Assertive Community Treatment RN

JOB DESCRIPTION

TITLE:  ASSERTIVE COMMUNITY TREATMENT REGISTERED NURSE

REPORTS TO:  ASSERTIVE COMMUNITY TREATMENT TEAM LEAD/PROGRAM DIRECTOR

STATUS:  EXEMPT

MAIN FUNCTION:  The Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) registered nurse is a member of the multidisciplinary team and is responsible for conducting psychiatric assessments; assessing physical health needs; making appropriate referrals to community physicians; providing management and administration of medication in conjunction with the psychiatrist, providing a range of treatment, rehabilitation, and support services; and sharing shift management responsibility with other staff.

DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provide case management for an assigned group of clients including coordinating and monitoring the activities of the individual treatment team; assume primary responsibility for developing, writing, implementing, evaluating, and revising overall treatment goals and plans in conjunction with the team, providing individual symptom management, ensuring immediate changes are made in the treatment plans as clients’ needs change, educating, and supporting clients’ families, and advocating for clients rights and preferences.
• Conduct comprehensive assessment of psychiatric history, mental status, and diagnosis; physical health and dental health; use of drugs or alcohol; education and employment; social development and functioning; activities of daily living; and family structure and relationships.
• Consult with community agencies and families to maintain coordination in the treatment process.
• Perform shift management in coordination with other ACT shift managers according to established policies and procedures.
• Provide on-call crisis intervention covering nighttime hours and serve as a backup to evening and weekend staff.
• Document client progress to maintain a permanent record of client activity according to established methods and procedures.
• Participate in daily staff organization meetings and treatment planning review meetings.
• Participate in providing medication administration and medical services.
• Under the direction of the team psychiatrist, develop, revise, maintain, and supervise team psychopharmacologic and medical treatment and medication policies and procedures including transcribing, administering, evaluating, and recording psychotropic medications prescribed by the team psychiatrist; evaluate and chart psychotropic medication effectiveness, complications, and side-effects; and arrange or required lab work according to protocol.
• Under the direction of the team psychiatrist and in collaboration with other RNs on the team, organize and manage the system of getting medication to clients and integrating medication administration tightly into client’s individual treatment plans; manage pharmaceutical supplies.
• In collaboration with the team psychiatrist, coordinate, schedule, and administer medical assessments of client physical health.
• Participate in treatment, rehabilitation, and support services, including psychiatric treatment, substance use disorder services, employment, activities of daily living skills, social and interpersonal relationships, and advocacy, problem solving, direct assistance, and training.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

REQUIRED SKILLS/ABILITIES: 

• Maintains confidentiality when dealing with all clients.
• Must utilize effective problem-solving skills as appropriate.
• Conveys enthusiasm and sincerity and promotes Heartland Counseling and its services in a positive

        manner to all customers.

• Supports Heartland Counseling through the daily application of our mission, vision, core values, and

        social principles while providing quality care and service to our clients, their families, co-workers,

        physicians, volunteers, and the communities we serve.

• Must be flexible to change and have the ability to work effectively in a team environment.
• Performs duties in a manner consistent with Safety Principles.
• Employee is required to comply with all applicable laws, regulations and standards associated with

        but not limited to: CMS, and OSHA.

• Coordinates workflow with other team members to ensure a productive and efficient

        environment.

• Skills in verbal and written communication.
• Maintains ethics as dictated by profession.
• Good organizational skills and administrative abilities.
• Maintains state licensure without disciplinary action.
• Ability to form therapeutic relationships with clients.
• Strong interpersonal skills in working with diverse
• Good computer skills and experience with EMR systems.
• Possess a valid driver’s license and an insurable driving record.

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE: 

• At a minimum, the nurse shall be a Registered Nurse under 655 – Chapter 3 and have experience treating persons with serious and persistent mental illness.
• Preferred to have at least one year’s experience in an inpatient or outpatient psychiatry setting.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: 

• Required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms. 
• Occasionally required to climb or balance; kneel or crawl, talk or hear. 
• Occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.