Psychiatric Registered Nurse - COMCARE

Sedgwick County•Wichita, KS

About The Position

The Psychiatric Registered Nurse provides direct and indirect services to patients and supports medical providers in patient care and coordination. The role responds to patient inquiries and issues by telephone, communicates with medical providers and other health care partners, documents verbal orders and patient interactions, and coordinates medication access through pharmacy refills, samples, patient assistance programs, or other means. The nurse also provides direct services such as refill appointments, vital-sign monitoring, provider referrals, and assistance with urgent care needs. The nurse assesses and triages telephone calls, drop-in visits, and appointments for psychiatric and medical concerns for patients of assigned medical providers. The role monitors mental health symptoms, medication adherence, medication effectiveness, and side effects; assesses patient needs; provides education; and offers crisis management as needed. The nurse documents patient interactions and activities in the electronic health record and coordinates care with pharmacies, outside agencies, families, case managers, therapists, and other care partners.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent.
Graduation from an accredited school of nursing.
One year of experience in a related field.
Registered Nurse in the State of Kansas.
Meet the specifications outlined in the CMHC/CCBHC licensing standards.
Pass KBI, DCF child abuse check, adult abuse registry, and motor vehicle screens.
Complete orientations provided by Sedgwick County and COMCARE.

Nice To Haves

BSN.
One year of work in the mental health or substance use treatment fields.

Responsibilities

Assess and triage patient telephone calls, drop-in visits, and appointments for psychiatric and medical issues.
Monitor signs and symptoms of mental illness, medication compliance, medication efficacy, and medication side effects.
Assess patient needs and communicate with medical providers.
Educate patients about medications, mental health issues, and other medical questions.
Attend refill appointments (NSNAP) for assigned patients as needed.
Monitor vital signs as needed and provide crisis management as needed.
Document all patient interactions and activities in the electronic health record, including telephone calls, responses, directions from providers or staff, refills, medications provided, and contacts from outside entities.
Work medical provider orders as directed.
Order or enter laboratory work and provide patient instructions.
Contact pharmacies to coordinate care or determine whether refills are appropriate; refill medications using the electronic prescribing system or other means.
Coordinate care with outside agencies, including group homes, substance abuse treatment centers, nursing homes, medical offices, and hospitals.
Enter discharge orders into the electronic health record and provide medication for hospital discharges as needed.
Communicate with family members, case managers, therapists, and other care partners as needed.
Assist medical providers with patient care and coordination.
Respond to patient inquiries and issues by telephone and communicate with medical providers.
Document verbal orders from medical providers.
Provide medication through pharmacy refills, samples, patient assistance programs, or other means.
Provide direct patient services through refill appointments, vital signs, provider referrals, and urgent care needs.