RN, Children's Outpatient Services

AltaPointe Health • Fairhope, AL

1d • Onsite

About The Position

The Registered Nurse (RN) in Children's Outpatient Services is responsible for a wide range of clinical duties, including medication administration, venipuncture, and providing emergency care. The role involves extensive patient and family education regarding psychiatric illness and medication, as well as monitoring for side effects. The RN will communicate effectively with physicians, follow up on missed treatments, and complete admission procedures according to policy. This position also requires active participation in the multidisciplinary treatment team, clinical record keeping, and adherence to professional ethics. The RN is expected to be courteous and respectful towards recipients, visitors, and co-workers, and to participate in administrative duties, performance improvement activities, and maintain current licensure and required training.

Requirements

• Current RN license to practice in the state of Alabama.
• Knowledge of psychiatric disorders in the youth/young adult/adult population, specifically psychotic disorders (to be attained within six (6) months of employment).
• Knowledge of current principles, evidence-based practice and service provision for Early Interventions in Psychosis (to be attained within six (6) months of employment).
• Knowledge of general and psychiatric nursing care (to be attained within six (6) months of employment).
• Basic knowledge of medical terminology especially those terms associated with youth/young adult psychiatric care (to be attained within six (6) months of employment).
• Familiarity of psychopharmacology and the use of psychotropic medications with the youth/young adult population (to be attained within six (6) months of employment).
• Knowledge of behavior management, crisis intervention, and interventions common to acute psychotic recipients as well as non-violent crisis intervention practices (to be attained within six (6) months of employment).
• Knowledge of educational methods appropriate to youth/young adults with psychiatric disorders (to be attained within six (6) months of employment).
• Knowledge of cultural diversity (to be attained within six (6) months of employment).
• Knowledge of psychiatric rehabilitation principles (to be attained within six (6) months of employment).
• Basic Teaching and Training skills (to be attained within six (6) months of employment).

Responsibilities

• Responds to recipients’ requests for medication refills.
• Reviews charts for treatment compliance.
• Administers medication observing the seven rights of medication administration and ordering of medications to the pharmacy.
• Performs venipuncture for laboratory requests, drug screens, TB skin tests, etc., monitors lab results and reports all abnormal findings to the physician.
• Provides individual, family and group education regarding recipient’s psychiatric illness.
• Provides medication education for the recipient and family, including uses and potential side effects; monitors recipients for potential side effects of medications and reports findings to the physician/CRNP/RN.
• Communicates effectively with the physician regarding the recipient’s physical and mental condition.
• Follows up on missed injections and documents in recipients record appropriately.
• Completes admission procedures for recipients and updates accordingly to AltaPointe Policy and Procedures. This process includes at a minimum: medical checklist, AIMS, vital signs, Medication List, and MARS if applicable.
• Documents on, updates, and reconciles MARS if applicable.
• Interacts with recipient and evaluates needs to ensure that proper information is reported during staffing with the treatment team.
• May conduct infection control training for staff and recipients when indicated.
• May provide HIV education.
• When necessary provides nursing support/coverage to other Outpatient programs within AltaPointe.
• Interfaces with the multi-disciplinary team and actively and cooperatively participates in development of the interdisciplinary treatment plan.
• Provides emergency care as needed (CPR, PMAB, Emergency Medications), according_to AltaPointe Policy & Procedures.
• Demonstrates the ability to recognize the elements of a crisis state and knows how to deescalate or resolve the situation.
• Adheres to professional code of ethics.
• Effectively demonstrates the application of youth/young adult specific competencies.
• Seeks clinical supervision and consultation needs.
• Accepts and employs suggestions for improvement.
• Actively works to enhance clinical skills.
• Documents in a timely fashion per AltaPointe policy.
• Documents in a clear, concise manner, types of recipient problems, treatment goals and services provided.
• Documentation shows that forms, notes, logs, and other applicable written information are completed promptly, accurately and updated when appropriate.
• Documents legibly.
• Meets AltaPointe productivity standard.
• Treats recipients with care, dignity and compassion.
• Respects recipient’s privacy and confidentiality.
• Is pleasant and cooperative with others.
• Assists recipients and visitors as needed.
• Personal values don’t inhibit ability to relate and care for others.
• Is sensitive to the recipient’s needs, expectations and individual differences.
• Is gentle and calm to recipients and families.
• Works in a dependable, cooperative and positive manner with both program and other AltaPointe staff members.
• Actively participates in Performance Improvement activities.
• Actively participates in AltaPointe committees as required.
• Completes assigned tasks in a timely manner.
• Accesses appropriate community resources according to recipient needs.
• Complies with AltaPointe policies & procedures.
• Maintains current State license and requirements for renewals (i.e. CEU’s), and attends to required in-services and workshops.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Associate degree
• Number of Employees: 251-500 employees