Registered Nurse

About the organization

Lifeline Connections is a community-based behavioral health organization that specializes in providing confidential and compassionate care to individuals who experience substance use and/or mental health conditions.

Vision: As the premier provider of substance use and mental health services in the Pacific Northwest, we are respected and the most trusted resource for behavioral health treatment and whole-person care. We provide a comprehensive continuum of coordinated quality services, foster enduring relationships, and empower our communities to truly thrive.

Mission: Through superior customer service, high quality programs, and well-trained and dedicated staff, we inspire hope and support lifesaving changes for people affected by substance use and mental health conditions.

Responsibilities

• Conduct psychiatric assessments, assess physical health needs, and make appropriate referrals to community physicians.
• Provide management and administration of medication in conjunction with the ARNP and/or psychiatrist, including a range of treatment, rehabilitation, and support services.
• Participate in ongoing psychosocial assessment of patient goals and needs.
• Assist in the development and implementation of a transdisciplinary treatment plan in collaboration with patients, mental health and substance use clinicians, and others at the patient’s request.
• Under the direction of the team lead and in consultation with the team ARNP/psychiatrist, develop, revise, maintain, and supervise team psychopharmacologic and medical treatment, including transcribing, administering, evaluating, and recording psychotropic medications prescribed by the team psychiatrist.
• Evaluate and chart psychotropic medication effectiveness, complications, and side effects; arrange for required lab work according to protocol.
• Conduct regular assessments of therapeutic responses to prescribed psychotropic medications, complications, and side effects.
• Educate patients regarding psychotropic medications.
• Under the direction of the team ARNP/psychiatrist, organize and manage the system of getting medication to clients, including management of pharmaceuticals and medical supplies and integrating medication administration tightly into patients’ individual service plans.
• In collaboration with the team ARNP/psychiatrist, coordinate, schedule, and administer medical assessments of patient physical health, make appropriate referrals to community physicians for further assessment and treatment, and coordinate psychiatric treatment with medical treatment.
• Ensure that treatment planning and interventions are patient-centered, culturally competent, and age-appropriate, considering all aspects of the patients, their families, and their community’s psychosocial, economic, and cultural needs.
• Provide mental health care with respect for patient confidentiality, safety, and self-determination.
• Utilize community and natural supports to supplement services, with the intent to better integrate patients into their community and to eventually graduate patients from services when possible and clinically indicated.
• Initiate and/or facilitate admission to inpatient psychiatric treatment as needed; communicate with the attending psychiatrist and collaborate in the planning and implementation of treatment and discharge to the community.
• Collaborate with patients and the team in making referrals to community physicians for assessment and treatment of medical issues, and for coordinating psychiatric and medical treatments.
• Complete all required documentation accurately, completely, and in a timely manner per agency policies and procedures.
• Participate in the implementation of agency tracking systems and chart audit procedures; take initiative to seek supervisory or collegial assistance if problems with documentation quality or timeliness persist.
• Independently identify program needs and take responsibility for realizing those needs through collective processes.
• Actively contribute to program development by participating in agency meetings, serving on working committees, and undertaking agreed-upon independent projects for the improvement of the agency and enhancement of services.
• Maintain the safety, security, and confidentiality of patients and their families.
• Ensure own professional development and maintain licensure and/or certification requirements; contribute to the overall professional development of the agency.
• Contribute to the functioning of the agency as a training institution.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Licensed as a registered nurse with at least one year of work experience in an inpatient or outpatient psychiatric setting.
• Strong commitment to the right and ability of each person with a severe and persistent mental illness to live in normal community residences, work in market jobs, and have access to helpful, adequate, competent, and continuous supports and services.
• Strong commitment to working collaboratively, assertively, and interdependently with co-workers.
• Skills and competence to establish supportive, trusting relationships with persons with severe and persistent mental illnesses; respect for client rights and personal preferences in treatment are essential.
• Competency in adult psychopathology and pharmacology; clinical treatments of co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders, individual crisis intervention and psychotherapy; professional ethics, and client rights.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively plan and organize work to satisfactory completion.
• Current unencumbered driver license and proof of current car insurance.
• Good verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong attendance record.
• Ability to work well with others.

Work environment

• Working hours are spent indoors in offices or meeting rooms or in the community meeting with patients in their homes or health clinics.
• Occasional supervision of outdoor activities, visits to community agencies, and participation in staff retreats and staff development activities may be required.
• While performing the essential functions of the job, the employee is regularly required to sit, speak clearly, hear, and use hands and fingers to manipulate writing utensils and keys on a keyboard.
• The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, reach with hands or arms, stoop, kneel, crouch, or lift and/or move a maximum of 15 lbs.
• The employee is regularly required to effectively operate an automobile.

Pay

$26.00 - $46.91 per hour, depending on experience.

New hire bonus: $5,000.

Benefits

• Multiple options for medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and their eligible dependents.
• Employer-paid Short Term Disability, Long Term Disability, and Life Insurance, with access to supplemental coverage options.
• 401(k) retirement plan for full-time employees and eligible part-time employees.
• Generous paid time off (PTO) at competitive accrual rates that increase with years of service.
• Paid holidays and personal holidays.