Registered Nurse - Outpatient

Registered Nurse (Outpatient) provides clinical nursing support to psychiatric prescribers in an outpatient mental health setting. This role performs the full scope of professional nursing functions, including patient assessment, medication administration, care coordination, and patient education.

Responsibilities

• Review appointment schedules and maintain timely flow of patients.
• Room patients, obtain and document vital signs, allergies, medications, health history, and screening tools such as PHQ-9.
• Perform medication reconciliation and update EMR with accurate clinical data.
• Administer prescribed medications and injections safely and accurately, ensuring informed consent and proper documentation.
• Monitor patient status, respond to changes in condition, and escalate concerns appropriately.
• Serve as a liaison between patients, psychiatric providers, pharmacies, primary care physicians, and community partners to support continuity of care.
• Manage the nurse telephone line: triage calls, provide patient education, relay provider instructions, and ensure accurate documentation of communications.
• Coordinate internal and external referrals; track progress and communicate updates with patients and providers.
• Communicate appointment reminders, test results, and follow-up instructions through in-person, phone, and electronic channels.
• Manage an effective medication refill process, including PDMP review, verification of provider orders, and refill authorization within scope.
• Complete and fax prior authorizations or appeals in collaboration with patients, providers, insurance companies, and pharmacies.
• Maintain accurate, timely, and thorough clinical documentation in EMR in accordance with organizational policy, Joint Commission standards, and legal requirements.
• Complete required forms and paperwork including return-to-work notes, disability forms, consent forms, lab orders, and medication logs.
• Uphold infection prevention protocols, confidentiality, and professional boundaries at all times.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and organizational regulations regarding nursing practice and patient rights.
• Support clinic operations by assisting with mail distribution, fax processing, record requests, and other administrative tasks.
• Participate in staff meetings, case discussions, and quality improvement initiatives.
• Provide training and onboarding support for new nursing staff as part of normal duties.
• Demonstrate flexibility and adaptability in response to changes in patient volume, scheduling, and acuity levels.
• All other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Current Registered Nurse licensure with the Wisconsin State Board of Nursing.
• Current BLS certification.
• Must possess a valid driver's license and maintain unrestricted driving privileges throughout employment.
• Must meet and continue to meet all requirements for insurability under the organization's vehicle insurance policy.
• Must be authorized to operate any vehicle and transport clients, patients, or staff as required by the position.
• Ability to care for psychiatric patients in a clinic setting.
• Ability to use EMR for tasks such as medication reconciliation, accessing and updating medical/surgical history, family history, and substance use history.
• Ability to administer and document ordered medications following all guidelines as indicated by consent forms.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Nursing (BSN) (preferred).
• More than one year of nursing experience in mental health, psychiatric, or outpatient clinic settings (preferred).
• Crisis intervention skills (preferred).
• Experience working with individuals with severe and persistent mental illness (preferred).

Benefits

• PTO and paid holidays.
• Health insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance.
• On-site bistro and cafeteria.
• Employee assistance program.
• Newly updated facility.
• Eligibility for the Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS), a hybrid defined benefit plan with a 7.2% employee contribution matched 100% by NCHC.

Pay

The starting pay range for this role is $36.40 - $39.63, based on experience.

Schedule

Full-time, in-person position, working weekdays within clinic operating hours, between 7:30am and 4:30pm. This position requires travel between locations in Wausau, Merrill, and Antigo throughout the work week.

Working Environment and Physical Requirements

• Clinical work environment with required travel between Wausau, Merrill, and Antigo clinic locations (typically two days per week).
• Exposure to infectious diseases or biological/chemical materials.
• May work in tight spaces.
• May work around individuals who may be agitated, hostile, or violent.
• Frequent sitting, standing, walking, twisting, and bending.
• Ability to lift and carry up to 25 lbs. occasionally.
• Manual dexterity for clinical procedures and computer work.
• Clear hearing and vision for patient assessment and safety monitoring.

About Us

Nestled in the heart of Central Wisconsin, North Central Health Care (NCHC) is a healthcare organization formed over fifty years ago as a partnership between three Central Wisconsin counties - Langlade, Lincoln, and Marathon. NCHC employs more than 600 professionals in diverse roles across a variety of care and work environments. We provide passionate and high-quality care for individuals and families within the fields of mental health treatment, addiction services, long-term care, short-term care, physical therapy, crisis stabilization, and more.