Milieu Specialist - Integrated Medicine

Milieu Specialist

Shift: Full Time, 40 Hrs/Week, Mon-Thur (9a-7p)

Work Arrangement: On-site Department: Integrated Medicine

Facility: University Hospital 1 Hospital Dr, Columbia, MO

Compensation: Base Pay Range: $22.00 - $34.74 per hour, based on experience

About the Job

MU Health Care is looking for a compassionate and dedicated individual to join our nursing team in Integrated Medicine as an Milieu Specialist. Integrated Medicine is a 24-bed unit that provides a safe environment for medical and surgical patients who also have behavioral needs. This unit takes an innovative approach to serve patients' complex medical and behavioral needs in one thoughtfully designed location. Extensive safety features such as video monitoring technology and anti-elopement measures are integrated to ensure a safe and therapeutic environment for our staff, patients, and visitors. We aim to remember that we are working in the patient's home away from home rather than having the mindset that these patients are visiting our workspace. RN Staff will be working with Care Team Associates (nurse techs), Milieu Specialists, Therapy Professionals, and dedicated physician staff to provide comprehensive patient care with 4/5:1 RN ratios. Service line supervisors provide 24/7 support to nursing staff. The secure unit has all private rooms, with an open floor plan allowing for patients to socialize and work on community skills with the assistance of our Milieu Specialist. A dedicated Behavioral Health Social Worker assists with meeting the patient's discharge planning needs so that they are able to discharge to the most appropriate and least restrictive environment. Daily interdisciplinary huddles occur to ensure patient care is cohesive and complete.

About MU Health Care

MU Health Care is proud to be named one of Forbes' Best-in-State Employers seven years in a row, and that's largely a result of the incredible culture and team we've built. At MU Health Care, we have an inspired, hard-working and collaborative environment driven by our mission to save and improve lives. Here, we believe anything is possible and rally around solutions. We celebrate innovation and offer opportunities to be a part of something bigger to have a voice and role in the work that is serving our community and changing the field of medicine.

Our academic health system the only in mid-Missouri is home to seven hospitals, including the region's only Level 1 Trauma Center and region's only Children's Hospital, as well as over 90 specialty clinics. Here you can define your career among our many clinical and nonclinical positions with growth, opportunity and support every step of the way.

Employee Benefits

Health, vision and dental insurance coverage starting day one

Generous paid leave and paid time off, including ten holidays

Multiple retirement options, including 100% matching up to 8% and full vesting in three years

Tuition assistance for employees (75%) and immediate family members (50%)

Discounts on cell phone plans, rental cars, gyms, hotels and more

Detailed Job Description

Promote a calm milieu by providing individual support and monitoring to patients as indicated/assigned. Actively manage the milieu through interactions with individual patients on a regular/frequent basis. Encourage patients to act at a level equal to their ability.

Function as a role model for patients on the unit to show ways to effectively relate to others, to get one's needs met, and to enhance/develop social competencies, and interpersonal awareness. Serves as a resource and point of contact for information, guidance, and support for patients.

Work in collaboration with staff and the treatment team. Communicate in a warm and empathetic manner.

Ensure a compassionate, high-quality, exemplary customer-driven culture. Validate the patient's needs and rights.

Be mindful of times of increased activity or stress on the unit to prevent escalation. Redirect unhealthy/risky behaviors on the spot by giving feedback and alternative strategies. De-escalate patients, and in emergencies, provide appropriate crisis intervention techniques to maintain patients in the least restricting manner.

May complete unit/department-specific duties and expectations as outlined in department documents.

Required Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in social work, behavioral therapies (counseling, psychology, therapeutic recreation, occupational therapy), or a related area, or an equivalent combination of education and experience from which comparable knowledge, skills and abilities can be acquired.

Preferred Qualifications

Mental health experience.

Additional license/certification requirements as determined by the hiring department.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met with or without reasonable accommodation. The performance of these physical demands is an essential function of the job. This position is very active and requires ambulating, reaching, and moving objects weighing up to and over 20 lbs. This role also routinely comes into contact with patients who may have contagious illnesses. This position is in a health care facility open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Rotating shifts as well as holiday and work during inclement weather will be required.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of Missouri is an Equal Opportunity Employer.