Assertive Community Treatment Team Psychiatric Nurse

UnityPoint Health•Ames, IA

26d

About The Position

Join Our Team as a Psychiatric Nurse – ACT Program Are you passionate about making a real difference in the lives of individuals with complex needs? We’re seeking a dedicated Psychiatric Nurse to work directly with clients on our Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) Team. Using the evidence-based ACT model designed by NAMI, you’ll provide comprehensive, wraparound services that support client goals in mental health, physical health, housing, employment, and social well-being. In this role, you’ll conduct assessments, develop treatment plans, and collaborate with clients and team members in community and home settings to achieve meaningful outcomes. You’ll also provide medication education, manage prescriptions, and ensure clients receive the psychiatric care they need—all while representing our agency with professionalism and compassion. What We Offer: $5,000 Sign-On Bonus Monday–Friday schedule (8:00 AM–4:30 PM) with occasional evenings and weekends The opportunity to impact lives through holistic, client-centered care Why UnityPoint Health? At UnityPoint Health, you matter. We’re proud to be recognized as a Top 150 Place to Work in Healthcare by Becker's Healthcare several years in a row for our commitment to our team members. Our competitive Total Rewards program offers benefits options that align with your needs and priorities, no matter what life stage you’re in. Here are just a few: Expect paid time off, parental leave, 401K matching and an employee recognition program . Dental and health insurance, paid holidays, short and long-term disability and more. We even offer pet insurance for your four-legged family members. Early access to earned wages with Daily Pay, tuition reimbursement to help further your career and adoption assistance to help you grow your family . With a collective goal to champion a culture of belonging where everyone feels valued and respected, we honor the ways people are unique and embrace what brings us together. And, we believe equipping you with support and development opportunities is a vital part of delivering an exceptional employment experience. Find a fulfilling career and make a difference with UnityPoint Health.

Requirements

Associates degree in nursing with current RN required.
Licensed in the state of Iowa as a RN.
Valid driver’s license when driving any vehicle for work-related reasons
Ability to delegate wisely, exercise good judgment, maintain good interpersonal relationships, adapt to change, evaluate critically and think creatively.
Individual will demonstrate knowledge and skills necessary to provide appropriate care to adolescents, adult and geriatric patients with severe and persistent mental illnesses.
Individual will demonstrate effective written and verbal skills allowing communication with physicians, co-workers, other clinic/hospital personnel, as well as the public.
Position requires good organizational skills.
Position also requires a valid driver’s license.
Must be able to objectively perform initial assessment of patient’s condition and identify needs related to adolescent, adult and geriatric behavioral health.
Individual must possess the ability to effect planned change in a positive manner.
Ability to work effectively with others, think creatively and communicate effectively is required.
Position requires working knowledge of community resources.
One year with mental health experience required.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in nursing preferred.
Three years or more of mental health experience preferred.

Responsibilities

Under the direction of the team medication prescriber and in collaboration with the other registered 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 medication prescriber.
Takes a lead role in providing medication administration and nursing care, evaluating and charting psychotropic medication effectiveness, complications, and side effects as prescribed by ACT psychiatrist or ARNP.
Administer IM injections according to protocol, properly destroy medications according to protocol, and assure client attendance and follow-up with psychiatric prescriber.
Arranges for required lab work according to protocol, tracking collections and results.
Provides education to patients and family members on benefits and possible side effects of medications.
Provides individual and group treatment, as part of a team, in the office and community settings. Treatment will be in a stage-based treatment model that is non-confrontational
In collaboration with the team psychiatrist or ARNP coordinate, schedule, and administer medical assessments of client physical health, making appropriate referrals to community physicians for further assessment and treatment, and coordinating psychiatric treatment with medical treatment.
Provides individual, couple, family and group services/skill teaching in a community setting to teach patients behavioral symptom management as a means of coping with internal and external stressors.
Performs shift management in coordination with other ACT staff according to established policy and procedures.
Provides on-call crisis interventions covering after business hours, overnights and weekends as scheduled.
Initiates and maintains relationships, in coordination with other staff, with law enforcement, other human service agencies, and informal community resources, (e.g. landlords, employers, etc.), advocating on behalf of the client’s abilities, interests, and needs.
Advocate for clients to help meet their needs, desires and best interests.
Utilize critical thinking in making independent judgements and maintain responsibility and accountability for service provided.
Knowledge of the effects of mental illness and the ability to relate respectfully to clients with a wide range of abilities and diagnoses.
Ability to meet clients in their homes or in public places with ability to drive safely, and a willingness to transport clients in own vehicle.
Possess teamwork skills including problem solving, cooperation, negotiating, etc.
Continue professional development and involvement in professional activities that enhance service provision.
Functions as a practicing clinician on the team and provides service coordination (case management) for an assigned group of patients.
Coordinates and monitors activities of daily living.
Assumes primary responsibility for developing, writing, implementing, evaluation and revising treatment goals and plans in conjunction with client.
Provides supportive therapy and symptom management.
Ensures immediate changes are made in treatment plans as a patients’ needs change.
Educates and supports patients’ families as needed.
Advocates for patients’ rights and preferences.
Help maintain patients’ entitlements.
Organize and manage the system of getting medication to clients and integrate medication into client’s individual treatment plans.
Manage pharmaceuticals and medical supplies
Complete all documentation within established guidelines.
Ability to prioritize client need and to complete required written documentation.
Demonstrate an understanding of all funder and accreditation standards
Track and document monthly outcome objectives.
Participates in patient-centered comprehensive assessment
Identifies psychiatric history
Mental status and diagnosis
Physical and dental health
Use of drugs or alcohol
Education and employment
Social development and functioning
Activities of daily living
Family structure and relationships