RN Charge Nurse

Characteristics of Position:

This position focuses on professional nursing functions while providing care and treatment to clients coping with or recovering from substance abuse addiction or with co-occurring substance and psychiatric disorders.

LOCATION: Tarpon Springs, FL

Pre-requisite Requirements:

• Active licensure as a registered professional nurse in accordance with Florida Law.

• All ACTS, Inc. employees must be able and willing to work when expected to accommodate program and/or agency needs, participate in the agency's Quality Improvement Program and attend all assigned/required trainings, practice on-the-job safety at all times, and demonstrate the ability to communicate and work with others and be respectful of peers, supervisors, clients, guests, etc. If required by contract or administrative rule, must fully participate in NAPPI (crisis intervention) training and able to apply same to work setting.

Preferred Attributes:

Physical /Safety/Health Considerations: Standing, walking, carrying, stooping, speaking, and listening

Quality of Work Expected: Level commensurate with satisfactory Registered Nurse performance

Quantity of Work Expected: Commensurate with level necessary to fully meet obligations

Supervision: This position provides supervision to LPNs and reports to the Program Director or Administrator.

Scope of Responsibilities: Applies nursing principles and practices for the treatment of clients, implements physician orders, documentation, maintains inventory of clinic supplies/medications.

Core Responsibilities/Essential Functions:

Adheres to regulatory bodies and licensing rules, guidelines and all established protocol to carry out all duties required by contract, licensure, accreditation, and certification relative to program or service assignment.

• Performs all nursing functions/responsibilities as required and appropriate to license. Includes, but not limited to
  • Completes pre-admission medical screening of clients to determine admission eligibility; apply nursing principles and practices in the care and treatment of clients, administer and read PPDs, and makes assessment of clients' conditions and documents per services provided, completes and records vital signs, observes and assesses clients for deviations from normal conditions/behaviors
• Collaborates with physicians and follows recommendations as appropriate. This includes, but not limited to
  • Implements physician's orders, assists physician in performing physical exam on clients, communicates with physician concerning implementation of seclusion/restraint measures, follows-up on laboratory results and ensures physician receives results
• Within limits of licensure, administers medication/narcotics/treatments as prescribed by protocol or physician's order and documents each
  • Prepares narcotic and other drug reports , orders medications, inventories clinic supplies/medications
• Ensures nursing support personnel carry out assigned duties correctly to agency model
• Performs related work as required /assigned

Additional Pre-Requisite: Active licensure as a registered professional nurse in accordance with Florida Law and one year of nursing experience.

Additional Supervision: Work is performed under the supervision of a Program Director/Administrator.

This position provides direct supervision to Licensed Practical Nurses. Provides oversight and direction to Shift Supervisors and Behavioral Health Technicians.

PROGRAM SPECIFIC: In addition to the above-mentioned responsibilities, the program includes the following duties and responsibilities for this position: THIS POSITION IS ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE DAY-TO-DAY FUNCTIONS OF NURSING AND INTAKE OPERATONS AT AN ADULT OR JUVENILE ADDICTIONS RECEIVNG UNIT AS ASSIGNED.

• Participates in the selection of Licensed Nursing Personnel.
• Provides nursing staff orientation and monitors continuing education/training of all staff nurses.
• Prepares and monitors schedules for medical personnel, insuring required staffing pattern, adjusting staff schedules as necessary.
• Directs daily services and maintains on-call availability to licensed nursing staff.
• Share in administrative on-call coverage
• May search client's property for contraband
• May obtain specimens for laboratory tests
• Makes rounds of unit to check on health, safety and security of clients
• Guides and advises clients in their personal adjustment and hygiene habits
• Acts as a member of the treatment team
• Attends client case staffing as assigned
• Develops and facilitates health education groups for patients on health and social topics
• Refers to and updates communication log/email regarding resident issues and concerns
• Adheres to Program Duties and Responsibilities checklist

Specialized Duties/ Tasks

• Must possess valid Florida Drivers' License, industry accepted driving history and maintain vehicle insurance required by State of Florida. If required to drive an ACTS' vehicle, must maintain drivers' license and history as listed above and participate in all transportation-related training activities, including on-the-road driving test relative to appropriate and safe operation of motor vehicles
• Responsible for daily monitoring of medical supplies and inventory
• Communicates empathically with clients regarding addiction, mental illness, medications and recovery
• Insures in-house coverage of call offs/open shifts as necessary/required to limit overtime and insure outside agency nursing is used only as a last resort. Seeks authorization from Program Administrator prior to scheduling or assigning overtime or obtaining outside nursing services
• Review/update medical policies and procedures annually or as otherwise needed or assigned to maintain up-to-date reference information at all times