LPN Residential, PM

Overview
$8,000 sign-on bonus (LPN) offered. Details of terms and eligibility will be discussed in the interview.
AltaPointe's Adult Residential Services are designed for consumers with serious and persistent mental illness who require social rehabilitation and community support. Combining medical, nursing and clinical services, our staff provides care and treatment for more than 200 adults in need of intensive service provision. The Adult Residential Services Program consists of group homes, which are supervised 24 hours/day when consumers are on the premises. Expected outcomes are the same for each adult group home: to prevent re-hospitalization and to maximize and maintain successful community placement. Residential care focuses on the rehabilitation and return to the community of seriously mentally ill consumers.
Responsibilities
Nurses in the residential setting are responsible for administering medications, reviewing MARs to ensure medication management, deescalating or resolving crisis situations, and compliance with the Nurse Delegation Program.

• Knowledge of psychiatric disorders in the adult population
• Knowledge of general and psychiatric nursing care
• Basic knowledge of medical terminology associated with adult psychiatric care
• Familiarity of psychopharmacology and the use of psychotropic medications with the adult population
• Knowledge of behavior management, crisis intervention and, interventions common to acute psychotic consumers as well as to non-violent crisis intervention practices
• Knowledge of educational methods appropriate to adults with severe and persistent psychiatric disorders
• Knowledge of cultural diversity
• Successful completion of Medication Assistance Supervision (MAS)
• Knowledge of DMH/NDP program standards
• Knowledge of utilizing electronic health record

Primary Job Functions:
Clinical Responsibilities:

• Administers medications, observing the Seven Rights of medication administration and monitors consumers for potential side effects of medications and report findings to the physician.
• Provides medication education for the consumer and family, including uses and potential side effects.
• Reviews MAR daily to ensure appropriate medication management which includes timely refills and any necessary arrangements with medical staff for new prescriptions.
• Identifies psychiatric and medical needs of consumers and communicates effectively with the physicians to include taking off any orders and completing consults.
• Observes consumers behavior in groups and activities, interacts with consumers and evaluate needs to ensure that proper information is reported from shift to shift
• Interfaces with the multi-disciplinary team and actively and cooperatively participates in development of the interdisciplinary treatment plan
• Monitors laboratory results and reports all abnormal findings to the physician
• Demonstrates the ability to recognize the elements of a crisis state and knows how to deescalate or resolve the situation, including providing emergency care as needed (CPR, MindSet, PRN medications)
• Conducts infection control training for consumers
• Ongoing compliance with the Nurse Delegation Program, including recertification requirements, including taking MAS calls
• Assists consumers with personal care issues (bathing, toileting, and other personal hygiene issues)
• Performs monthly MARs verifications and 24 hour chart checks.
• Conducts individual and group PHP trainings, activities, and education

Supervision and Consultation:

• Seeks clinical supervision and consultation needs
• Accepts and employs suggestions for improvement
• Actively works to enhance clinical skills
• Attends regularly scheduled staff meetings

Clinical Record Keeping:

• Documents in a timely fashion per AltaPointe policy
• Documents in a clear, concise manner all nursing services provided to the consumer and general observations
• Documentation shows that forms, logs, and other applicable written information are completed accurately and updated when appropriate

Courteous and respectful attitudes towards consumers, visitors and co-workers:

• Treats consumers with care, dignity and compassion
• Respects consumer's privacy and confidentiality
• Is pleasant and cooperative with others
• Assists consumers and visitors as needed
• Personal values don't inhibit ability to relate and care for others
• Is sensitive to the consumer's needs, expectations and individual differences
• Is gentle and calm with consumers and families

Administrative and Other related duties as Assigned:

• Actively participates in Performance Improvement activities
• Actively participates in AltaPointe committees as required
• Completes assigned tasks in a timely manner
• Accesses appropriate community resources according to consumer needs
• Follows AltaPointe Policy & Procedures
• Maintains current State license and requirements for renewals (i.e. CEU's), and attends the required in-services and workshops

Physical Requirements of the Job:

• There is frequent standing while getting files, paperwork, and handing out medication.
• Sitting is frequent by nature and up to 5-10 minutes; however, extended sitting could be up to 1.5 to 3 hours for documentation.
• Walking various distances on grounds can be frequent and up to 300 feet to dispense medication.
• Squatting and/or lunging frequently to stock supplies and retrieve needed material from file cabinets and book shelves.
• Strong grasp is needed to handle large carts while retrieving consumer files from the Zeigler Outpatient building and lighter grasp is needed for stocking supplies which requires a force exertion of up to 10 pounds.
• Fine manipulation for writing, handling paperwork, and dispensing medications to consumers.
• Pushing and/or pulling force up to 1-5 pounds force, horizontally, to open file cabinets and place binders on book shelves.
• Lifting various ranges from the floor to overhead with weights up to 1-5 pounds frequently.
• Must lift 40-50lbs floor to waist occasionally to frequent.
• Any other duties as assigned by supervisor.

Qualifications
Possesses current LPN's license to practice in the state of Alabama. Effectively demonstrates the application of adult specific competencies, outlined below, to be attained within six (6) months of employment:

• Knowledge of psychiatric disorders in the adult population
• Knowledge of general and psychiatric nursing care
• Basic knowledge of medical terminology associated with adult psychiatric care
• Familiarity of psychopharmacology and the use of psychotropic medications with the adult population
• Knowledge of behavior management, crisis intervention and, interventions common to acute psychotic consumers as well as to non-violent crisis intervention practices
• Knowledge of educational methods appropriate to adults with severe and persistent psychiatric disorders
• Knowledge of cultural diversity
• Successful completion of Medication Assistance Supervision (MAS)
• Knowledge of DMH/NDP program standards
• Knowledge of utilizing electronic health record