Psychiatric Registered Nurse

Psychiatric Registered Nurse

The Psychiatric Registered Nurse provides nursing care to individuals experiencing mental health concerns, substance use disorders, co-occurring conditions, and related medical needs. The position supports the integration of physical health, behavioral health, substance use treatment, crisis response, and culturally responsive care. The Psychiatric Registered Nurse collaborates with Behavioral Health therapists, substance use counselors, medical providers, case managers, peer support specialists, cultural staff, schools, Tribal programs, families, and community partners.

Services are delivered in a manner that respects Omaha Tribal customs, values, family systems, community relationships, and traditional healing practices.

Essential duties and responsibilities include the following:

Assessment and Screening

• Conduct nursing assessments addressing physical health, mental health, substance use, medication needs, safety concerns, and social factors affecting wellness.
• Complete intake screenings, health histories, vital signs, medication reconciliation, and nursing evaluations.
• Screen for suicide risk, self-harm, violence risk, withdrawal symptoms, intoxication, medication side effects, and other urgent concerns.
• Identify medical conditions that may contribute to or complicate behavioral health symptoms.
• Assist with determining the appropriate level of care and make referrals to outpatient, crisis, detoxification, residential, inpatient, or emergency services.
• Immediately notify the appropriate provider or emergency responder when a patient presents an imminent risk to self or others or has an urgent medical condition.

Medication Management

• Administer prescribed psychotropic, injectable, withdrawal-management, and other medications within the scope of RN practice.
• Complete medication reconciliation and maintain accurate medication records.
• Monitor patients for medication effectiveness, adverse reactions, allergies, interactions, and treatment adherence.
• Coordinate prescription refills, prior authorizations, pharmacy communication, laboratory orders, and follow-up appointments as authorized.
• Provide education regarding medication purpose, dosage, side effects, safe storage, and the importance of taking medications as prescribed.
• Support medication-assisted treatment for substance use disorders in collaboration with authorized prescribers and treatment providers.

Individualized Care Planning

• Participate in the development, implementation, and review of individualized treatment and recovery plans.
• Collaborate with patients, families, caregivers, medical providers, therapists, substance use counselors, and other members of the care team.
• Help patients identify health, wellness, recovery, and relapse-prevention goals.
• Support discharge planning and transitions between outpatient, residential, inpatient, detoxification, correctional, and community-based services.
• Ensure care plans address both behavioral and physical health needs.

Crisis Intervention and Patient Safety

• Respond to psychiatric emergencies, substance-related crises, medication reactions, and behavioral health safety concerns.
• Use trauma-informed verbal de-escalation and crisis-intervention techniques.
• Assist with suicide-risk response, safety planning, emergency referrals, and follow-up after a crisis or hospitalization.
• Coordinate with Tribal Law Enforcement, Emergency Medical Services, hospitals, crisis-response providers, schools, and other appropriate agencies.
• Follow all organizational policies related to emergency response, mandatory reporting, patient safety, infection control, and workplace safety.
• Participate in community crisis-response activities when requested.

Patient and Family Education

• Provide education regarding mental health conditions, substance use disorders, co-occurring conditions, medications, treatment options, and recovery supports.
• Teach patients and families about warning signs, coping strategies, self-care, overdose prevention, relapse prevention, and when to seek emergency help.
• Provide age-appropriate education to children, adolescents, adults, elders, parents, and caregivers.
• Promote healthy sleep, nutrition,…