Registered Nurse

The Mental Health Association, Inc. is seeking a Registered Nurse. This position coordinates those functions and activities that provide for, maintain, and promote the health of Persons in need of psychiatric services. S/he works within the Adult Community Care Services model, establishing open communication, support, and accountability among co-workers.

Person Services

1. Provides health and medical information necessary for completion and revisions of the Comprehensive Assessment
2. Provides input regarding health and medical needs for the development and monitoring of Individual Action Plans (IAPs)
3. Informs persons served regarding medication function, effects and side effects
4. Provides informal counseling in areas of health and psycho-physiological well-being.
5. Monitors drug blood level and side effects of medications
6. Insures yearly physical assessments are performed to maintain accurate baseline data
7. Assesses persons served with specific physical complaints
8. Makes appropriate medical interventions, e.g. coordinates appointments and communication with physicians
9. Interacts with persons served in order to assess needs, provide information, discuss problems, and encourage growth and development
10. Provides informal counseling in areas of health and psycho-physiological well-being
11. Monitors participant progress in areas of health and psycho-physiological well-being
12. Accompanies persons served to medical reviews as needed
13. Advocates with medical providers to insure that persons served receive highest quality health care including second opinions when warranted
14. Coordinates communication among health care providers serving each person including VNAs
15. Coordinates access and referrals to VNAs when ordered by prescriber and/or physician

Program Staff Development Services

Insures program and staff are in compliance with MAP regulations and performs medication audits as part of MAP policy.

1. Trains staff as needed to pass MAP certification
2. Provides training to persons served and staff regarding medication function, effects, side effects, nutrition, specific disease processes which apply to program persons served, and vital sign monitoring
3. Provides agency-wide trainings on medically related topics such as vital signs
4. Adheres to ACCS, MHA and program policy and procedure manual
5. Develops and monitors systems related to medical care and medications
6. Provides clinical support to Directors and Supervisory Staff

Collateral/Environmental Services

Works within processes and procedures of referral source

1. Coordinates exchange of information among person served, staff, and external medical/nursing and other service-providing agencies and providers
2. Consults with staff regarding Person served special physical care needs

Notifies supervisory staff immediately in the event of a person served crisis, suspected illegal activity, or any behavior constituting an incident in the program

Liaisons with other service providing agencies

Administrative Responsibilities/Record Keeping

Maintains medical and medication records in accordance with standard format and timetables to include physical assessment and progress reports and other specialized documentation which is required

1. May attend Individual Action Plan meetings if needed
2. Conducts medical/clinical projects as identified by the Director

Professional Growth and Development

31. Attends Agency-required trainingsand seeks and uses external training opportunities

32. Participates in relevant Agency and/or community task forces

1. Engages in self-evaluation to develop professional goals
2. Actively participates in individual supervision

Requirements

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of persons served behavioral dynamics
• Knowledge related to treatment of person served population
• Knowledge of psychotropic medication
• Knowledge of medication side effects
• Knowledge of medical symptoms and treatments

Able to react to change productively and to handle other tasks assigned due to changing environments.

• Ability to train staff and persons served regarding medication and medical topics pertinent to Person served population
• Certification to be MAP instructor or ability to become certified

Possess current driver's license, acceptable driving record, and willingness to use personal vehicle for work purposes

Required Education and Experience

2 years experience working with psychiatric population

Registration with the Massachusetts Board of Nursing as RN

Benefits

• Health Care Plan (Medical, Dental & Vision)
• Retirement Plan (403B, IRA)
• Life Insurance (Basic, Voluntary & AD&D)
• Paid Time Off (Vacation, Sick & Public Holidays)
• Family Leave (Maternity, Paternity)
• Long Term Disability