Staff Nurse, LPN

Is your passion to make a real difference? If so, please consider joining our team! With over 16 programs located across Western Wayne County's communities, Hegira Programs, Inc. (HPI), a private non-profit corporation, is one of the largest freestanding behavioral healthcare agencies in the area. HPI, accredited by the Joint Commission and licensed by the State of Michigan, provides a broad array of mental health and substance abuse treatment and prevention services to individuals of all ages.

MINIMUM EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

The Staff Nurse shall be a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) currently licensed to practice in the State of Michigan with NAPNES certification (if applicable). Within the last three (3) years, he/she shall have obtained at least two (2) years' experience in the delivery of nursing care. He/she shall demonstrate a basic knowledge of mental health and physiological and psychological effects of substance abuse as evidenced by a minimum of one (1) year experience in either outpatient, residential, or inpatient mental health. He/she shall have a basic understanding of psychopharmacology, as demonstrated through their academic, certification, and/or employment experiences.

Varies Locations

Full-time and Part-time shifts are available

ESSENTIAL JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

Technical:

Admission

• Reviews available historical information regarding scheduled admissions.
• Facilitates admission triage.
• Acts upon medical instability identified through triage, documents findings, and actions.
• Completes the health assessment and documents per requirements.
• Facilitates medical management of immediate needs per health assessment, e.g., TB testing, untreated infection, seizure risk, etc.
• Calls MD/PA/NP for admission orders/Transcribes/acknowledges admission orders.
• Faxes medication orders to pharmacy in timely manner to ensure continuation of prescribed dosages at prescribed times.
• Initiates Medication Administration Record within 4 hours of admission.
• Ensures Urine Drug Screen is completed on day of admission, if required.
• Contacts or facilitates contact to laboratory for ordered tests, if ordered by psychiatrist.
• Writes Initial and Nursing Treatment Plan for completed health assessments within 24 hours of admission.

Discharge

• Complete Medications, Labs and TB Skin Test (as applies), External Referrals, Physical Status, Medical Condition, Intervention and Response sections of Discharge Summary within 24 hours of discharge.
• Provides completed Medication Reconciliation Form to consumer at time of discharge.
• Provide consumer with prescriptions, medications, and physician orders at time of discharge.

Ongoing

• Maintain prioritized physician list for requested initial exams and follow-up care.
• Provide Physician/PA/NP with verbal report of consumer status/history prior to consumer’s psychiatric evaluation
• Document each encounter of substantive value with a patient.
• Provide patient education regarding medication and health matters.
• Document the progress of identified problem areas noted on the Initial and Nursing Care Plan.
• Immediately discuss with therapy staff and psychiatrist/NP/PA known/suspected negative changes in consumer’s condition, attitude, and intention.
• Complete controlled substance count at each shift change, per policy.
• Complete medication accountability procedure each shift.
• Documents vital signs, behavioral observations and other consumer reports as required per documentation requirements.
• Administer medications at assigned times and document.
• Update Medication Administration Record consistent with physician/PA/PN orders.
• Assess patient reported needs and administer PRN medications as needed and document results.
• Immediately notify Lead Nurse of medication errors, near misses, etc., upon discovery.
• Participate in Shift Report and Shift-to-Shift at the end/beginning of each shift, which includes the reporting of any negative events; document in the Shift Report the content of the meeting.
• Review physician/PA/PN orders during each shift, acknowledge change, and document implementation.
• Assist in ensuring that all applicable Federal, State, local, licensing, funding, and accrediting standards, rules, requirements, and regulations are followed.
• Assist the physician/PA/PN in the physical examination process as requested.
• Legibly document using language meeting professional standards.
• Use abbreviations per HPI policy.
• Use HPI error correction process per policy.

Interpersonal:

• Maintain relationships with consumers within boundaries per licensing guidelines and HPI ethical pledge and policy.
• Maintain collegial, cooperative relationships with all HPI staff.
• Promote welcoming attitude when receiving intake information from consumers.
• Utilize empathic communication skills when discussing/providing information to family and significant others,
• Utilize excellent customer service skills when talking with referral sources.
• Attend Crisis Residential staff meetings and Nurse staff meetings as scheduled.
• Follow directives provided in staff meetings.
• Comply with written requests from Lead Nurse, Program Coordinator, Administrator or designee and/or HPI Administration regarding clinical and/or operational information.

Critical Thinking:

• Assess urgent medical needs, observed or potential side effects, interactions, or adverse reactions of medications, and communicate with staff physician/PA/PN and documents.
• Facilitate transport for medical care outside the scope of Oakdale/ Crisis Residential facility consistent with the urgency of the presenting symptoms/condition.
• Report the identification of potential communicable disease to Lead Nurse.
• Complete a Variance Report within 24 hours of the occurrence for any occurrence outside of the normal scope of activity.
• Immediately report complaints and knowledge of potential recipient rights complaints to Program Coordinator/Administrator
• In the event a consumer identifies thoughts of harming self or others, immediately take measures to ensure safety of consumer, staff, and community and document processes.
• Notify a clinical staff member of the need for clinical assistance in the event a patient presents at risk of harming self or others.
• Be available for additional nursing assignments as assigned by the Lead Nurse, Program Coordinator /Administrator or designee.
• Report to Lead Nurse and/or Program Coordinator irregularities regarding medical records and any other decisions that affect a patient’s medical process.
• Maintain consumer confidentiality per federal guidelines and the policy and procedures of Hegira Programs, Inc.

Physical Requirements:

• Must have adequate visual acuity to interact with the Electronic Health Record System and accurately input data.
• Regular and reliable on-site attendance and punctuality.