Intake Registered Nurse (RN)-Days

About the Role

Oceans Behavioral Hospital Pasadena is passionate about helping adults and seniors manage challenges associated with anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues. The Intake Clinician receives and responds to call inquiries for potential admissions and generalized questions, facilitating admissions and making referrals for those not appropriate for the facility. This role involves reviewing pending admissions daily to ensure clinical, financial, insurance, and administrative information is accurately obtained and acted upon, completing Level of Care Assessments, and collaborating with referral sources, community members, patients, providers, and internal teams to uphold the facility’s mission of exemplary patient care and customer service.

Responsibilities

• Admissions Process:
  • Processes requests for admission from outside referral agencies and the community.
  • Reviews clinical packets to ensure alignment with facility capability and capacity.
  • Maintains understanding of Admission and Exclusionary Criteria and EMTALA.
  • Ensures prior authorizations are obtained for admissions.
  • Organizes patient information and provides clinical presentations to admitting physicians.
  • Completes Level of Care Assessments/Evaluations.
  • Collaborates with On-Call Providers to determine appropriate patient disposition.
• Communication:
  • Handles sensitive information appropriately and reports violations of the Company’s Code of Conduct.
  • Builds and maintains communication processes for efficient information transmission.
  • Works collaboratively with all departments to support the facility’s mission.
  • Ensures compliance with state and federal regulatory standards for incident communication.
  • Demonstrates timely communication of information to leadership.
• Customer Focus:
  • Interacts professionally and respectfully with patients, family members, external entities, and internal staff.
  • Adheres to systems and processes that promote commitment to anticipating and meeting needs.
  • Demonstrates understanding of the community’s continuum of behavioral health resources.
  • Preserves patient and family dignity and safety.
• Values Diversity:
  • Seeks perspectives from individuals with diverse opinions, motivations, abilities, and backgrounds.
  • Shows appreciation for gender, race, age, and other differences.
• Documentation:
  • Completes required admission documentation in electronic medical records and internal systems.
  • Ensures documentation is timely, legible, thorough, and compliant with regulatory requirements.
  • Documents inquiry calls, assessments, managed care data, and other required information.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in Behavioral Health from an accredited college or university preferred; or Registered Nurse.
• Experience with crisis management or intake preferred.

Qualifications & Skills

• Understanding of admission criteria for varying levels of care, commonly prescribed psychiatric medications, and community resources.
• Interpersonal skills to develop rapport with patients, family members, and referral sources.
• Knowledge and skills to assess care needs for diverse age and disability-related patient populations (Chronically Mentally Ill, Adult, Geriatric, Chemically Dependent).
• Ability to assess and interpret patient data to identify needs and provide appropriate referrals.
• Knowledge of mental illness, chemical dependency, family dynamics, and clinical therapy modalities.
• Excellent communication skills tailored to age-specific patient needs.
• Strong assessment skills and ability to pass the general age/disability post test.
• Versatility, flexibility, and ability to perform in stressful situations.
• Good time management and organizational skills.
• Ability to read, write, and follow verbal and written instructions.
• Knowledge of DSM-IV-R diagnosis.
• Must successfully complete CPR certification and an Oceans-approved behavioral health de-escalation program.

Work Environment

• Subject to frequent interruptions and occasional pressure due to multiple calls and inquiries.
• High-paced and potentially stressful environment; must cope mentally and physically with the atmosphere.
• May experience disagreeable odors, sights, and unpredictable patient behavior.
• Spends approximately 90% or more of time indoors, with protection from weather but not necessarily temperature changes.

Schedule

Day Shift (7am-7pm)