Registered Nurse, ACT

At LifeWorks NW, our work strengthens the health and wellbeing of individuals and families at every stage of life. Our mission is to promote a healthy community through high-quality, culturally responsive mental health, addiction, and prevention services that create real, lasting change. Guided by our values of recovery and resilience, relationships, and results, we partner closely with clients and communities to reduce stigma and build pathways to stability and hope. If you want your work to make a meaningful difference beyond the walls of an office, we invite you to join us.

The Specialty Programs Registered Nurse (RN) will be responsible for clinical collaboration for our ACT program, working with Lifeworks NW providers, Lifeworks NW clients accessing outpatient mental health services, and with community partner clinics providing primary care or specialty care services to our clients. Provision of care will be professional, comprehensive, and culturally specific. Key functions of this position include ongoing nursing assessments; triage for medication questions/concerns; tracking, coordinating, and administering injectable medications ordered by Lifeworks NW Licensed Medical Providers; medical case management; skills training on a variety of chronic health conditions and health and wellness topics; and care coordination across clinical disciplines and with both internal and external providers. The RN will work with the client and care team to improve the client's health and wellbeing, while helping to reduce emergency room usage and inpatient hospitalizations.

ACT: The Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) program is a multidisciplinary team approach with assertive outreach in the community for clients experiencing the most severe symptoms of mental illness. ACT programs are evidence-based and fidelity reviewed to help support those clients at highest risk of psychiatric crisis and hospitalization and involvement in the criminal justice system. The ACT RN works with clients enrolled in our Washington County ACT program, providing care both in clinic and in community-based and home settings. The RN may also function as a Qualified Mental Health Professional (QMHP).

Location

This position is based out of LifeWorks NW's Beaverton Site.

Pay/Benefits

$45.74-$49.99 per hour with Full benefits.

Salary Placement Notice

The posted salary range reflects the compensation potential for this role. Most candidates will be placed between the entry level and midpoint of the range, depending on their experience and qualifications. However, more seasoned professionals with extensive or similar experience may be considered for placement toward the higher end of the range. Final salary offers are made in alignment with internal compensation processes in accordance with Oregon Pay Equity laws.

Responsibilities

• Completes ongoing physical and mental health nursing assessments/screenings for clients both in person and via telehealth with timely documentation and appropriate monitoring, communication and follow up.
• Leads and effectively coordinates multi-disciplinary care team in developing, implementing, and communicating holistic care plans to clients, including transitions of care for clients who are disengaged.
• Provides long-acting psychotropic medications via IM injection to clients on an ongoing basis; schedules and tracks client injection appointments, follows up with pharmacies to ensure refills are received and stored properly, consults with Lifeworks NW Licensed Medical Providers (LMPs) on any questions, concerns or for clarification as needed, and assesses clients who do not attend either RN injection or LMP follow up appointments within an appropriate timeframe ? including participation in a regular weekly rotation of a drop in clinic for clients across the agency who did not attend their LMP follow up appointments and require refills of their medications before they can be rescheduled.
• Provides medication reconciliation for clients and helps to prepare oral medications for delivery to clients in the community. This includes coordinating with client's PCP and other specialty providers as well as our partner pharmacy and the ACT team to ensure clients receive their medications in a timely manner.
• Helps monitor and triage mental health symptoms, medication side effects, and helps differentiate physical health symptoms from exacerbation of psychiatric symptoms. This includes participation in RN phone/email triaging of medication concerns across the agency and review of lab work related to physical health screenings, psychiatric medications and providing follow up as needed.
• Develops specific methods of communication for and ensures timely follow up on pertinent medical information shared across medical providers including medication reconciliation, diagnoses, baseline symptom presentation, lab work, and care plans/transitions of care.
• Facilitates a learning environment for clients, their caregivers, cross-discipline staff, and other members of the care team.
• Documents all required client information into agency specific Electronic Health Records system and maintains confidentiality with Personal Health Information; participates in site/program/team specific tracking systems such as reports and spreadsheets.
• Maintains required nursing competencies and top of license practice and engages in ongoing professional development.

Required Qualifications

• Unencumbered Registered Nurse license in Oregon upon hire.
• Current Basic Life Support (BLS) card from American Heart Association or American Red Cross.
• Good computer skills including a functional knowledge of Microsoft Outlook, Word, OneDrive, Excel and Teams. Ability to quickly learn proprietary software including Electronic Health Record system.
• Demonstrates cultural competency and trauma informed care in addressing barriers which may lead to lack of access and engagement.
• Ability to perform essential functions of job without creating a direct threat to the safety of self or others.
• Requires valid driver's license, proof of current automobile insurance coverage, verification of safe driving record from DMV, and ability to meet LWNW driving requirements.
• May participate in on-call 24/7 crisis phone rotation if program is experiencing staffing shortages and as directed by RN supervisor. Team members are on-call for 7 day shifts in case of client emergencies, hospitalizations, and to serve as an after-hours emergency contact. The on-call clinician receives an additional stipend when performing this duty.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Nursing (BSN) from accredited program.
• Two (2) or more years of relevant experience working with clients experiencing a wide range of mental health symptoms including severe and persistent mental health diagnoses.
• Knowledge and understanding of resources and appropriate supports available within the greater Portland metro and surrounding communities.