Job Description

Job Purpose

The Registered Nurse's primary function is to assist in meeting the health needs of individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities and/or serious mental illness. The Registered Nurse shall perform all work within the guidelines of accepted nursing standards and will work under medical direction in carrying out medical orders.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

• A review of this description has excluded the marginal functions of the position that are incidental to the performance of fundamental job duties. This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee occupying this position. Employees will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related duties requested by the supervisor.

Essential Duties

• Provides nursing services through person-centered planning practices that include medication monitoring, assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation of individuals at risk or those experiencing psychiatric/physical symptoms. Services will vary with medical orders.
• Works effectively with providers and other members of the treatment team in a collaborative approach.
• Actively participates on the clinical treatment team to ensure effective communication.
• Demonstrates the ability to educate individuals and staff related to health and medications using current information and best practice guidelines when applicable.
• Complies with approved policies/procedures of the agency including documentation requirements.
• Maintains current knowledge by completing required continuing education hours and by seeking educational opportunities to expand knowledgebase.
• Focuses on overall population health and integrated care.
• Performs nursing medication management as assigned.
• Assist with medication adherence program as assigned.
• Participates in group education as assigned. Clinic Nurse Specific Duties:
• Manages the provider’s schedule and triages cases as appropriate. Care Management Specific Duties:
• Works in the capacity as a care manager for individuals as assigned following Northpointe’s care manager policies and procedures.

Discharge Planning Specific Duties:

• Assist in hospital discharge planning as assigned.
• Assist in continued stay reviews as assigned.

Residential Specific Duties:

• Assist the home manager with coordination of health care services for individuals within the residential system.
• Provides linking and coordinating as the primary care manager for designated settings/individuals with completion of functional assessment, BPS, and IPOS.
• Identifies health/nursing care needs and implements care plans/procedures as needed.
• Educates staff within the residential and community supports to implement care plans/procedures for individuals
• Oversees the medication administration process within residential services.
• Reviews medication and fall related unusual incident reports and determines necessary interventions
• Provides consultation to residential care staff regarding health-related issues for individuals who reside in residential setting.
• Actively participates in the home staff meetings with an educational presentation at each meeting
• Actively participates in the home manager meeting.
• Prepares for the Behavioral Management Treatment and participates in the committee as needed on a case-by-case basis.
• Participates on the Safety Committee and others as assigned. Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) Duties:
• Oversees medication and provides direct services to individuals receiving ACT services in the community.
• Participates as a member of the ACT Team to meet all needs of the individual.
• Must complete ACT per requirements of MDHHS.

Requirements

Qualifications

• This position will actively support the mission, vision, and values of the agency.
• The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education, Certifications, and/or Experience

• Graduate of an accredited school of nursing.
• Current Michigan licensure to practice as a registered nurse.
• Two to three years of practical experience in a variety of settings and experience in the area of community health preferred.
• Certification in psychiatric nursing preferred.
• Must have a valid driver’s license.
• Must meet state qualifications of QIDP or QMHP.

Knowledge and Skills

• Must be knowledgeable and committed to maintaining confidentiality.
• Knowledge of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, Medicaid Provider Manual, and Michigan Mental Health Code preferred.
• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret technical requirements and regulatory requirements applicable to the agency.
• Ability to write individual plans of service, communications, and training. .
• Ability to effectively communicate and present information to a varied audience which may include staff, contract providers, and community members.
• Ability to analyze data to identify areas of opportunity and to organize data into meaningful formats such as reports, graphs, etc.
• Ability to research best practice, guidelines, and mandated requirements.
• Ability to lead and coordinate team efforts to achieve goals of the agency.
• Ability to effectively educate and provide thorough training using a variety of means to meet the needs of the audience.
• Ability to work with general mathematical concepts including dosage calculations for medications.
• Ability to travel as required by this job.
• Specialized competency includes knowledge of medical and behavioral issues with intellectually/developmentally disabled and/or serious mentally ill individual and physical intervention techniques.
• Knowledge of the basic sciences underlying mental health practice in a community setting and ability to apply these principles to clinical practice.

Competencies

• Demonstrate ability to effectively access, link and co-ordinate services using a person-centered multi- disciplinary team process
• Demonstrate proficiency in microcomputer software necessary to perform job functions.
• Demonstrate ability to apply basic psychopharmacology principles.
• Demonstrate ability to plan and implement appropriate nursing interventions.
• Demonstrate ability to plan and implement psycho-educational approaches.
• Demonstrate ability to adhere to all Northpointe policies and procedures regarding confidentiality and individuals’ rights.
• Demonstrate ability to prioritize multiple tasks, meet required time frame and document activities in accordance with Northpointe policies/procedures.
• Demonstrate ability to screen individuals for health-related problems and refer to an appropriate health care provider when appropriate.
• Demonstrate ability to conduct staff training using adult learning principles.
• Demonstrate ability to accurately assess crisis situations, determine appropriate interventions, and provide clinical justification through comprehensive documentation.
• Demonstrate ability to appropriately assess all populations served by Northpointe and apply appropriate interventions when applicable.
• Demonstrate effective oral and written communication skills with the ability to present information to a variety of professional and general public.
• Strong team skills and the ability to work effectively as part of different group projects.
• Requires a high degree of sound judgement and initiative.
• Demonstrated ability to function in a complex environment filled with competing demands.
• Demonstrated ability to prioritize and manage one's own time and resources.
• Demonstrated ability to solve complex, multi-disciplinary problems in a graceful and sensitive manner.
• Overall commitment to the quality-of-service recipient care as well as customer service.

Working Conditions

• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Physical Demands

• The employee is regularly required to sit and to talk or hear.
• The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; and reach with hands and arms.
• The employee may occasionally lift and/or move up to 25-50 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment

• The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate
• The employee occasionally works in outside weather conditions and is occasionally exposed to fumes or airborne particles and toxic or caustic chemicals.
• An employee in this job is regularly exposed to blood-borne pathogens, and occasional unsanitary environments.

Required Training

Training requirements established by licensing agencies, accreditation bodies, MDHHS, and NorthCare Network shall be followed upon hire, annually, and as necessary.