Assessment & Referral Registered Nurse

ABOUT US:

Formerly Aurora Santa Rosa Hospital, SRBHH was opened in 2016 and is regarded as an integral part of the greater Santa Rosa and Northern California mental health system of care. Conveniently located in the North Bay, this hospital consists of 144 acute psychiatric inpatient beds.

Santa Rosa Behavioral Healthcare Hospital (SRBHH) is regarded as an integral part of the greater Santa Rosa and Northern California mental health system of care.

Conveniently located in the North Bay, SRBHH serves adolescents and adults. We treat both mental health and co-occurring psychiatric and substance abuse conditions.

POSITION TITLE: Assessment & Referral Registered Nurse

PAY RANGE: $63.00-$78.00

REPORTS TO: Director of Assessment and Referral

DESCRIPTION OF POSITION:

The top priority of the Assessment and Referrals RN is to perform accurate assessment of incoming admissions in order to deliver high quality safe care during the Intake process. Comprehensive ability to process patients from receipt of referral until transfer to unit. Assess the needs of prospective patients via crisis calls, walks or via referral packet to ensure the appropriate level of care is provided according to EMTALA guidelines. Utilize knowledge of facility policies, exclusionary criteria, and capabilities to accept patients for treatment within the facility, and ability to provide in person assessment, obtain MD orders, and determine appropriate location for unit assignment. The Assessment and Referrals RN embraces Santa Rosa Behavioral Healthcare Hospital's (SRBHH) mission, vision and value statements and adheres to and follows all the hospital policies and procedures, ensuring compliance with regulations, standards and requirements. The Registered Nurse - Assessments & Referrals maintains knowledge, participates in further training provided, and understands the potential risks regarding occupational health hazards (e.g. bloodborne pathogen exposures).

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Responds to telephone and face-to-face inquiries from persons seeking mental health care or information about mental health-related services.
• Through a systematic process of interaction with patients, the patient's significant others, and the appropriate health care providers, collects and analyzes data regarding the patient's physical, psychosocial, environmental, self-care, educational, spiritual, cultural and anticipated discharge needs; determines patient's alcohol or drug toxicity; identifies signs of withdrawal; conducts screenings or assessments to determine needs of treatment.
• The care and treatment of the patient are rendered in a competent and timely manner and are based on current chemical dependency and psychiatric nursing/clinical knowledge and standards; care is evaluated against the goals and plan of care and is revised as needed and appropriate to the patient.
• Facilitates the patient's access to the appropriate level of care and setting.
• Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with patient services counselors and coordinators, intake department, physicians and health professional affiliates, healthcare facilities, and nursing staff.
• Demonstrates good skills in assessing client's crisis and clinical indicators via phone and in-person and documenting such on a call sheet and scheduling assessment as clinically appropriate.
• Prepares written report of assessment results in a timely manner (immediately following completed assessment) and includes recommendations for the level of care and treatment needs.
• Makes appropriate interventions during assessments, and crisis situations with clients, family/friends and other professional staff.
• Assesses need for involuntary hospitalization evaluation and contacts county crisis team, law enforcement or 5150 Certified employees as needed to ensure the safety of client and others.
• Enters the data of calls and for Intake Assessments in the computer system in a timely manner.
• Assists clients who are not admitted into a program with follow-through of clinical referrals and recommendations.
• Provides pertinent clinical information to physician and program staff who will be reviewing the patient to ensure a smooth transition for the patient.
• Distributes documentation of admissions to the Business Office, Admitting Unit and the Utilization Review Department.
• Maintains knowledge of developmental tasks and sociological theories of pertinent age groups.
• Maintains knowledge of legal guidelines pertaining to Emergency Medical Treatment & Labor Act (EMTALA)/Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) and abuse/neglect reporting.
• Communicates with managed care organizations to obtain insurance pre-authorizations in a timely manner.
• Stays up to date with the organization's programs and services.
• Participates in activities which enhance professional growth and development.
• Performs other related duties, as assigned
• Upholds the Organization's ethics and customer services standards.
• Cross train as Inpatient Registered Nurse and perform all duties, as assigned, including but not limited to the following:

- Assess all inpatients' status, provide direct care to assigned group of inpatients, document patient care and assessments rendered, prepares and administers medications as needed and ensure necessary documentation and/or treatment plans are completed at the end of each shift.

