JOB SUMMARY:

The ACT registered professional Nurse is responsible for the diagnosis and treatment of human responses to actual or potential health problems through such services as case finding, health teaching, and health counseling; nurses provide interventions supportive to or restorative of life and well-being; and execute medical regimens prescribed by a physician, dentist or other licensed health care provider.  As part of the multi-disciplinary treatment team, creates/maintains IM calendar, prepares and packs oral medications, assessing client physical health needs, makes appropriate referrals to community physicians, provides management and administration of medication in conjunction with the psychiatrist and other medical staff on the ACT team and provides a range of treatment, rehabilitation and support services.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS: List all essential job duties. (To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty listed satisfactorily with or without a reasonable accommodation. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with a disability to perform the essential duties unless this causes undue hardship to the agency.)

Based on a comprehensive review of the client's overall condition, prepares, continually reviews and evaluates plans of nursing intervention to ensure that such interventions are consistent with the client's comprehensive treatment plan. Ensures that plans of nursing intervention include consideration of the client's cultural and ethnic background, customs, needs, beliefs, and primary language.  Primary organizer of medication cart, medication administering calendar, and primary contact with partnering pharmacies, to coordination prescriptions and delivery. Administers medication (IM) in office and the field, packs medication for consumers, as well as manages medical supplies and equipment. Develops nursing assessment to reflect holistic needs of each client with consideration of their psychological, physiological, social, ethnic, cultural, educational and spiritual strengths and needs. Oversees the direct implementation of nursing care to ensure that it is carried out in accordance with the plan of nursing intervention and overall treatment/service plan and to ascertain if the needs of the client require modification of the plan. Participates at team meetings and provides nursing input on the development and implementation of treatment/service plans. Coordinates nursing care activities with other professional disciplines to ensure that the nursing plan is consistent with and integrated with the total treatment/service plan. Provides information to other clinical staff on nursing standards of practice and procedures and provides advice and consultation on nursing related matters to other staff and administrators. Participates in risk management and quality assurance concerning health related issues. Conducts counseling sessions and nursing assessments with direction as needed by other qualified professionals, according to principles of communication, human behavior and psychiatric nursing. Provides emergency care and crisis intervention Accesses medications and observe and records effects and side effects. Provides information and conducts lectures and group discussions on various health topics, such as: the effects and side effects of medications, well-being, coping skills, dealing with anxiety, anger, self-destructive behavior, manipulation, noncompliance, etc. Participates in professional activities to improve personal skills and knowledge. Performs other related duties as assigned.

Specific to additional Primary Care RN duties:

1. Provides health education/teaching for clients and their families on assigned ACT teams.

2. Assist with primary care referrals to CHN or other medical provider of choice, assists with making appointments and arranges escorts when necessary.

3. Participates in monthly ACT and CHN health registry meetings.

4. Creates and maintains spreadsheet tracking system to compile data on whole health tracking, as it relates to clients medical issues, such as chronic illness, medication compliance, etc. for assigned ACT teams, Update RN chronic illness metric tracker on a weekly basis.

5. Gives lectures and participates in community activities as a medical health advocate for assigned ACT teams.

 ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

Knowledge of professional nursing concepts, principles and practices. Knowledge of concepts and principles from the biological sciences that are supportive of nursing practice Knowledge of concepts and principles of health promotion and disease prevention.  Knowledge of abnormal signs and symptoms relating to physical and mental illness, as well as indicators of wellness Knowledge of medications and drugs, common dosages, their psychological, physical and physiological effects and possible adverse reactions. Knowledge of emergency treatments and interventions. Knowledge of teaching and consulting techniques. Knowledge of the Agency's routines, procedures and policies. Knowledge of cultural, ethnic, and linguistic needs of clients relating to cultural competence. Ability to recognize changes in signs and symptoms that warrant the immediate action of a physician. Ability to develop, evaluate, implement and modify a plan of nursing intervention to meet the needs of individual clients. Ability to secure the cooperation of and work effectively with others. Ability to prepare accurate and timely reports.

 QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE:

License and current registration to practice as a registered professional nurse in New York State; prefer at least one year post RN licensure clinical nursing experience working with individuals with mental disabilities