Part Time Nurse, Children's Crisis

At Jefferson Center, it is our policy and our mission to be inclusive and mindful of the diversity of everyone who comes through our doors. We are passionate about building a community where mental health matters and equitable care is accessible to all races, ethnicities, abilities, socioeconomic statuses, ages, sexual orientations, gender expressions, religions, cultures, and languages.

About the role

The Children's Crisis Stabilization Nurse will provide psychiatric nursing services and medication monitoring to children/youth who are in the Crisis Stabilization Unit at Jefferson Center for Mental Health. This position will work in the evenings (6:00pm to Midnight) on Thursday and Friday, and one twelve (12) hour shift on Wednesday (7:00am-7:00pm).

Jefferson Center's Children's Crisis Stabilization Unit (CSU) has a mission to use an interdisciplinary team of clinicians, residential counselors, medical staff and admissions specialists to provide brief, 3-5 day, crisis stabilization treatment for children and youth ages 5 to 18.5 with behavioral health issues, including depression, suicidal thoughts, other trauma reactions, and family issues. Our team coordinates treatment and provides tools and safety planning for children/youth and families so that they can safely return to their homes and the community. We are committed to serving Colorado’s children/youth while maintaining a non-judgmental and inclusive approach.

Responsibilities

• In collaboration with Medical Director, Prescriber, and admissions coordinator, determine appropriateness of admission for patients based on assessment and reported pre-existing/current medical conditions.
• Work collaboratively with Medical Director and treatment team to complete needs assessment with all patients on the day of admission, throughout treatment and at discharge.
• Use EHR to document medical and psychiatric findings and establish plan of care to be assessed on an ongoing basis (RN only).
• Perform physical exams for every patient upon admission.
• Coordinate psychiatric exams, if applicable, within 24 hours of admission.
• Implement prescriber orders, either written or verbal.
• Administer medications to patients and ensure Medication Administration Records (MAR) are updated to reflect medication changes.
• Coordinate prescription refills.
• Assist treatment team in discharge planning.
• Order and review labs as requested by the Prescriber.
• Assess clients for medication efficacy and/or side effects.
• Provide medication education/medication groups for patients.
• Coordinate medication concerns with Prescriber.
• Assist with milieu management, as needed.
• Develop therapeutic alliance with clients and work effectively and with cultural competence with clients from diverse backgrounds.
• Order, stock and reconcile the medication cabinets and order OTC medications and medical supplies.
• Ensure compliance with the Health Department, OBH, Signal and OSHA regulations.
• Complete and submit Medication Occurrence Reports on all medication errors.
• Perform routine medical procedures (blood pressure, pulse oximetry, temperature, urine drug testing, urine pregnancy testing, finger stick glucose testing, etc.).
• Collaborate with the Jefferson Center nursing team and other center teams, as needed.
• Identify risk factors for suicide, homicide and/or grave disability and communicate to licensed staff member, if 27-65 involuntary mental health hold is warranted.
• Interact with clients to provide guidance, safety, stability, and direction including de-escalating potentially dangerous situations.
• Work collaboratively with others to innovate and problem solve – especially within your field of expertise.
• Perform EHR documented history, physical and mental assessments, including a plan of care for patients on the day of admission and as needed throughout their treatment episode.
• Provide individual patient and group education regarding basic medical information.
• Assist milieu staff to evaluate a patient’s medical needs.
• Perform emergency procedures: CPR, First Aid, Narcan, Epi Pen, AED use.
• Evaluate to determine emergent or urgent acute patient needs, including, but not limited to:
  • Life-threatening event
  • Acute suicidal or homicidal event
  • Acute psychiatric episode
  • Acute withdrawal syndrome
• Coordinate Primary Care appointments and follow-ups, as needed.
• Handle prescription refills, including verbal orders from the Medical Director.
• Communicate medication side effects or problems with prescribing provider.
• Coordinate all aspects of patient care with the treatment team.
• Medication Management Oversight including:
  • Daily audit (during scheduled workdays)
  • Implementing and adhering to all Medication Protocols
  • Monitoring medication quantities and refills, including disposal of discontinued medications per the program’s Dead Med Procedure
  • OTC administration, reconciliation, and accounting
  • MAR maintenance and updates
  • Allergy documentation
  • Submission and review of medication occurrence reports
  • Assessing patients for medication efficacy and/or side effects
  • Training for QMAP staff
• Communicate directly with patients to:
  • Help explain and support the emotional and physical aspects of their care and treatment
  • Determine acute need for medical support
  • Use de-escalation techniques
• Communicate directly with the Program Coordinator and Program Manager in collaboration for co-supervision with the Nursing Manager and the Medical Director regarding patient care.
• Attend mandatory in-services and comply with individualized training plan for your role, as applicable.
• Participate in supervision by coming prepared with an agenda. Report high risk/problem cases and utilize a problem-solving approach as well as feedback provided during supervision.
• Meet with supervisor at specified intervals and times.
• Attend nursing meetings as scheduled.
• Work with patients to coordinate internal and external medical and psychiatric care.
• Exhibit enthusiasm, courtesy, adaptability, flexibility in the work environment.
• Maintain cooperative and respectful relationships with patients, staff, and community partners.
• Provide effective and timely responses to patient requests, needs and issues.
• Respond timely (within 24 working hours unless indicated as urgent) to phone calls, e-mails, and other requests.
• Volunteer to work on Center-wide committees and/or task forces as requested by your leadership team.
• Adapt to staffing needs: In the event of a staffing crisis or emergency, the employee may need to be deployed to another unit/team, whether working with adults or youth, within Jefferson Center for which they are qualified and credentialed, as determined by leadership.
• Utilize skills to support different teams or departments to address client needs while remaining within the scope of their professional licensure and credentialing.

Requirements

• RN (BSN preferred) or LPN with two or more years of experience and/or training in a behavioral health setting.
• Two or more years’ experience working with children/youth and families preferred.
• Good understanding of various medical conditions including emergent and non-emergent conditions, especially those pertaining to behavioral health patients.
• Basic understanding of using a trauma-informed approach with patients including positive bedside manner.
• Basic computer skills such as e-mail, electronic health record documentation, electronic prescribing, and electronic laboratory interface.
• Current and maintained BLS and First Aid Certification.
• Acquire and maintain certification in Nonviolent Crisis Prevention and Intervention Training (CPI).
• Maintain a working knowledge of commonly prescribed psychiatric medications including but not limited to interactions, side effects, contraindications, and therapeutic range of lab values.
• Bilingual (Spanish/English) competency preferred.

Pay

Salary Range (LPN): $57,200 to $61,360 ($27.50/hr - $29.50/hr)*

Salary Range (RN): $67,300 to $85,700 annually*

The salary range above is based on 1.0 FTE (full time equivalent) or 40 hours per week. Less than 40 hours/week will be prorated and adjusted to the appropriate FTE.

CSU Nurse Bonus (0.6 FTE) for 24 hours/week:

• $1,500 one month anniversary
• $1,500 6 month anniversary
• $1,500 1 year anniversary ($4,500 total)

*Bonus is prorated for 24 hours/week. Must work a minimum of 20 hours/week to be eligible for bonus. Current Jefferson Center employees not eligible for sign-on bonus.

Schedule

• Evenings (6:00pm to Midnight) on Thursday and Friday
• One twelve (12) hour shift on Wednesday (7:00am-7:00pm)