Psychiatric RN

Position Overview

As part of the core services team, the PACT RN provides nursing assessment, direct‑support services and primary health care to seriously and persistently mentally ill individuals enrolled in the PACT Program. Provides support and education to other team members in nursing/medical treatment and health care.

• As a team member in the frequent monitoring and assessment of the mental and physical health status of people served
• With the team in the development of a nursing assessment, comprehensive assessment and an individualized recovery plan, providing knowledge and expertise from the nursing discipline
• A population health component for the team. This includes prioritizing medical needs of persons served, tracking medical outcomes over time to determine if improvement occurs, facilitating follow‑up for medical conditions when medical intervention is required, recommending age and gender appropriate screening for persons served (PSA, mammograms, colonoscopy, etc.)
• In clinical and non‑clinical team meetings, including individual and team supervision. Actively seeks out monthly supervision from supervisor, and biannual group supervision with the Bridgeway medical APN.

• Teaching of skills to support each person’s individualized recovery journey and community integration
• Coordination of services with other community mental health and non‑mental health providers, as well as other medical professionals
• Mental and physical health education, community living skill training and supportive counseling in the home and other natural environments to people served and significant others, often focusing on psychiatric medications, side‑effects and physical health care
• Assessment of service recipients stated concerns, mental illness symptoms, and behavior in response to medication and monitors for medication side effects during the provision of observed self‑administration and during ongoing face‑to‑face contacts
• Medication education to individuals and family/significant others with service recipient consent
• 24‑hour on‑call coverage on a rotating schedule, with the ability to respond immediately to individuals by phone or in person
• Referral to a medical doctor for physical examination to be performed in the first 3 months of treatment
• Rapid and flexible response to crisis, including but not limited to: accompanying the person to the local screening center or psychiatric emergency service and remaining with the person during the assessment process
• Education of the individual regarding his/her illness and the effects and side effects of prescribed medications
• Symptom management efforts directed to helping each consumer identify the symptoms and occurrence patterns of his/her mental illness and develop methods to help lessen their effects
• Ability to recognize high risk medical and psychiatric conditions and take appropriate action
• Technical assistance and education to members of the team in the area of psychiatric nursing and physical health
• Metabolic Syndrome screening—Obtains HgbA1c, fasting glucose, lipid profile, blood pressure
• Administers prescribed medications and injections, draws blood, and prepares laboratory specimens for delivery, if certified to do so
• Administration of medications to enrolled individuals; trains other team members regarding medication education, medication delivery observation of self‑administration of medication, and medication monitoring; and regularly assesses other team members’ competency in this area
• Responsible for accurate record‑keeping of all medications administered in the Medication Record
• Adheres to nursing and agency protocols regarding medication administration and storage
• Consults with other service providers and resource people regarding the assessment, treatment and rehabilitation needs of the person served
• Assesses individuals’ daily living skills, and teaches individuals needed skills in the areas of budgeting, cooking, laundry, cleaning, shopping, personal hygiene, community transportation, self‑advocacy and ways to maintain housing
• Uses Illness Management and Recovery (IMR) and other evidence‑based practices which…