Registered Nurse Geriatric Transition Center

JOB SUMMARY

The Registered Nurse Geriatric Transition Center is a member of the Regional Geriatric Transition Center multidisciplinary team that is 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 transition environment that provides residential stabilization as well as medically, behavioral, mental, and substance services.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Provide initial and ongoing face to face and/or telemedicine assessments to individuals referred to the transition center and provide input to the Regional Geriatric Nurse Practitioner, Regional Lead Nurse and other team members. Document client progress to maintain a permanent record of client activity according to established methods and procedures.

Participate in staff organizational meetings and treatment planning review meetings. Take the lead role or participate in providing medication administration and medical services. 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 individuals and integrating medication administration into 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. 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). Provide symptom education to enable clients to identify their mental illness symptoms. 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.

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 EXPERIENCE/EDUCATION REQUIRED : Bachelor of Science Nursing (preferred). Current state licensure (or covered compact licensure) as a Registered Nurse (RN) or Graduate in nursing from an accredited college/university with successful completion of licensure with the Board of Nursing within 90 days of graduation.

One (1) year of professional experience practicing as a Registered Nurse (RN) is preferred. Recent Behavioral Health experience is preferred. Valid driver’s license with safe driving record.