Openings

POSITION SUMMARY

Facilitates the medical care needs of patients being seen in Psychiatric Emergency Services or in Kotzebue-based

MHC substance use treatment programs. This position reports to the Integrated Care Clinical Supervisor and/or designee. 

PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Initiates and utilizes the nursing process to meet the holistic needs of the patient and family while adhering to the professional standards set forth by the American Nurses’ Association.
2. Observes the patient’s clinical condition: recognizes, identifies, and interprets serious and/or emergent situations while initiating appropriate nursing interventions.
3. Develops and implements patient/family teaching programs based on mutually identified health care goals.
4. Documents all observations, nursing interventions, therapeutic measures administered, and status of coordinated activities between nursing and other professional disciplines.
5. Evaluates the patient’s plan of care and revises the plan as needed.
6. Safeguards patients' right to privacy by judiciously protecting information in a confidential manner.
7. Understands the developmental needs of all patients throughout the continuum of life; is able to adjust care to these needs; and documentation reflects this understanding.
8. Assumes responsibility and accountability for individual nursing judgments and actions.
9. Utilizes incident and medication error reporting protocols per MHC policies.
10. Participates in continuing education activities.
11. Facilitates patient care across multiple disciplines, departments, and other non-MHC agencies through referrals and other business operations.
12. Stays alert to patient and staff safety needs at all times and completes reports as needed in SQSS.
13. Facilitates medication refills between patients, physicians, pharmacies, and insurance.
14. Provides nurse case management to identify and obtain appropriate medical/therapeutic information in preparation for prescriber visits. Provides patient education and refers to the physician as appropriate.
15. Provide educational services, including individual and group, as an integrated part of SUD treatment Programs. Conduct nursing physical evaluation, injections, and lab collection as needed. Coordinates care plans with primary care and specialties.
16. Provides culturally sensitive, systematic mental health/SUD nursing care that reflects contemporary nursing practice and the client’s health care/treatment plan.
17. Provides comprehensive mental health case management to outpatients of all ages. Utilizes multiple brief patient contacts to provide education and reinforce the clinician’s plan of care.
18. Identifies situations where nursing or case management would benefit the patient and communicates closely with clinicians, both medical and behavioral; identifies situations beyond the nursing scope of practice and seeks appropriate clinician direction.
19. Clinic Support Activities: Researches patient education material.
20. Research equipment as needed and work with biomedical services to ensure clinic equipment is maintained.
21. What constitutes an emergent psychiatric need, medical emergency, or emergent medication reaction, and how to implement an appropriate response.
22. Medications, disease processes, and the ability to utilize information resources.
23. How to access systems related to psychiatric/SUD patient care both within and outside of MHC.
24. Communicating effectively with and empathizing with patients.
25. Performing a nursing assessment.
26. Documenting appropriately in Cerner.
27. Recognize the acuity of a situation and seek an appropriate plan and level of care.
28. Individualize education in a manner that is meaningful to each patient.
29. Communicate with patients who may have challenges related to comprehension and mood.
30. Other Functions.
31. Other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Associate's degree in Nursing from an Accredited College. An active nursing license in Alaska or another U.S. state is required. Agency staff must have an active Alaska license. Clinical Competency is required within 3 months of hire and every three years. Experience with mental health care, SUD, and medical primary care phone triage – preferred. Must be willing to obtain ACLS training within 6 months of hire. Ability to lift up to 50 pounds and spend long periods standing or walking.

DISCLAIMER

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this job.  They are not intended to be considered an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of personnel in this job, and the employer reserves the right to revise or change this description.  This description does not constitute a written or implied contract of employment.  To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to satisfactorily perform each of the above essential duties and meet physical demands.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to meet those conditions.