Registered Nurse - Crisis Intervention Center

Crawford County Mental Health Center•Girard, KS

21h•Onsite

About The Position

Multiple Full and Part Time positions available. We are seeking a compassionate and experienced psychiatric Registered Nurse (RN) to join our dedicated mental health team. This position will work out of the Crawford County Crisis Intervention Center (CC-CIC) to provide high-quality essential nursing care, crisis intervention, and medication management to adult patients with acute and chronic psychiatric conditions, including those with co-occurring substance use disorders. This role requires a strong commitment to patient-centered care, excellent communication skills, and the ability to collaborate with a multidisciplinary team to stabilize and support patients in a high-acuity environment.

Requirements

Must be at least 21 years of age and possess a current, unrestricted license as a Registered Nurse (RN) in the State of Kansas.
Graduate of an accredited nursing program with an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).
Experience with trauma-informed care and de-escalation techniques is required.
Must demonstrate knowledge of behavioral health crisis intervention, psychiatric medications, and trauma-informed principles.
Maintain current Basic Life Support (BLS)/CPR and First Aid certification, as required by the Center.
Must successfully complete required criminal history and background checks, including applicable Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) and KDADS requirements.
Must meet applicable tuberculosis screening requirements, including providing documentation of required TB testing or chest X-ray and completing additional screening following potential exposure, in accordance with K.A.R. 26-52-9 and applicable Kansas Department of Health and Environment guidance.
Must provide required health documentation from an authorized medical practitioner confirming the ability to perform assigned job duties or identifying any necessary accommodations, in accordance with applicable CIC requirements.
Must possess the physical ability, readiness, and stamina necessary to safely perform the essential functions of the position, including responding effectively during behavioral health crises, emergencies, and other high-pressure situations.

Nice To Haves

Two years of experience as a licensed Registered Nurse is preferred, with experience in psychiatric/mental health nursing, crisis intervention, emergency care, or inpatient behavioral health settings strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

Conduct comprehensive nursing assessments upon admission and throughout the patient’s stay; assess, plan, implement, and evaluate individualized nursing care based on each patient’s psychiatric, medical, and safety needs, including the use of appropriate withdrawal/detoxification assessment tools for patients experiencing or at risk for substance withdrawal.
Monitor patient condition and response to treatment, including changes in mental and physical status, clinical symptoms, medication effectiveness, adverse effects, and other treatment outcomes; communicate significant findings to the appropriate provider and treatment team.
Administer medications and prescribed treatments accurately and safely; monitor for therapeutic effects, side effects, and adverse reactions, and maintain current knowledge of psychopharmacology, mental health disorders, and nursing care across the lifespan.
Collect, label, handle, and prepare laboratory specimens in accordance with medical provider orders, applicable policies and procedures, infection-control standards, and established laboratory requirements.
Provide crisis intervention and de-escalation, including response to suicidal ideation, self-harm, aggression, behavioral escalation, and other acute psychiatric emergencies in accordance with established intervention and emergency-response protocols.
Promote and maintain patient safety, including implementation and monitoring of individualized safety plans, suicide and self-harm precautions, elopement prevention, infection-control practices, and other facility safety measures.
Follow all requirements governing restraint and seclusion, including applicable state regulations, facility policies, authorization requirements, monitoring, documentation, and use of the least restrictive interventions necessary to maintain safety.
Maintain accurate, clear, concise, and timely clinical documentation, including nursing assessments, care plans, progress notes, medication administration, clinical observations, interventions, and treatment outcomes in accordance with regulatory requirements and CIC policies; ensure required documentation is completed by the end of the shift.
Collaborate as a member of the interdisciplinary treatment team, maintaining effective working relationships with the Clinical Director, psychiatrist, APRNs, nurses, case managers, therapists, social workers, and other professionals to coordinate evidence-based patient care.
Participate in treatment and discharge planning, including case conferences and treatment-planning meetings; support case management in coordinating services, referrals, follow-up care, and safe transitions from the CIC.
Provide patient and family education and advocacy, including education regarding mental health conditions, medications, treatment plans, coping and self-management strategies, and post-discharge care; protect patient rights and promote a supportive, therapeutic, trauma-informed environment.
Maintain regulatory, professional, and organizational compliance, including requirements related to confidentiality, nursing scope of practice, emergency procedures, patient rights, security, and applicable state and federal regulations; follow Center personnel policies, operating procedures, compliance requirements, and supervisory direction.
Contribute to staff competency and emergency preparedness by completing and participating in required orientation, continuing education, in-service training, crisis-intervention and trauma-informed care training, emergency-response training, and required drills, including fire, tornado, and patient-elopement response exercises.
Demonstrate professional conduct and effective working relationships with patients, families, employees, external partners, and other stakeholders; represent the Center consistent with its mission, policies, and procedures; accept supervision and appropriately incorporate constructive feedback into practice.