coordinating and providing the team's medication administration services.
• Evaluates nursing needs for the treatment planning process, and documents these needs in progress notes. Develops nursing goals for clients.
• Documents nursing interventions in progress notes.
• Develops treatment plans, reviews, and discharge summaries for clients who are assigned to the Act nurse.
• Practices Person Centered Planning principles.
• Maintains direct service hours of 80 per month.
• Participates in daily team meetings and treatment planning meetings.
• First Aid - Gives attention and provides treatment to clients who require first aid.
• Laboratory reports - Reviews laboratory reports and other medical reports in a timely manner, to ensure proper medical care.
• Makes referrals to community physicians and accompany consumers to medical appointments and facilitate follow up.
• Participates in 24 hour on call coverage when needed.
• Provide on-call crisis interventions according to agency and team's policy.
• Participates in committees requiring nursing input.
• Ascertains that universal precautions are used in the administration of medical needs.
• Monitors all issues regarding infection control.
• Completes all required documentation within established timeframes.
• Takes precautions when using Agency property, following appropriate procedures to report any damage incidents.
• When appropriate, completes other assigned responsibilities in a reasonable established timeframe, within quality expectations.

Competencies include:

• Critical Thinking - Consistently identifies gathers and applies relevant information to your work:
• Gathering information
• Applying Information
• Adaptability

The Act Nurse assesses and understand normal or abnormal changes in patient conditions such as medication side effects) and determine what nursing intervention may be necessary to address those changes. Understands and interprets the patient's verbal and non-verbal communication. Determines the significance of vital signs, lab values, and data associated with physical assessment.

Cultural Humility - Demonstrates the value of diversity and inclusion; fosters an inclusive environment that facilitates a diverse team thriving within the organization:

• Awareness
• Advancing diversity and inclusion

The Act Nurse separates personal biases from patient encounters to prevent making false assumptions that could negatively impact patient care. Considers own thought processes and the ways one reaches conclusions. When a personal bias is identified, the nurse take steps to eliminate it. In so doing, it will allow self to be engaged in more multi-dimensional, objective ways of thinking and eliminate barriers to equitable and quality care.

Growth Mindset - Views growth as important for personal and professional development; seeks out opportunities to expand skills, even if change is required; demonstrates curiosity and eagerness to learn:

• Learning-orientation
• Seeking and providing feedback
• Influencing others

The Act Nurse is open-minded and demonstrates a willingness to learn and gain insight from professional experiences of peers while creating an environment to develop essential nursing skills. The nurse believes that skills and excellence will develop through hard work, sound strategies and an ongoing exchange of feedback.

Ownership and Quality of Work - Effectively manages own work, and work of teams when relevant, ensuring delivery of high-quality work:

• Taking ownership
• Quality of work product

The Act Nurse retains professional accountability, individually and collectively as a team. Also, has a commitment to self and nursing career to advance, grow, improve, and adapt to work. Holds a personal pledge to apply talent, skill and energy to improve patient outcomes and takes ownership of ones actions.

Education and experience:

• Registered nurse (associates degree) or Bachelors degree in nursing from an accredited college or university required.
• Preferred 2 years experience in working with the mentally ill population.

Credentialing/Licensure - Registration with the State of Michigan as a Registered Nurse.

Skills and abilities:

• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.
• Ability to establish professional working relationships with all staff.
• Ability to effectively treat consumers with mental illness using time limited treatment modalities, and quality care services.
• Appropriately articulates the view of the agency when networking in the community.

Qualifications - To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Physical demands - The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Lincoln Behavioral Services