POSITION SUMMARY/FUNCTION
The primary responsibility of this position is to provide routine and emergency mental health and/or substance
use stabilization, education, and treatment planning of individuals at the Crisis Stabilization Unit (CSU) within
the scope of nursing practice. The purpose of this position is to help promote the overall physical health, mental
health, and substance use recovery of individuals utilizing the Trauma Informed Care approach in all areas of the
job. This position will also serve as the Shift Coordinator, overseeing routine task assignments of Mental Health
Technicians, LPNs, Peer Specialists, RNs, Security, and Cleaner.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES/RESPONSIBLITIES/FUNCTIONS/TASKS:
1. Performs skilled nursing interventions to manage the care of individuals on the Crisis Stabilization Unit
(CSU):
A. Performs physical/health assessments of individuals on CSU as directed, providing appropriate
information to physicians, and carrying out orders.
B. Assess for least restrictive environment and make recommendations to psychiatrist / therapist if
more intense level of care is needed.
C. Assists and teaches individuals about self-care of medical conditions.
D. Provides general medical and health education to individuals in group and one-to-one.
E. Administers medications (I.M. & P.O.) to individuals as prescribed by the physicians.
F. Assesses, assists, and monitors CSU individuals with self-administration of medication.
G. Takes verbal orders from doctors and makes appropriate documentation.
H. Provides medical intervention to individuals, monitors behavior and mental status of individuals
on the unit.
I. Oversees the medication (ie. ensures all medication orders are transcribed correctly and all
individual medications are kept according to procedures and guidelines).
2. Provides face to face intervention to individuals and significant others to promote stabilization of a
crisis-situation or related medical need.
A. Intervention may relate to but not limited to individual’s decompensation, adverse effects for
medications, and drug interactions.
3. Assists individuals in accessing appropriate medical treatment, obtaining personal and/or medical care
supplies and collaborates with community providers.
4. Develops treatment plans within 24 hours of admission. Coordinates the stabilization unit treatment
plan and treatment plan reviews with the CSU treatment team.
5. Assesses the mental status of persons to determine the safety of individuals and others according to the
emergency severity index and CSU established exclusionary criteria guidelines.
6. Provides group wellness care to the Stabilization Unit patients.
7. Assists psychiatrist and/or medical physician as needed by performing medication monitoring and
triaging.
A. Review of physiological effects of medications, compliance, side effects, etc.
B. Maintains a current list of medications per other physicians including over the counter
medications.
C. Reports Axis II diagnosis to psychiatrist.
D. Coordinate appropriate lab work.
8. Assist with maintaining individual’s records in a professional manner and in accordance with all specified guidelines of SpectraCare Personnel Policy, SpectraCare Clinical Policy, including but not limited to the Alabama Administrative Code, CMS, and all other applicable regulating and contractual entities.
A. Documents appropriate nursing interventions and patient progress in chart.
B. Progress notes are completed on the day the service is provided.
C. Progress notes are written in a professional manner utilizing appropriate medical terminology
and meeting all imposed standards.
D. Service logs are completed on the day the service is provided and turned in to designated
secretary.
E. Service logs are accurate and reflect appropriate service being provided.
9. Other varied duties including but not limited to the following.
A. Be available by cell phone during working hours and/or after hours.
B. Administer IM psychotropic injections
C. Follow job duties assigned by supervisor and meet with supervisor on a regular basis.
D. Actively and compassionately interacts with individuals to encourage engagement in treatment.
E. Promotes and supports Trauma Informed Care initiatives within the organization.
F. Uses the Trauma Informed Care approach to work collaboratively with individuals and other
team members to help support patients in their treatment and recovery.
G. Assists with training of new staff working in the unit as assigned.
H. Keep an accurate check on ordered lab work notifying psychiatrist/physician of abnormal norms.
I. Provide mental health consults with other health care agencies as needed.
J. Coordinate efforts to maintain recent medical treatment from other medical agencies.
K. Follow guidelines of SpectraCare Personnel Policy, SpectraCare Clinical Policy, including but
not limited to the Alabama Board of Nursing, Alabama Administrative Code, CMS, and all other
applicable regulating and contractual entities.
L. Participate in training and other administrative meetings as scheduled.
M. Maintain updated, current knowledge of nursing practices to include but not limited to
psychotropic medications, mental illness and substance abuse treatment options, etc.
N. Adhere to Dress Code as set forth in the SpectraCare Policies and Procedures.
O. Performs duties independently and/or with minimal supervision.
P. Functions within professional boundaries with individuals and others.
Q. Works well with other staff and individuals to ensure safety of program, patients, and other staff.
R. Functions and performs well in stressful environments and manages work related stress to ensure
patient safety.
S. Applies seclusion, protective holds and/or restraint per SpectraCare policy and procedures.
T. Documents crises, protective holds, seclusions and/or restraints.
U. Participates in beginning / end of shift unit reporting.
V. Demonstrates a willingness to work on any unit / program at SpectraCare based on facility needs
as directed.
