Registered Nurse

Job Description
Reports to: Nurse Manager

Job Description:

The registered nurse provides all with proper nursing care. The registered nurse is responsible for carrying out all nursing tasks and ensuring the safety of all clients. The registered nurse works with other departments in other areas of the facility to provide nursing assistance when needed. The registered nurse provides direct nursing care and administers medications and any other duties assigned. This position will work with the Nurse Manager to support the recovery process and ensure safety and high-quality medical care for all residents of our client.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Able to conduct nursing assessments at the detoxification and residential levels of care
• Provide care based on current evidence-based guidelines and practices
• Able to ensure the company's objectives for quality of care for patients are met
• Support the recovery process by following our client Guidelines
• Adhere to all rules and regulations governing substance abuse treatment as outlined in of Tennessee Standards of Care
• Knowledge of treating substance abuse clients in a detox and residential level of care.
• Able to observation, documentation, audit functions, education, and record keeping of all observed/inventoried/destroyed/prescribed medications.

Responsibilities:

• Administer medications as ordered by the Medical Director and/or prescriber
• Work as part of a multidisciplinary clinical setting with physicians, PMHNP's, substance abuse counselors, and peer support staff
• Participate in team treatment meetings and collaborative care
• Administering and documenting vital signs, CIWAs, COWS, fall assessments/precautions, seizure precautions, suicidal/homicidal assessments, nutritional assessments, pain scales, anxiety scales, craving scales, standard and infection control precautions
• Provide nursing care adapted to the individual patient needs based on the nursing process, which includes assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation.
• Direct patient care, including the reporting of observed changes in mental status and/or physical condition, response to emergencies, safety risks.
• Verifies the integrity of and controls medications brought into the organization by the client, their families, and licensed independent practitioners.
• Meet clinic documentation requirements for reimbursements
• Maintain educational requirements and certification from state certification body
• Adhere to all rules and regulations governing substance abuse treatment as outlined
• Educates clients about nutrition, medications, sleep hygiene and other healthy practices

Competencies:

• Ability to perform accurately and document nursing assessments
• Proficient in performing waived testing (glucometer, pregnancy, urine drug screen)
• Safely administers medications utilizing the Five Rights of Medication Administration as outlined in the Nurse Practice Act
• Monitors the medication management system that includes but not limited to; medication planning, storage, ordering and transcribing, administration, monitoring and evaluation.
• Effectively communicates client needs to medical providers
• Transcribes and safely carries out all orders per physician or nurse practitioner
• Performs and documents CIWA and COWS assessments in accordance with guidelines
• Monitors and maintains counting of controlled medications to avoid diversion
• Maintain certification from the state certification body
• Possess effective organizational skills, multitasking ability, and effective communication skills
• Knowledge of state rules and regulations governing substance abuse treatment and accreditation standards
• Performs medication reconciliation upon admission and discharge through the process of creating the most accurate list possible of all medications a patient is taking - including drug name, dosage, frequency, and route - and comparing that list against the physician's admission, transfer, and/or discharge orders
• Maintains counting of controlled medications to avoid diversion and medication errors including 'good catches'/near misses.

Minimum Requirements:

• Possess current and valid licensing respectively to an RN
• Prefer a minimum of 2 years of experience as substance abuse/mental health care professional
• Prefer education and/or experience in treating substance abuse disorders
• Current CPR Certification or within the first 90 days of employment