- Provide clinical summary information to other team members at treatment team meetings, shift reports and other hand-offs. The Inpatient Psychiatric RN provides continual oversight of all inpatients and inpatient psychiatric unit operations.

- Ability to assess, collect data, define problems, set goals, initiate interventions and evaluate interventions.

- Providing patient care by routinely demonstrating knowledge of mental health diagnosis, standard of care, evidence-based practice, high risks for mental health patients, National Patient Safety Goals and models of care.

Requirements

Knowledge and Experience:

• Current Registered Nurse in the state of California
• Inpatient experience preferred
• Familiarity with continuum of care and clinical terminology
• Knowledge of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders diagnostic criteria

Current CPR certificate or obtained during initial orientation period.
Verbal de-escalation and physical intervention program as approved by the CNO.

Skills and Abilities:

• Maintains confidentiality of patients at all times
• Knowledgeable of patient rights and laws pertaining to mental health
• Assessment and intervention skills
• Persuasive manner and skills in overcoming denial and resistance to treatment
• Ability to concentrate on task in high traffic areas
• Ability to deal with crisis and potentially combative patients while maintaining personal and emotional equilibrium.
• Sensitivity to, and willingness to, interact with persons of various social, cultural, economic and educational backgrounds
• Proficiency with software and/or equipment (Microsoft Office applications including Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint)
• Strong organizational skills with ability to prioritize projects, work relatively independently, manage multiple tasks, and meet deadlines
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Good judgment, problem solving and decision-making skills
• Demonstrated commitment to working collaboratively as well as possessing the skills to lead, influence, and motivate others
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, expanding organization

Physical Requirements:

While performing the duties of this job, this position is frequently required to do the following:

• Use standard office equipment and access, input, and retrieve information from a computer. Use computer keyboard with manual and finger dexterity and wrist-finger speed sufficient to perform repetitive actions efficiently for extended periods of time.
• Communicate effectively in person or via telephone in a manner which can be understood by those with whom the person is speaking, including a diverse population.
• Give and follow verbal and written instructions with attention to detail and accuracy.
• Perform complex mental functions and basic arithmetic functions; interpret complex laws, regulations, and policies; collect, interpret, and/or analyze complex data and information.
• Coordinate multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Reach forward, up, down, and to the side.
• Walk, push, pull, lift, carry objects from a lower to higher position or horizontally from position to position or otherwise move objects.
• Feel sizes, shapes, temperatures, and textures by touching with skin, particularly that of the fingertips.
• Sit or stand for minimum periods of one hour at a time and come and go from the work area repeatedly throughout the day.
• Express or exchange ideas orally and potentially loudly, accurately, or quickly.
• Perceive the nature of sound with no less than a 40 db loss @ 1000 Hz and 2000 Hz with or without correction.
• Exert up to 100 lbs of force occasionally, and/or up to 20 lbs of force frequently.
• Able to provide manual restraints for patients who are physically acting out and are potentially dangerous (at times this occurs on the floor.)
• Minimum standard of visual acuity with or without correction.
• While worker may possibly be subjected to temperature changes, the worker is generally not substantially exposed to adverse environmental conditions as the work is predominantly inside.
• Lift up to fifty (50) pounds.

Benefits

• Health Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• 401k Retirement Plan
• Healthcare Spending Account
• Life Insurance
  (Supplemental Life, Term and Universal plans are also available)
• Short and Long-Term Disability
  (with additional buy-in opportunities)
• PTO Plan with Holiday Premium Pay
• Discounted Cafeteria Meal Plan
• Tuition Reimbursement