Description

Position Title: Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN)

Program: Promise Wellness Center

Classification: Full Time 

Compensation: $32.00 to $34.00 per hour

Summary and Range of Authority: Under the direction of the Nurse Practitioner and Program Manager provides treatment to clients with all ranges of psychiatric symptom acuity and substance abuse.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Under the direction of the Psychiatrist and/or Nurse Practitioner, administers medication (including injections) and monitors results. Keeps Nurse Practitioner and/or Psychiatrist informed of changes in clients’ conditions.
• Consults in regards to clients with a multidisciplinary treatment team which includes the Psychiatrist, Nurse Practitioner and primary Clinician.
• Assists with crisis intervention and psychiatric assessments.
• Collaborates with client’s primary care physician and other health, community, social and welfare providers to coordinate care.
• Refers clients to the Nurse Practitioner or consulting Psychiatrist regarding changes in medication.
• Ensures that clients and family members are educated and informed about their medications and illness management.
• Performs face-to-face nursing assessments, screens for communicable and collects medical and medication history.
• Conducts quality assurance activities related to storing and dispensing of medications and ensures all local and state regulations are followed.
• Order refills of medications, actively obtains medication samples from pharmaceutical companies, inventory and store all medications and disposes of all expired medications as required by law. 
• Orders medical supplies as needed from the pharmacy or other medical supply business; disposes of and retains all used medical supplies as required by law.
• Conducts limited physical screening (i.e. when the psychiatrist prescribes intramuscular medications) and provide consultation to the staff on physical complaints of clients.
• Prepares Treatment Authorization Requests (TAR) for the psychiatrist and makes arrangements with the pharmacy.
• Prepares accurate and timely medical records of all services rendered.
• Develops and implement health and wellness groups, including but not limited to: Smoking cessation, diabetes management, and exercise and mental health, medication management.
• Other duties and responsibilities as assigned. 

Requirements

Required Education, Certifications/Licenses and Language/Cultural Skills:

• Bachelor’s degree in nursing and current valid license to practice as a Licensed Vocational Nurse in California.
• Current CPR certification
• Knowledge and experience relevant to work with diverse communities must be competent and comfortable in communicating mental health concepts to those with different cultures.

Minimum Experience and Qualifications Required:

• Minimum of one year of experience working with individuals with severe and persistent mental illness and co-occurring disorders.
• Knowledge of general medicine and its relationship to the treatment of mental disabilities.
• Knowledge of psychopathology, psychotherapy, psycho-pharmacotherapy and their applications within an outpatient setting. 
• Ability to maintain effective, caring relationships with clients, families, professionals and support services staff.
• Ability to work effectively both independently and as a member of the team.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Ability to serve a large volume of clients rapidly and affectively on a walk-in or appointment bases, within set time limits.
• Ability to work well with individuals from a variety of backgrounds, including the treatment team, pharmaceutical representatives, clients with mental health problems and their families.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to maintain strict confidentiality with regard to sensitive or proprietary information or materials.
• Will not be debarred or excluded from participation in Federal programs by the General Services Administration and/or the Department of Health and Human Services of the Inspector General.
• Must pass background check (Live Scan Fingerprint).
• Must be able to drive (when needed) for business purposes to other program locations in San Diego County. If employee drives his/her personal automobile for UPAC business, employee must have valid California driver’s license and comprehensive automobile insurance coverage, as required by law. 

Additional Preferred Education or Qualifications:

• Bilingual/bicultural
• Demonstrated knowledge of County HHSA BHS requirements, including documentation.
• Knowledge of Cerner electronic health record systems.

Physical Demands and Work Environment:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Spends approximately 70% of work time sitting and meeting with others or working at a desk and/or computer. Spends approximately 30% of work time standing or walking within the work area or outside the office at meetings and events, also bends, twists, stoops and reaches. Ability to communicate in writing and verbally. Regularly required to sit and talk or hear. Frequently is required to use hands to touch, handle or feel and reach with hands and arms. Occasionally lifts and/or moves up to 25 pounds. Working conditions are normal for an office environment and event venues. The noise level is usually moderate.