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JOB SUMMARY:

Member of the sub-acute Crisis Stabilization Unit multidisciplinary team responsible for conducting psychiatric assessments; assessing physical 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. These services are provided in a subacute environment that provides residential crisis stabilization as well as medically managed withdrawal services.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• To provide initial and ongoing face to face and/or telemedicine assessments to individuals referred to the crisis stabilization unit and provide input to Program Manager.
• To document client progress to maintain a permanent record of client activity according to established methods and procedures.
• To participate in staff organizational meetings and treatment planning review meetings.
• To take the lead role or participate in providing medication administration and medical services.
• To provide under the direction of the team prescriber and in collaboration with other nurses on the team, 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 prescriber; evaluate and chart psychotropic medication effectiveness, complications, and side effects; and arrange for required lab work according to protocol. Under the direction of the team prescriber and in collaboration with other registered nurses on the team, organize and manage a system of getting medication to clients and integrating medication administration into clients’ individual treatment plans. Under the direction of the team prescriber and in collaboration with other registered nurses on the team, manage pharmaceuticals and medical supplies. In collaboration with the team prescriber, coordinate, schedule, and administer medical assessments of client physical health, making appropriate referrals to community physicians for further assessment and treatment, and coordinate psychiatric treatment with medical treatment.
• To provide ongoing assessment of clients' symptoms and response to treatment. Make appropriate changes in treatment plans as necessary to ensure immediate and appropriate interventions are provided in response to changes in mental status or behavior which puts clients at risk (e.g. suicidal).
• To provide symptom education to enable clients to identify their mental illness symptoms.
• To provide individual and group treatment within the crisis stabilization unit in a model that is non-confrontational, considers interactions of mental illness and substance abuse, and has client-determined goals.

OTHER DUTIES:

• To provide direct clinical services to clients on an individual, group, and family basis in the office and in community settings to teach behavioral symptom-management techniques to alleviate and manage symptoms not reduced by medication and to promote personal growth and development by assisting clients to adapt to and cope with internal and external stresses.
• To provide nutrition education, along with meal planning, grocery shopping, and food preparation information.
• To assist and support clients to have and effectively use a personal primary care physician, dentist, and other medical specialists as required.
• Perform such other duties as assigned by supervisor.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Strong clinical skills.
• Clear understanding of the characteristics and problems of adults with severe and persistent mental illness and substance abuse addictions.
• Respect for client preferences.