Registered Nurse - Community Support Team

## Description

**Position Summary:**

Under general supervision provides direct, technical nursing care functions in accordance with individual nursing care plans and as directed by attending physician to clients with behavioral health and/or substance use disorders in an outpatient behavioral health clinic. Care includes conducting initial and on-going nursing assessments, behavioral health assessments (as needed), administering medications including injections, assisting with client bridge requests, etc.

**Job Responsibilities and Performance Standards:**

• Assures treatment planning, discharge planning, and orders for services are determined and complete with second signatures (if needed).
• Provides education to the client about medications and treatment.
• Explains medication and treatment to the client.
• Identifies client’s health education/information needs; instructs clients accordingly. Solicits feedback from clients to verify understand.
• Advises clients on health maintenance and refers client to other health care services as appropriate.
• Administers medication(s) in the proper methods, time, and dosage as ordered and indicated by prescriber. This can include both oral and injection medications.
• Observes and records client response to medication for side effects or adverse effects; immediately reports any significant reactions to attending prescriber.
• Maintains adequate supply of necessary medications, samples, and lab supplies needed.
• Conducts and records audits of medications for expiration dates and other data according to established guidelines.
• Coordinates with Business Manager for re-ordering of lab supplies needed.
• Calls in prescriptions ordered by physicians as needed.
• Performs various health screenings according to established guidelines.
• Takes vital signs and performs other tests (such as glucose monitoring, pregnancy tests, UDS, etc.) as required by the prescriber following established guidelines.
• Collects specimens for diagnostic testing according to established procedures.
• Orders lab work per protocol. Performs lab draws. Uses CLIA-waivered lab equipment for in-agency lab work and obtains lab results from lab work performed by commercial labs.
• Provides initial and on-going assessments. Interviews client to obtain thorough medical history and/or determine extent of illness. Enters this into client chart for use by prescriber.
• These assessments include initial and yearly nursing assessments minimally but can also include follow ups in between prescriber appointments.
• Also, RN’s may complete on-going behavioral health assessments (when appropriate) for clients.
• Responsible for providing outpatient behavioral health psychoeducational groups to clients as appropriate.
• Responds to clients in acute distress according to established guidelines.
• Additional duties as assigned.

**Sample Technical Competencies:**

1. Ability to identify medication
2. Ability to assist physician
3. Ability to convey patient’s information to physician
4. Skill in routine medical procedures; i.e.: applying bandages and/or tourniquets, giving injections, measuring temperature, pulse, respiration, blood pressure, etc.
5. Ability to maintain accurate medical records of treatments, medications, symptoms and patient conditions

## Qualifications

**Minimum Qualifications**

• RN: Current Georgia license to practice as a Registered Nurse
• **Preferred Qualifications:**

None

**Certificates, Licenses, Registrations:**

RN