Behavioral Health Nurse Specialist

UPMC•McKeesport, PA

12d•Onsite

About The Position

UPMC McKeesport is seeking an experienced Behavioral Health Nurse Specialist to support its Behavioral Health Unit and Addiction Medicine services. The position combines clinical expertise, collaboration, education, and independent work to support patients with psychiatric and substance use needs and serve as a clinical resource for staff. The specialist works with multidisciplinary teams to assess and coordinate patient care, provide clinical consultation and education, support safe and coordinated care, and assist with documentation, reviews, and other departmental needs. The role includes patient and family education, staff education, participation in care planning and rounds, risk assessment and safety planning, medication and withdrawal monitoring, and coordination of discharge or transfer needs. The schedule is Monday through Friday, with day and occasional evening hours and on-call coverage as needed. Physical demands include frequent walking, standing, lifting, and positioning of patients, as well as mobility and visual-manual dexterity.

Requirements

At least 2 years of experience.
Current licensure as a Registered Professional Nurse in the state where the facility is located, or a qualifying multistate license under the Nurse Licensure Compact; a Temporary Practice Permit is also listed as an accepted credential.
Ability to establish and maintain positive, caring relationships with patients, families, physicians, managers, executives, and clinical and support staff.
Ability to work effectively in a complex environment and handle multiple or changing priorities and specialized equipment.
Exemplary clinical judgment, critical-thinking, analytical, and problem-solving abilities related to patient care.
Critical-thinking skills to apply and lead others in applying the nursing process.
Mobility and visual-manual dexterity, with physical stamina for frequent walking, standing, lifting, and positioning of patients.
CPR or Basic Life Support training meeting AHA standards, including didactic and skills demonstration components, within 30 days of hire.
Comprehensive Crisis Management training within 30 days of hire, with annual renewal before expiration.
Act 31, Act 33, Act 34, and Act 73 clearances, with renewals as specified.
Annual completion of two professional contributions selected from department, hospital, or system goals and approved by the Unit Director, or certification plus one such professional contribution under UPMC's My Nursing Career Ladder. The certification requirement does not apply to nurses with a master's degree in nursing or a DNP; for a nurse with a BSN, a master's degree in a related field may substitute for certification.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) preferred.
UPMC-approved nursing certification preferred.

Responsibilities

Support patients and staff across the Behavioral Health Unit and Addiction Medicine services.
Work independently and collaboratively with multidisciplinary care teams according to patient and departmental needs.
Provide clinical consultation and education regarding psychiatric diagnoses, treatment, medication management, and psychopharmacology.
Participate in patient rounding, consultations, care planning, behavioral management, and discharge or transfer coordination.
Assess psychiatric, medical, psychosocial, substance use, and safety concerns; complete psychiatric reviews of symptoms and appropriate risk assessments.
Complete suicide, homicide, violence, and other risk assessments and support safety-planning efforts.
Monitor medication effectiveness and potential side effects, including EPS, NMS, serotonin syndrome, and lithium toxicity.
Assess substance withdrawal symptoms and review relevant labs, documentation, and clinical findings.
Review medical histories, progress notes, medication reconciliation, and clinical documentation; obtain collateral information and communicate pertinent findings to the psychiatrist and care team.
Monitor and track commitment status and collaborate with the team on care planning and behavioral management.
Collaborate with psychiatrists, nursing staff, pharmacy, families, and other care team members, including assisting with medication prior authorization when needed.
Provide ongoing education to patients, families, students, new staff, and colleagues; serve as a behavioral health resource and, as applicable, a preceptor.
Assist with chart audits, clinical reviews, documentation, and other departmental needs.
Participate in department, council, committee, and quality-improvement activities; identify opportunities to improve patient care and the professional practice environment.
Support change and transition processes, model flexibility, and contribute to professional development and patient safety.
Coordinate or assist with follow-up visits and transfers when clinically appropriate.
Communicate workplace safety hazards to peers and management and maintain productive, respectful, and inclusive working relationships.