ACT Nurse

POSITION SUMMARY

The ACT Nurse is a fully integrated member of a community-based team serving adults living with serious and persistent mental illness. Working alongside the team’s psychiatric care provider, the nurse owns the medication system end to end — administration, monitoring, education, and coordination with outside medical providers. The majority of this work happens in members’ homes and in the community rather than in a clinic.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

• Manage the team’s medication system in conjunction with the psychiatric care provider; administer and document medication treatment, including oral and intramuscular psychotropic medications

• Maintain a secure medication room and support dispensing, including long-acting injectable administration and tracking of due dates

• Screen and monitor members for medical problems and medication side effects

• Engage members in health promotion, prevention, and education activities

• Develop individualized strategies to support members in taking medications as prescribed, including environmental cues and simplified regimens

• Communicate and coordinate care with primary care providers, specialists, hospitals, and pharmacies

• Educate fellow team members on monitoring psychiatric symptoms and medication side effects

• Participate in person-centered planning and contribute nursing assessment to the team’s treatment decisions

TEAM EXPECTATIONS

• Attend the daily team meeting, Monday through Friday

• Participate in the team’s 24/7/365 on-call rotation as first responder for crisis calls

• Deliver the majority of services in the community; on average 75% of face-to-face contacts occur in non-office settings

• Support the team standard of seeing each member on average 1.5 times per week for a minimum of 60 minutes

• Provide services on evenings, weekends, and holidays as scheduled by the team

• Complete documentation in the electronic health record within required timeframes

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Current, unrestricted license as a Registered Nurse or Advanced Practice Registered Nurse in North Carolina; Licensed Practical Nurses will be considered for this position working within their scope of practice under the supervision of an ACT team RN

• For RN and APRN candidates: a minimum of one year of experience working with adults with serious mental illness and working knowledge of psychiatric medications is strongly preferred and required for at least one nurse on the team

• Valid North Carolina driver’s license, reliable personal transportation, and auto insurance meeting agency minimums

• Ability to pass a criminal background check, drug screen, healthcare sanctions screening, and health screening including TB

• Current CPR and First Aid certification, or willingness to obtain within 30 days of hire

• Proficiency with electronic health records and standard office software

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Prior experience on an ACT, CST, or other community-based behavioral health team

• Experience administering long-acting injectable antipsychotics in community settings

• Familiarity with TMACT fidelity standards

REQUIRED TRAINING

The following must be completed within the first 120 calendar days of hire:

• DHHS-approved High-Fidelity ACT training

• Crisis Response training

• Brief Motivational Interviewing

• Person-Centered Thinking

• DHHS-approved Tenancy Supports training, if designated as the team’s primary tenancy support staff

These requirements are waived where the candidate provides written documentation of successful completion within the previous 12 months. Applicants transferring from another North Carolina ACT team are encouraged to submit training transcripts with their application.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Frequent driving throughout the service area; extensive time in the field

• Ability to enter member homes and community settings, including stairs and settings without elevator access

• Occasional lifting and carrying of up to 25 pounds

• Ability to respond to crisis situations, including outside standard business hours

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY

Pathways to Life, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. Reasonable accommodations are available to applicants and employees with disabilities.