Registered Nurse - SMI

Registered Nurse SMI Services

Make an Impact Where it Matters Most

Join Valle del Sol in our commitment to providing quality, culturally sensitive integrated primary care and behavioral health services to adults, children, and adolescents in need. Valle del Sol offers a diverse work environment, competitive pay and benefits, and the opportunity for training and advancement.

Job Summary & Essential Functions

The Registered Nurse SMI Services provides nursing care and clinical support to individuals with serious mental illness (SMI) as part of an interdisciplinary care team. The RN supports integrated physical and behavioral healthcare through health assessment, medication administration and monitoring, patient education, care coordination, and identification of changes in health status. This role collaborates with medical, psychiatric, behavioral health, and other care team members to promote safe, effective, trauma-informed, culturally responsive, recovery-oriented, and person-centered care.

Nursing Assessment & Clinical Care

• Performs focused and general nursing assessments, monitors physical and behavioral health status, and identifies changes in condition requiring intervention, consultation, or escalation.
• Provides nursing interventions, health education, and support consistent with individualized treatment goals and the needs of adults with SMI and co-occurring health conditions.
• Responds to urgent and emergent medical or behavioral health situations within nursing scope and organizational protocols, including appropriate escalation and coordination of follow-up care.

Medication Management & Safety

• Administers medications and injections as ordered by authorized prescribers and documents administration accurately in the electronic health record and applicable medication records.
• Monitors medication effectiveness, side effects, adverse reactions, adherence concerns, and other clinically significant findings and communicates concerns promptly to the prescribing provider and treatment team.
• Supports medication reconciliation and patient education regarding prescribed medications, treatment recommendations, and relevant health considerations.
• Maintains accurate medication inventory, accountability, storage, ordering, and related records in accordance with organizational procedures and applicable requirements.

Integrated Care & Interdisciplinary Collaboration

• Collaborates with psychiatric and medical providers, case managers, peer support staff, care coordinators, pharmacies, hospitals, and other members of the interdisciplinary team to support coordinated care.
• Communicates clinically relevant observations, patient progress, medication concerns, hospitalizations, changes in condition, and barriers to care to appropriate team members.
• Supports transitions of care and coordination between behavioral health, primary care, specialty care, pharmacy, and other community providers as applicable.

Clinical Operations, Quality & Safety

• Maintains a safe, clean, and functional clinical environment and follows infection prevention, medication safety, hazardous-material, equipment, and occupational safety requirements.
• Maintains accurate, timely, and clinically appropriate documentation to support continuity of care, quality standards, regulatory requirements, and facility/program compliance.
• Participates in team meetings, quality activities, record reviews, audits, and clinical process improvement as assigned.

Professional Responsibilities

• Maintains accurate and timely documentation in accordance with organizational and regulatory requirements.
• Maintains the confidentiality and security of patient, employee, and organizational information in accordance with HIPAA and Valle del Sol policies.
• Promotes a safe environment for patients, staff, and visitors by following safety policies, infection control practices, and quality standards.
• Performs duties in accordance with Valle del Sol policies, procedures, ethical standards, professional nursing standards, and applicable regulatory requirements.
• Supports Valle del Sol's mission and commitment to culturally responsive, trauma-informed, recovery-oriented care.
• Engages in continuous learning and maintains clinical knowledge and competencies required for the role.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Education

Required:

• Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from an accredited nursing program.

Preferred:

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).

Experience

Required:

• Clinical nursing experience demonstrating competency in assessment, medication administration, patient education, documentation, and interdisciplinary care coordination.

Preferred:

• Experience in behavioral health, serious mental illness, community health, integrated care, psychiatric nursing, or a related setting.
• Experience working with adults with complex medical, behavioral health, substance use, or social needs.

Licensure/Certification

Required:

• Current, unrestricted license to practice as a Registered Nurse in Arizona or a multistate license with Arizona practice privilege, as applicable.
• Must meet credentialing and clinical competency requirements applicable to the position and practice within the scope of the applicable nursing license.
• BLS certification, or ability to obtain within 5 business days of start date.
• Arizona Level I Fingerprint Clearance Card, or ability to obtain within 5 business days of start date.

Preferred:

• Behavioral health, psychiatric nursing, care management, or other relevant specialty certification.

Other Requirements

• Must be at least 18 years of age.
• Must be authorized to work in the United States.
• Must be able to pass pre- and continued employment screenings successfully.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of professional nursing standards, medication administration and safety, nursing assessment, patient education, and clinical documentation.
• Knowledge of behavioral health and SMI populations, including the interaction between physical health, psychiatric conditions, medications, substance use, and social determinants of health.
• Ability to recognize changes in patient condition, determine appropriate nursing actions, and escalate concerns to providers or emergency resources when indicated.
• Ability to administer and monitor medications and injections safely and maintain accurate medication accountability and inventory records.
• Ability to coordinate care and communicate effectively with medical, psychiatric, behavioral health, pharmacy, and community partners.
• Ability to use electronic health record systems and standard office technology effectively.
• Ability to organize competing priorities, exercise sound clinical judgment within nursing scope, and work independently while collaborating with an interdisciplinary team.
• Ability to communicate effectively with patients, staff, and community partners.
• Ability to maintain accurate documentation and comply with regulatory requirements.
• Ability to provide culturally responsive, trauma-informed, recovery-oriented, and person-centered services.

Working Conditions & Physical Requirements

Work Environment

This position may operate in clinical, office, or community settings including clinics, administrative offices, outreach locations, client homes, partner agencies, and community sites. Employees may interact with individuals experiencing behavioral health challenges, emotional distress, or complex social needs. Standard safety precautions and personal protective equipment (PPE) may be required as applicable.

Physical Requirements

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Typical requirements may include:

• Sitting, standing, walking, bending, and reaching for extended periods
• Operating computers, mobile devices, and standard office or clinical equipment
• Travel to various Valle del Sol locations or community sites when required
• Lifting or moving materials or equipment up to 25 pounds

Schedule & Travel

Work schedules may vary based on program needs and may include evening or weekend hours. Some positions may require local travel between Valle del Sol sites or community locations.

Equipment

Employees may operate standard office, clinical, and communication equipment including computers, phones, printers, electronic health record systems, laptops, and mobile devices.

Compliance Requirements

Employees must maintain compliance with all Valle del Sol policies and applicable regulatory requirements, which may include:

• Licensure, certification, credentialing, and/or privileging requirements applicable to the position.
• Required immunizations and occupational health clearances.
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