PACT Registered Nurse

Center For Mental Health•Great Falls, MT

About The Position

The PACT Registered Nurse is a member of the Program for Assertive Community Treatment (PACT) team and shares responsibility for treating, rehabilitating, and preventing emotional disorders. The nurse conducts psychiatric assessments, assesses clients’ physical health needs, makes referrals to community physicians, manages and administers medication in conjunction with the psychiatrist, and provides treatment, rehabilitation, and support services. The role includes case management for assigned clients, coordination of individual treatment team activities, and development and ongoing revision of treatment goals and plans. The nurse provides supportive therapy and symptom management, helps clients and families understand and respond to mental illness, advocates for clients’ rights and preferences, and coordinates care with community agencies and families. The position also includes medication and medical-supply management, monitoring medication effectiveness and side effects, arranging laboratory work, and coordinating physical-health assessments and treatment under the direction of the team psychiatrist. This is a full-time, exempt position in Helena. The nurse works rotating weekdays, weekends, and holidays; provides on-call crisis intervention during regular hours and backup coverage during evenings and weekends; and must pass a medication test within 30 days of hire and maintain an RN license. All positions require passing background and motor vehicle record checks.

Requirements

Must be licensed as a registered nurse.
Must have a strong commitment to the right and ability of people with severe and persistent mental illness to live in normal community residences, work in market jobs, and access helpful, adequate, competent, and continuous supports and services.
Must have the skills and competence to establish supportive, trusting relationships with people with severe and persistent mental illnesses.
Must respect client rights and personal preferences in treatment.
Must pass a medication test within 30 days of hire.
Must maintain an RN license.
Must pass background and motor vehicle record checks.

Nice To Haves

One year of work experience in an inpatient or outpatient psychiatric setting is preferred.

Responsibilities

Provide case management for an assigned group of clients, coordinating and monitoring individual treatment team activities.
Develop, write, implement, evaluate, and revise treatment goals and plans in collaboration with the individual treatment team.
Provide individual supportive therapy and symptom management, and update treatment plans as clients’ needs change.
Educate and support clients’ families and advocate for clients’ rights and treatment preferences.
Conduct comprehensive assessments of psychiatric history and ongoing assessments of mental illness symptoms and responses to treatment.
Coordinate with community agencies and families to support continuity of treatment.
Provide on-call crisis intervention during regular hours and serve as backup for evening and weekend coverage.
Document client progress and activities according to established procedures.
Participate in daily staff organizational meetings and treatment-planning review meetings.
Lead or participate in medication administration and medical services.
Under the direction of the team psychiatrist, develop, revise, maintain, and supervise team psychopharmacologic and medical treatment and medication policies and procedures.
Evaluate and chart psychotropic medication effectiveness, complications, and side effects, and arrange required laboratory work according to protocol.
Organize and manage medication delivery to clients and integrate medication administration into individual treatment plans under the direction of the team psychiatrist.
Manage pharmaceuticals and medical supplies under the direction of the team psychiatrist.
Coordinate, schedule, and administer medical assessments of clients’ physical health and treatment in collaboration with the team psychiatrist.
Provide treatment, rehabilitation, and support services, including symptom education and assistance with daily living activities.
Deliver medication and work rotating weekdays, weekends, and holidays.
Maintain an RN license and pass the medication test within 30 days of hire.
May speak to community groups.