Nurse, RN

Major Functions

The Registered Nurse is responsible for overseeing access to medication, supporting client adherence, coordinating healthcare services and conducting client triage. The Registered Nurse supports patient education through the provision of psychoeducational seminars and the provision of information related to medical and psychiatric conditions and medications. The Register Nurse coordinates medical and psychiatric services for the medical and psychiatric providers.

Specific Duties & Responsibilities

• Train lay-staff in procedures for overseeing client access to medication and assesses competency through direct observation.
• Conduct regularly scheduled quality assurance reviews to ensure that access to medication provided by lay-staff complies with all regulatory requirements, including those set forth by NYS DOH for institutional dispensers of controlled substances.
• Ensure that over-the-counter medication access complies with providers standing orders.
• Assure that adequate provisions are in place for access to medication during passes and overnight leaves.
• Assure proper storage of controlled and non-controlled substances.
• Assure timely accurate transmission of medication orders to the pharmacy and reconciles medication deliveries.
• Provide direct client access to medication and documents appropriately in medication administration record (MAR) and controlled substances records, as applicable, during assigned shifts.
• Conduct sick call/triage and medical evaluation during assigned shifts.
• Coincide medical services among behavioral staff, co-located healthcare providers and collateral healthcare providers.
• Monitor client adherence and communicate regularly with behavioral staff regarding residents who are non-adherent.
• Conduct direct client orientation to healthcare services.
• Triage clients in preparation for medical and psychiatric appointments.
• Administer valid and reliable screening tools for the presence/absence of withdrawal symptoms.
• Schedule medical and psychiatric appointments for medical and psychiatric providers.
• Assure that delivery of service by collateral healthcare providers is documented in the clinical record.
• Attend multi-disciplinary case conference as scheduled by supervisor.
• Advise prescribers when there are no refill orders left on maintenance medications.
• Continuously review medications to remove expired or redundant medications.
• Ensure timely and appropriate disposal of expired and discontinued medications and maintains documentation of these activities.
• Attend all required in-service training seminars and performs other duties as required.

REQUIREMENTS

• Current NYS Registered Professional Nurse In good standing with New York State Department of Education Professional Licensing Board and without any outstanding malpractice judgments.
• Experience working in sub-acute residential care setting preferred.
• Bachelor of Science degree from an accredited nursing program preferred.
• Proficiency with computer operation (Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook and proprietary databases).
• Must be able to work a flexible schedule including weekends and evening when needed.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience working in SUD.

Odyssey House is an equal opportunity employer maintaining a non-discriminatory policy on hiring of its personnel.