Mental Health Nurse

SOUTH COAST COMMUNITY SERVICES • Costa Mesa, CA

331d

About The Position

The Mental Health Nurse coordinates the STRTP residents’ overall medical care and medication management. He/she ensures that all medical and medication needs are identified and properly communicated upon intake, discharge, and throughout the residents’ stay at SCCS. He/she assists the psychiatrist in areas of maintaining quality care, implementation of psychotropic medication services, and completion of all paperwork. The Mental Health Nurse ensures that all documentation pertaining to medical care and medication is accurate and complete.

Requirements

• The candidate must be a Licensed Vocational Nurse, Licensed Psychiatric Technician, Registered Nurse, or have a Bachelor’s degree in Nursing.
• Minimum of 3 years of work experience in the behavioral health field preferred.
• Minimum of 1 year of work experience dealing with psychotropic medications required.
• LVN, LPT, or RN current and in good standing, or a Bachelor’s degree in Nursing.
• Valid CA driver’s license and proof of automobile insurance.
• Completion of CPR/First Aid and Pro-ACT certification upon being hired.
• Completion of SCCS Medication Certification upon being hired and maintained throughout employment.

Responsibilities

• Reviews medical and psychiatric history of all incoming residents and consults with treatment team regarding resident’s needs.
• Oversees the process for requesting, receiving, and tracking court consents for psychotropic medication. Ensures current copies of all consents are kept in the residents’ charts.
• Oversees the ordering, receiving, and logging in of medication cycles monthly.
• Creates and double checks Centrally Stored Medication Documents and Medication Administration Records (MAR’s) monthly by cross-referencing with physician’s orders as well as previous month’s MAR’s.
• Places Centrally Stored Documents and MAR’s in medication books monthly and files previous month’s documents in appropriate location.
• Oversees the auditing of STRTP medication books to verify medications are being counted, dispensed, administered, and destroyed properly and that documentation is being completed accurately.
• Oversees the auditing of residents’ medical charts to ensure that all documentation pertaining to medical care and medication is accurate and complete.
• Reviews documentation to assess effectiveness of as-needed medications on a monthly basis.
• Reviews Special Incident Reports as needed regarding medication and/or medical issues.
• Updates Medication Change Forms bi-monthly.
• Provides staff training for all levels of personnel on medication and medical policies and procedures.
• Maintains communication with attending psychiatrists, physicians, school nurses, and other medical personnel as indicated.
• Reviews medication policies and procedures and implements changes as necessary.
• Coordinates with therapists, families, and staff regarding psychiatric medication and medical issues.
• Interprets and advises staff of medication orders and other pertinent medication issues.
• Provides written notice of all medication changes to each program as they happen.
• Ensures compliance with SCCS Program Statement, Title 22, CCL, and Orange County Mental Health/Medi-Cal standards and regulations regarding psychotropic medication.
• Creates and completes monthly and quarterly audit reports.
• Performs other related duties as required and assigned.

What This Job Offers

• Education Level: Bachelor's degree