MH Nurse, LPN - Crisis Stabilization Services

Provides assessment assistance and direct care medical services and supports to participants of the Sunshine Lady House for Mental Health Wellness and Recovery, offering Crisis Stabilization and medically monitored detoxification services. Assists the staff psychiatrist, nurse practitioner, and consulting healthcare provider in prescription, administration, and monitoring of medication, discharge planning, and general daily patient care.

Responsibilities

• Provide general nursing care to program participants.
• Administer prescribed medication/treatments in accordance with approved nursing techniques and document the same.
• Observe persons served, recording significant conditions, reactions to medication/treatments, and significant incidents.
• Assist with the admission process as necessary.
• Assist with the formulation and implementation of treatment plans.
• Facilitate groups.
• Attend required team meetings, staff meetings, conferences, and in-services as assigned.
• Provide complete and accurate shift report to oncoming staff.
• Maintain drug count and count drugs at the end of the shift.
• Monitor person served activity in multiple program activities during all hours of program operation.
• Assist individuals with personal hygiene and grooming activities.
• Encourage and monitor participation in the daily program schedule, communicate problems to the treatment team, and participate in participant recreation.
• Transport or escort individuals to various activities and to and from the program.
• Respond to medical emergencies and other potential crisis situations.
• Take and record vital signs and observe for changes in behaviors and symptoms.
• Administer and record orders of medication.
• Assist in the assessment of person served progress in conjunction with the treatment team.
• Order, inventory, and secure pharmaceuticals for use by program individuals; provide for adequate first aid supplies and materials at the Crisis Stabilization Program.

Requirements

• Thorough knowledge of the principles, standards, practices, and techniques related to Licensed Practical Nursing in Virginia.
• Experience working in a psychiatric and/or detox setting and knowledge of treatment modalities.
• Thorough knowledge of the characteristics and precautions to be taken in the administration of medication.
• Basic knowledge of the disease concept of chemical dependency, communicable disease concepts, and other infectious disease issues.
• Ability to accurately maintain medical records.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with persons served, Crisis staff, physicians, and others contacted in the course of work.
• Ability to follow standards of operation set forth by the RACSB.

Qualifications

• Completion of training for LPN with at least one year of experience working in the medical and behavioral health field with persons with MH/SA co-occurring diagnosis or equivalent education/experience.
• Valid Virginia L.P.N. license.
• Valid VA driver's license.
• Must possess all qualifications and skills required by federal and state regulations to bill Medicaid for the services provided.

Environmental and Physical Exposure

Work involves considerable exposure to disagreeable environmental conditions such as interacting with clients having unsanitary behaviors, poor hygiene, and contagious illness and/or are potentially violent; driving a vehicle in inclement, if not severe weather; occasionally physically assisting and/or lifting clients in the course of care or moderate weight objects in connection with operating the facility.

Relationships

Relationships require advanced communication and interpersonal skills and the use of specialized techniques to elicit information from and convey information to clients, including hostile and abusive individuals and client families; coordinate resident care within the department and community partners; lead meetings, conduct briefings, and make presentations.

Schedule

This position works an 8 to 10-hour shift on a rotating schedule, including weekends.