Registered Nurse- Mental Health Care

GENERAL SUMMARY

The Registered Nurse provides professional nursing services for consumers, assists with laboratory, EKGs, and other medical treatments, psychosocial, makes assignments to LVN and unlicensed staff. Maintains pharmaceutical oversight of medication samples and completes associated documentation for the consumer and program and must be capable of providing psychiatric emergency services.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Essential functions are the basic job duties that an employee must be able to perform, with or without reasonable accommodation. The list of essential functions, as outlined herein, is intended to be representative of the tasks performed within this classification. The omission of a function does not preclude management from assigning essential duties not listed herein if such duties relate to the position.

Administers injections, draws labs, and completes applications for clients as needed.

Aids in the Utilization Management function as needed by collecting, reviewing, and authorizing Medicaid and non-Medicaid covered emergency Mental Health hospitalization for consumers throughout the Center's system.

Assist with laboratory collection, EKGs, and other medical treatments/interventions appropriately, taking initial health history on new patients.

Collaborates and communicates with law enforcement, outpatient clinic, hospitals, and other providers.

Conforms to the Texas Nurse II Practice Act and the Board's rules and regulations as well as all Federal, State, and local laws, rules, or regulations affecting the RN's current area of nursing practice.

Coordinates medication distribution with the Center's pharmacy contract, maintains accurate account of stock medications, controlled substances and consumer medications as needed.

Coordinates with case managers as need regarding client care as needed.

Educates consumers on health-related topics and responds to questions or concerns.

Examines patients in preparation for visit with prescriber as needed.

Maintain pharmaceutical oversight of medication samples for specified units participating in the program through assigned unit level staff.

Makes nursing care assignments to LVN and unlicensed observation staff of various skill levels, instructing and supervising staff as needed.

Participate in multi-disciplinary quality assurance program to evaluate and ensure staff proficiency, quality of patient care, error reporting, environmental safety, and comprehensive documentation.

Provide professional goal-directed nursing care to individuals by performing nursing assessments regarding the health status of the client, completing nursing diagnosis, developing a plan of care in conjunction with the case managers, evaluating consumer's responses to nursing interventions.

Provides comprehensive nursing care for acutely and/or critically ill patients whose conditions warrant expert and complicated treatment.

Performs other related duties as required.

MINIMUM ENTRANCE QUALIFICATIONS

Education and Experience

Associate's Degree in Nursing from an accredited university.

Two (2) years’ experience in nursing, with at least one (1) year in psychiatric, mental health/intellectual disability or substance abuse setting.

Licenses or Certifications

Current Registered Nurse Certification to practice in the State of Texas.

Other Requirements

Must maintain a valid driver’s license and automobile insurance coverage, be able to travel as needed, and be able to meet on a consistent basis the driving record requirements of the Company’s auto insurance carrier if you drive your vehicle during company business.

Must maintain required credentials and mandatory training requirements to ensure compliance with all State regulations and CHCS policies.

Must be able to meet the physical requirements to complete Nonviolent Crisis Intervention (NCI) and CPR training including lifting up to 12 lbs. and supporting up to 55 lbs.; bending, stooping and getting on and off the floor without assistance.

Nonviolent Crisis Intervention (NCI) is a proven safe and harm-free method of behavior modification. All consumer-facing employees of CHCS must take NCI courses facilitated by the CHCS Training team within the first 45 days of employment.

NCI is intended to support human service professionals in giving aggressive, disruptive, or out-of-control people the best care and welfare possible, even in the most violent situation.

NCI training provides staff with the skills to safely recognize and respond to everyday crisis situations that may involve more challenging behaviors. It focuses on prevention and offers proven strategies for safely defusing anxious, hostile or violent behavior at the earliest possible stage. Depending on assigned unit/program, applicants for this position must pass a Criminal Justice Information Systems (CJIS) fingerprint-based background check and maintain CJIS eligibility. Due to CJIS requirements related to system access, the following may result in being disqualified for this position: Felony Convictions, Felony Deferred Adjudication, Class A & B Misdemeanor Deferred Adjudication, Class B Misdemeanor Convictions, an Open Arrest for Any Criminal Offense (Felony or Misdemeanor), and Family Violence Convictions.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing (BSN) from an accredited university.

Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred. Language Proficiency Pay (LPP) payments are subject to successful testing, certification by CHCS Payroll, and availability of funding. Funding may be renewed in subsequent fiscal years but is not guaranteed.

SUPERVISION

Responsibility to supervise LVNs, Integrated Care Technician, Recovery Support Specialists, CMAs, CNAs.

COMPETENCIES FOR SUCCESSFUL PERFORMANCE OF JOB DUTIES
Knowledge of:

Applicable software applications (including Microsoft Office)

CHCS nursing requirements and standards of practice

Federal, State and local laws, and regulations affecting the current area of nursing practice.

Medical diagnosis and applicable medications.

Mental health nursing practices.

Modern office procedures, methods and computer equipment.

Phlebotomy

Skilled in:

De-escalation and conflict resolution.

Organization and time management.

Performing a variety of duties, often changing from one task to another of a different nature.

Performing basic mathematical functions such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, percentages, and ratios.

Ability to:

Accurately organize and maintain paper documents and electronic files.

Effectively communicate, both verbally and in writing.

Establish and maintain effective working relationships.

Maintain accurate and complete records.

Maintain the confidentiality of information and professional boundaries.

Meet schedules and deadlines of the work.

Respond to patient needs and monitor patients for adverse reactions to medications.

Understand and carry out oral and written directions.

Verify active order for labs and injections and confirm labs ordered.

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

Must be able to meet the physical requirements to complete Nonviolent Crisis Intervention (NCI) and CPR training including lifting up to 12 lbs. and supporting up to 55 lbs.; bending, stooping and getting on and off the floor without assistance.

Must have adequate mobility that requires frequent walking, standing, bending, stooping, kneeling, reaching (vertical and horizontal), using fingers, hands, feet, legs and torso in various care.The employee must be able to regularly lift and/or move up to 40 pounds and occasionally must lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. The employee must be able to occasionally transfer a consumer.

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