Crisis Center Nurse (RN or LPN)

Paragon•Frisco, CO

5d•$68,000 - $115,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Paragon Behavioral Health Connections is seeking a compassionate and skilled Registered Nurse (RN) or Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) to serve as a frontline crisis care provider at our 24/7 Walk-In Crisis Center (WIC). This position plays a central role in our mission to function as a 'no wrong door' access point for individuals experiencing behavioral health crises. You will deliver immediate triage, medical screening, stabilization, and coordinated care to adults, youth, and families presenting in crisis — including those with mental health, substance use, and co-occurring conditions. You will work as part of a multidisciplinary team operating across three 12-hour shifts per week, with one shift falling on a weekend day. This role is primarily in-person to ensure the highest quality of direct client care, though remote/telehealth options are available for a portion of your workweek. When scheduled for after-hours on-call, you must be reachable and ready to provide telehealth consultation or evaluation within 5–10 minutes of contact.

Requirements

Active Registered Nurse (RN) or Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) license in the State of Colorado
Valid Colorado driver's license and access to reliable transportation
Current CPR/BLS certification
Up-to-date vaccinations in accordance with agency and public health guidelines
Minimum one to two years of experience working with individuals with serious mental illness, substance use disorders, or in crisis/emergency settings
Ability to respond within 5–10 minutes when scheduled for after-hours on-call telehealth duty
Strong clinical assessment, decision-making, and critical thinking skills in high-acuity environments
Compassionate, nonjudgmental, and client-centered approach — particularly with individuals in acute distress
Ability to de-escalate and stabilize individuals experiencing psychiatric and/or substance use crises
Comfortable working both independently and as part of a fast-paced multidisciplinary team
Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills
Strong organizational skills and attention to detail in clinical documentation
Cultural humility and demonstrated commitment to equity, inclusion, and social justice
Ability to navigate ambiguous or rapidly evolving situations with composure
Reliable availability during scheduled on-call periods; professional response time standards

Nice To Haves

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) — for RN applicants
Experience in community-based, psychiatric, crisis, emergency, or integrated care settings
Familiarity with the Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) model, trauma-informed care, and harm reduction principles
Experience with MAT/MOUD administration and monitoring
Familiarity with Colorado 27-65 emergency mental health hold procedures
National certification such as Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing (PMH-BC) or Certified Addictions Registered Nurse (CARN)

Responsibilities

Provide immediate walk-in access triage for individuals experiencing self-defined behavioral health crises
Complete crisis screening and assessment within required timeframes per Colorado BHA Chapter 6 standards
Conduct suicide and homicide risk assessments and administer validated tools (PHQ-9, GAD-7, PCL-5, Columbia Protocol)
Facilitate crisis intervention, de-escalation, and brief stabilization services
Develop and document safety plans; provide lethal means counseling and restriction planning
Engage family members and caregivers as appropriate to support stabilization
After completing required Colorado training, initiate M-1/27-65 emergency mental health holds when clinically necessary to ensure client safety
Conduct comprehensive health assessments and ongoing monitoring for individuals receiving crisis services
Monitor and document vital signs, perform basic health screenings, and administer point-of-care testing (urine drug screens, pregnancy tests, glucose monitoring)
Administer medications including those used in Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT/MOUD); monitor for side effects and treatment effectiveness
Administer and track long-acting injectable medications as directed by prescribing provider
Perform withdrawal assessment and monitoring using validated tools (CIWA, COWS); escalate appropriately
Administer naloxone; support harm reduction interventions and naloxone distribution
Under provider direction, enter laboratory and toxicology orders; track completion and follow up on results
Coordinate with pharmacies; complete prior authorizations and support PDMP compliance
Initiate emergency medical response and facilitate transfer when acute medical needs exceed WIC capacity
Screen and assess individuals for substance use disorders using evidence-based tools
Conduct intoxication assessment and management per clinical protocols
Evaluate for MAT/MOUD initiation and continuation; coordinate bridge prescriptions when clinically indicated
Support Emergency Commitment (EC) evaluations and processing
Coordinate warm handoffs to detoxification, withdrawal management, and substance use treatment providers
Determine appropriate level of care in collaboration with the multidisciplinary team
Provide warm handoffs and referrals to outpatient behavioral health, community stabilization, Crisis Stabilization Units (CSUs), Behavioral Health Crisis Centers (BHCCs), inpatient psychiatric services and, via Provider support, to ER
Coordinate transportation to appropriate levels of care
Connect individuals to housing, food, case management, peer recovery, and social service resources
Coordinate with school systems, criminal justice, and law enforcement as appropriate
Conduct or support follow-up contact within 24 hours of crisis service delivery
Confirm successful linkage to ongoing services; support appointment scheduling and referral follow-through
Provide MAT continuity support and bridge services as needed
Maintain accurate, timely, and compliant documentation in the electronic health record per agency and regulatory standards
Participate in daily team meetings and contribute to individualized crisis and treatment planning
Facilitate or co-facilitate psychoeducational groups focused on wellness, recovery, and harm reduction
Triage client needs to appropriate team members; support provider scheduling
Promote trauma-informed, recovery-oriented, and culturally responsive practices in all interactions