Registered Nurse Residential

Nurse (RN)-Residential

Outreach Development Corporation is a non-profit organization that helps people address the issues stemming from substance use and behavioral health disorders by providing the highest quality, life-changing treatment, training and tools to build healthy lives. Our mission is to inspire individuals and families to achieve a life of unlimited potential by developing and delivering the highest quality evidence-based behavioral health services and training.

The RN assesses health related needs of; monitors ongoing health and wellbeing of and directly provides and/or coordinates health services and health-related activities for adolescents being assessed for, participating in or completing treatment at Outreach House. The nurse provides on call nursing for times when we do not have a nurse on site and serves as the health care coordinator.

Job Scope

• Conduct and/or monitor all medication calls and health calls as scheduled
• Work with both clients and guardians to schedule medical appointments to assist clients in maintaining optimal health and conduct any follow up as required.
• Work with Agency psychiatrist re client medication and pharmacy refills to ensure prescriptions are filled/re-filled in a timely manner; contacting guardians regarding medications and medication changes, and assisting with Order Connect data entry and monitoring.
• Provide on-site health services to address emerging and/or current health needs of adolescent client(s).
• Provide training and guidance to key staff members in order to deal with emergency health situations that might arise with adolescent clients.
• In conjunction with facility managers, establish and monitor health related policies and procedures to ensure a safe and healthy environment.
• In a health emergency, provide immediate first aid to individual(s) in need and monitor situation until emergency services arrives, assessing them of the situation. When necessary, escort client(s) to emergency and/or health facility.
• Conduct health assessments (including but not limited to a nursing intake/health history, tobacco use history and cessation plan and communicable disease risk) of substance abusers to make recommendations on appropriateness for participation in treatment as it relates to health matters and determine the need for physical exam or other health services.
• When requested by the medical director the RN maybe be present during physical exams
• Follow up both internally (staff communication) and externally (medical providers) on any health-related referrals made including but not limited to intake physicals, health referrals, psychiatric and medical emergencies.
• Maintain a tracking system to monitor client contacts, client health issues, medical appointments, prescribed medications (internal/external) and over the counter (OTC) medications.
• Effectively communicate with appropriate staff all health related issues of adolescents in treatment (including but not limited to initiating, participating in or completing health-related incident reports in a timely fashion as described in agency policy)
• Create, organize and facilitate regularly scheduled health and wellness activities, including 1:1 health education and counseling as well as groups and seminars for residents on topics such as diet, exercise, stress management, smoking cessation, sexually transmitted diseases, pregnancy prevention, etc
• Provide staff education related to health-related responsibilities and issues; including but not limited to training staff to use health systems such as medication call procedures, monitoring clients on medication, and emergency medications.
• Provide staff education related to health-related responsibilities and issues regarding the controlled and psychoactive medication process per Federal law.
• Prepare all Health Alert documentation.
• Create, organize and facilitate training for staff on providing crisis intervention on an emergency basis as it relates to medical issues when indicated.
• Participate as requested in agency wide meetings including but not limited to modality level and agency level quality improvement meetings.
• Participate in unit meetings, case conferences, in-service trainings and other meeting formats.
• Ensure all medical forms are regularly reviewed for compliance with all state and federal compliance laws and regulations.
• Complete all required documentation and reports in a timely manner.
• Communicate with program management (Director, Clinical Coordinator, and/or House Manager and advisor) all pertinent information regarding client, staff or programmatic ideas, suggestions or concerns and insure utilization of emergency contact procedures when appropriate.
• Maintaining communication and teamwork with clinical staff to integrate and enhance clinical services including but not limited to the reparation of RN progress notes and chart documentation as evidenced by chart entries and filed forms.
• Upholding Federal and State Program administration guidelines for nursing practice. Specifically, retaining RN license and renew every 3 years; providing copy of license to HR when received. Safety: communicating immediately to supervisor any issue that might compromise unit or agency health and safety.
• Participating in unit fire and safety drills, working to establish personnel policies and practices about health related issues, Retain CPR/FA/AED certifications and providing emergency care.

Supervised by Medical Director in collaboration with the Program Director

Qualifications

RN with a minimum of 2 years of experience working as an RN in a mental health and/or substance abuse treatment or related setting.