Outpatient Registered Nurse 2: Behavioral Health Urgent Care - Talbot

The Ohio State University•Columbus, OH

5d•Onsite

About The Position

OSU Harding Hospital/East Hospital-Talbot Hall provides comprehensive behavioral healthcare services for adults in central Ohio, offering a wide range of treatment options and specialized programs for various mental health and substance use disorders. The Behavioral Health Urgent Care (BHUC) program offers short-term outpatient services to bridge gaps in mental health and substance use treatment, providing immediate support through walk-in or scheduled visits, either in person or via telehealth. BHUC serves as an alternative to the Emergency Department for routine or urgent behavioral health needs and facilitates rapid-access follow-up appointments. Services include psychotherapy, psychiatric medication evaluation and management, and limited case management for patients at risk of behavioral health decompensation or substance use escalation. Care is available for up to two months and is not intended as long-term treatment. The BHUC-Talbot Nurse is a critical part of the clinical team, acting as the primary responder for triage and intake of patients in the BHUC-Talbot walk-in clinic and managing incoming phone calls. The nurse assesses patients for appropriateness for BHUC-Talbot or the need for a higher level of care, such as the Emergency Department. Responsibilities include conducting focused triage assessments, noting signs of mental health, substance use, or both, and prioritizing immediate safety and medical needs. The role also involves obtaining patient vitals, administering breathalyzers, providing comfort care for withdrawal symptoms, assisting with prescription issues, returning phone messages promptly, administering Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) and other prescribed medications, assisting with lab results and urine drug screens, educating patients on medications and side effects, responding to MyChart messages, and coordinating patient care as the "front door" to the BHUC-Talbot clinic.

Requirements

Minimum 2 years experience as a psychiatric RN is required.

Nice To Haves

BSN preferred.

Responsibilities

Manage the triage/intake of patients in the BHUC-Talbot walk-in clinic and incoming clinic phone calls.
Determine if a patient is clinically appropriate for BHUC-Talbot or requires a higher level of care (e.g., Emergency Department) and assist/direct them accordingly.
Conduct a focused triage assessment, noting signs of mental health, substance use, or both, and prioritizing immediate safety and medical needs.
Obtain patient vitals.
Administer breathalyzer when indicated.
Provide comfort care for BHUC-Talbot patients experiencing withdrawal.
Assist with resolving issues with prescriptions and pharmacies.
Return phone messages the same day they are received.
Administer Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) and long-acting injectable MAT or psychiatric medications when prescribed.
Assist with obtaining and/or forwarding lab results and urine drug screens.
Provide education to patients regarding medications and side effects.
Respond to messages sent by patients in MyChart.
Address other patient needs as requested by clinic staff.
Act as the "front door" to the BHUC-Talbot clinic and help coordinate patient care.