PSYCHIATRIC LICENSED VOCATIONAL NURSE - HOC BPSR

NHA•San Diego, CA

3d•Onsite

About The Position

Under the general direction of the Registered Nurse Manager, the Psychiatric Licensed Vocational Nurse provides professional nursing care to mentally ill and emotionally disturbed clients on an outpatient basis. The duties include providing professional nursing care, performing intake psychiatric interviews and assessments, consulting with psychiatrists and other mental health staff on treatment plans, initiating and continuing treatment plans, ensuring lab tests are completed, administering and monitoring psychotropic drugs and other medications, assessing and resolving crisis situations, ordering medications with physician authorization, educating patients and families about illnesses and medications, assisting patients in accepting treatment, collaborating with other healthcare professionals and family members, attending staff meetings and case consultations, requesting assistance when needed, ensuring medication compliance, communicating with pharmacists and hospitals, performing administrative functions, updating client charts, completing paperwork, entering data, and obtaining medical records. Other duties may be assigned by the GM and Program Director.

Requirements

High school diploma/GED required
At least two years of full-time psychiatric vocational nursing experience in a psychiatric facility; or an equivalent combination of training and experience
Valid Licensed Vocational Nurse license issued by the state of California
Current CPR certification
Proof of clear TB test

Nice To Haves

Bilingual preferred
Bilingual candidates will be required to pass a bilingual competency test prior to their hire date

Responsibilities

Provides professional nursing care to mentally ill outpatients
Performs intake psychiatric interview and assessment
Consults with psychiatrists and other mental health staff in designing appropriate treatment plans for clients and in ongoing treatment of patients
Initiates and continues treatment plans
Ensures that all lab tests are completed
Administers, monitors the use of and notes reactions to psychotropic drugs and other medications
Assesses clients in crisis situations and facilitates prompt resolution (including administering medication, counseling, etc.)
With physician authorization, orders medications and refills as appropriate
Informs and/or instructs patients and/or family members about the nature of the illness, any preventive measures, the medications prescribed and possible side effects, etc.
Assists the patient to understand and accept the need for treatment
Collaborates with other nurses and program team members, family members, and, in some cases, hospitals, board and care facilities, pharmacists, conservators, etc.
Attends, participates in and provides information about assigned patients in daily meetings of nurses, weekly staff conferences and other case consultations
Requests assistance and guidance from management and professional staff when necessary to address patient issues and problems
Works with family members, conservators, etc. to ensure medication compliance by providing information and instruction
Communicates and/or follows-up with pharmacists and hospitals
Performs various administrative functions involved in patient care
Updates appropriate components of client charts
Completes admittance and other necessary paperwork
Enters necessary data and information
Obtains and reviews medical records
Other duties assigned by the GM and Program Director