Behavioral Health Nurse

Behavioral Health Nurse

The Behavioral Health Nurse is a licensed professional who provides direct and indirect patient care services to patients in their home environment or alternative setting according to the organization's policies and procedures; assesses patients and develops a plan of care in collaboration with the physician; provides nursing interventions (including phlebotomy, wound care, infusion, ostomy, catheter care and other skilled interventions) as ordered by the physician;

instructs, motivates, and assists patients and/or caregivers in learning and improving the ability to live independently at home; and supervises and directs the efforts of the Licensed Practical Nurse and Home Health Aides when involved in the patient plan of care. Assists with community education and marketing activities, when requested.

Responsibilities include:

• Making initial assessment visit utilizing observation/assessment skills and assists in developing the patient's plan of care in coordination with the patient's physician/allowed practitioner and Clinical Manager
• Managing medical illness per POC; performing psycho-biological interventions
• Conducting comprehensive medication reviews and ensuring patients and their caregivers, if any, receive information regarding the patient's medication regimen
• Providing education to the patient and their family regarding medication administration, actions, side effects, etc.
• Providing written materials for patients and their families
• Evaluating, teaching, and reviewing medications and compliance; administering intramuscular (IM) or intravenous (IV) medication
• Managing situational or other crises; performing assessments of potential self-harm or harm to others, and referring to the treating physicians as necessary
• Providing teaching and training activities that require skilled nursing personnel to teach a patient, the patient's family, or caregivers how to manage the treatment regimen; teaches self-care, mental and physical well-being, promotes independence and patient's rights
• Promoting and encouraging patient/caregiver to maintain a safe and therapeutic environment
• Providing supportive counseling psychotherapy and psycho-therapeutic interventions according to education and licensure
• Providing psychoeducation, such as teaching/training with disease process, symptom, and safety management, coping skills and problem solving
• Providing ongoing evaluation and management of the patient's care plan
• Providing counseling services or coordinating with a social worker to ensure counseling services are provided
• Ensuring appropriate documentation, in accordance with coverage guidelines, to show the evaluation, psychotherapy and teaching activities needed by patients suffering from a diagnosed psychiatric disorder require active treatment by a psychiatrically trained nurse
• Providing general nursing interventions (including phlebotomy, wound care, infusion, ostomy, catheter care, and other skilled interventions) as ordered by the physician
• Providing all aspects of case management to enhance patient outcomes including communicating with other disciplines to ensure collaboration and coordination of care
• Monitoring the patient's condition and reporting changes to the Clinical Manager, and the patient's physician/allowed practitioner when indicated
• Obtaining, properly documenting, and executing orders from the patient's physician/allowed practitioner
• Ensuring compliance with state/local/payer requirements and that documentation reflects the care provided and meets company, regulatory and payer standards; and completing documentation within the required timeframe
• Participating with after-hours coverage, including weekends and holidays, when necessary to meet the needs of patients, when requested
• Providing supervision of care provided by licensed practical nurses and home health aides when indicated
• Maintaining universal precautions and infection control standards to prevent the transmission of infections and communicable diseases
• Appropriately disinfecting/sanitizing/transporting equipment and supplies used for patient care; and using proper medical waste disposal techniques
• Reporting all incidents per agency policy and regulatory standards
• Providing professional guidance to referral sources and internal operational staff to ensure both patient and referral source satisfaction
• Assisting with staff development and providing one-on-one clinical training to all field RNs and LPNs during home visits
• Collaborating with the Clinical Manager, Branch Director, and/or Administrator to ensure ongoing staff competencies
• Meeting with and educating referral sources about the services of the agency by providing in-services, when requested
• Increasing market share by sustaining and growing key established accounts, and by identifying and developing new referral sources through prospecting, lead generation and sales calls within an assigned territory, when requested
• Attending and participating in staff meetings, patient care conferences,…