Registered Nurse

Position Summary

The Registered Nurse works in a dynamic multidisciplinary team providing treatment services according to the Discovery Behavioral Health Clinical Model.

• Meets with each potential new admission and completes face-to-face assessment. Screens for medical appropriateness for admission to the facility and consults with the medical/psychiatric provider to receive orders for admission. Supports the process by checking belongings, providing searches, etc. as needed.
• Completes initial nursing assessment and full medical admission process upon admission for each patient.
• Ensures all orders from medical/psychiatric providers are carried out.
• Ensures that all patients have signed informed consent for medications prior to the first dose.
• Administers medications as prescribed and administers PRN medications and documents effectiveness within timelines.
• Must demonstrate knowledge of Axis I diagnosis and symptoms.
• Develops and initiates the Nursing Care Plan.
• Ensures proper narcotic diversion protocols as per policy are completed each shift.
• Meets regularly with medical staff and treatment team to discuss patient care, needs, and interventions.
• Provides assessment of medical problems as needed.
• Performs primary first aid and determines need for physician notification.
• Performs vital signs, basic evaluative procedures, and tests.
• Provides health education to patients and staff.
• Responsible to ensure all the medications needed by the patients are ordered appropriately and available in the facility.
• Manages and orders supplies and keeps a fully stocked and operational nursing station.
• Effectively and professionally communicates with families/loved ones, as appropriate.
• Able to effectively and professionally establish rapport with patients.
• Provides milieu management throughout the treatment experience and communicates with all team members.
• Objectively and accurately documents patient progress as required by policy.
• Assists with discharge process.
• Assesses patient suicidality and possibility of danger to self or others.
• Communicates with referral sources and outpatient providers for continuity of care upon admission, midpoint, and discharge, as needed.
• Makes timely requests for any absences and ensures coverage for any scheduled shift.
• Manages patient’s medical needs including schedule appointments, complete referral/ prior authorizations for medical treatments and tests as indicated.
• Oversees the medication management system that includes, but not limited to, medication planning, storage, ordering and transcribing, administration, monitoring and evaluation.
• Other duties as assigned.

• Monitoring of CIWA/COW scores for patients on detoxification protocols.
• Knowledge of detoxification medication, withdrawal symptoms, and medical complications that can occur in detox.

• Required to sit at a meal and a snack on every shift.
• Will work during meal periods to provide supervision and support to patient.
• Maintains NG tube and administers bolus feeds when appropriate.

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing preferred.
• ADN (Associate Degree in Nursing) accepted.
• Holds a current RN license in good standing.
• One year experience preferred working in mental health, substance use, or eating disorders field.
• Ability to draw blood required.

Employment Status: Full-time

Schedule: Three 12-hour shifts per week

Work Location: On-site – McLean VA

Discovery Behavioral Health seeks to build a diverse staff that is reflective of the patients we serve and the communities where we work. DBH encourages multiple perspectives, experiences, and strives to hire and retain a diverse workforce.

We are proud to be an EEO employer M/F/D/V. We maintain a drug‑free workplace and perform pre‑employment substance abuse testing. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.