W. Performs other services, tasks, functions and/or responsibilities deemed necessary, not otherwise
specified.
10. Serves as the Shift Coordinator, overseeing routine task assignments of Mental Health Technicians, LPNs,
Peer Specialists, RNs, Security, and Cleaner.
11. Regular attendance with timely arrival and departure according to scheduled hours.
May be required to flex hours on occasion as directed by Supervisor. All absences must be reported
directly to Supervisor or designee.
A. Must be able to work full time with rotating assignments as necessary to include
but not limited to overtime hours, nights, holidays, and/or weekends as scheduled.
B. To ensure patient/employee safety while on duty, must remain awake during scheduled working
hours.
NON-ESSENTIAL DUTIES/RESPONSIBLITIES/FUNCTIONS/TASKS:
- Attend departmental meetings and other assigned meetings.
- Attend all required job-related training.
- Assist in other areas as needed.
- Conform to SpectraCare’s policies and procedures.
ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS/KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS/ABILITIES:
- Knowledge of mental illness, substance use, developmental disability illness and the treatment of
disorders.
- Knowledge of DSM V, mental health assessments, crisis intervention techniques, and psychotropic
medications.
- Ability to demonstrate thorough knowledge of psychotropic medications and mental illness/substance
abuse diagnosis.
- Ability to respond professionally and efficiently in crisis situations.
- Ability to adhere to duties assigned by Medical Director and/or delegate these duties as needed.
- Ability to adhere to and perform a wide variety of nursing duties independently and/or with minimal
supervision.
- Ability to complete and maintain documentation in accordance with and follow guidelines of
SpectraCare Personnel Policies, SpectraCare Clinical Policies, including but not limited to the Alabama
Board of Nursing, Alabama Administrative Code, CMS, and all other applicable regulating and
contractual entities.
- Ensure necessary documentation is completed and up to date before annual leave or personal leave is
taken.
- Ability to communicate and educate patients, families, and other health agencies on MI/psychotropic
medications, substance abuse disorders and treatment, etc.
- Ability to adhere to SpectraCare policy, HIPAA laws, and 42 CFR concerning confidentiality.
- Ability to adhere to health and safety regulations.
- Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only
limited standardization exists.
- Skills in verbal and written communication.
- Patience and emotional stability.
- Ability to maintain medical and psychiatric physician notes, interventions, etc in EMR.
- Must perform all duties with the highest standard of ethics.
- Ability to Adhere to Dress Code as set forth in the SpectraCare policies and procedures.
- Ability to function within professional boundaries with patients and others.
- Ability to work well with other staff and patients to ensure safety of program, patients, and other staff.
- Ability to function and perform well in stressful environments and manage work related stress to ensure
patient safety.
- Ability to pass a drug screen when given to include but not limited to pre-employment, random, postaccident, suspicion, etc.
TRAINING REQUIREMENTS:
- Complete initial new hire training.
- Complete required on the job training (OJT) by the department.
- Obtain proper certifications needed to perform job duties.
- Complete annual training as required by the Alabama Administrative Code, CMS, and all other applicable
regulating and contractual entities.
WORK ENVIRONNMENT / PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
- There is an occasional need to maintain back extension while being on stomach with one’s own body
weight on hips and legs. This position is maintained for several minutes.
- Occasionally, be able to put one’s own body weight on one knee and one elbow on the same side of
one’s body.
- Occasionally, be able to kneel and reach to same side toward the floor.
- Strong grasp is needed to open doors throughout the facility, and to maintain constant contact with an
individual during a restrain procedure or with other hold techniques.
- There are times that require the employee to be able to ambulate as quickly as possible to assist
coworkers with an individual in a restraint procedure.
- Must be able to travel to system facilities and/or other locations/outings with exposure to changing
weather conditions.
- Work location is primarily in a temperature-controlled setting with minimal periods of sitting at a desk
with associated repetitive motions. Must understand and practice good ergonomic movements to avoid
injuries.
- Physical ability to correctly lift and/or move up to fifty (50) pounds on an infrequent basis.
- Required to talk to or hear staff, individuals, and/or others.
- Required to stand, walk, sit, bend, twist, lunge, squat and/or reach frequently.
- There may be times when mopping, sweeping, making beds, washing/drying clothes for individuals may
be done.
- Employee may be exposed to one or more of the following: disagreeable odors, chemicals such as
disinfectants, cleansers, soaps, etc; latex, plastic and other materials used for personal protective
equipment; noise and distractions; unpleasant sights; unpredictable behaviors; body fluids; contagious
diseases; and/or wet floors.
- This position performs tasks that involve exposure to blood, body fluids, or tissues.
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.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS/EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE:
- Nursing degree (RN) with active Alabama nursing license without restrictions/disciplines.
- One (1) year nursing experience with preferred psychiatric experience
- Possess a valid Driver License with good MVR.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS/EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE:
- Three (3) plus years’ experience in psychiatric nursing.
- Experience in mental health, substance use, intellectual disability or similar field preferred.
