Psychiatric Nurse (RN) - OPMH/Group Home presso Lake County, IL

About the Department

The Psychiatric Nurse is a valuable member to out behavioral health team who works within a dynamic integrated team to provide support to psychiatric providers and clients.  Activities involve: daily team huddles, triaging psychiatric calls and requests, administering injections, interfacing with hospitals and pharmacies, completing prior authorizations, and providing psychiatric education and support to clients and families.  Two days per week, role involves being onsite at a psychiatric apartment program/group home, educating staff/clients and reconciling medications.  Actively collaborates with other nurses, therapists/case managers, psychiatric providers and medical team on shared cases. Reviews lab results and hospital records. Provides support and direction to psychiatric medical assistants as needed.  Interfaces with sample medication supplies.  Refers clients to other county and state resources as needed. 

Scheduled Hours: 37.5 hours per week

• This position will report to two locations:
  • Monday - Wednesday (3010 Grand)
  • Thursday and Friday (3004 Grand)

Position Duties

• Provides professional psychiatric nursing care related to physician’s orders in conformance with recognized nursing techniques and procedures, established standards and administrative policies of the department.  
• Participates in development and implementation of services for high-risk population in conjunction with other behavioral health staff and/or as directed by Manager.  
• Provides medication administration and monitoring per MD orders.
• Maintain medical inventory according to best practice standards.
• Provides ongoing psychiatric case management services. 
• Responds to inquiries, gives appropriate information and referrals, and documents interactions in electronic health record as needed. 
• Follows up on medication refills.
• Educates patients and families on medication administration, adherence, and side effects. 
• Involved in quality improvement activities on an ongoing basis. 
• Point of Care testing as needed.
• Cross-trained in medical workflow processes to assist as needed.
• Conducts crisis intervention/evaluation/referral to persons who present themselves at the program.  
• Focuses on client empowerment in providing treatment, seeking to assist clients to build on strengths in addressing treatment needs. 
• Facilitates with clients and collaborates with the treatment team to develop, review and update treatment goals and referrals both internally and externally. 
• Organizes and participates in treatment-related clinical conferences and staffings on assigned clients. 
• Provides education and direction to clients, family members and/or significant others, individually or in group settings.   
• Takes responsibility for training in and documenting clinical chart requirements to meet program and state standards.  
• Participates in staff meetings, in-service trainings, and seminars to facilitate professional growth and maintain licensure if required. 
• Supports program in meeting overall productivity expectations. 
• Maintains an awareness of and professional involvement/collaboration with community resources.  

Minimum Qualifications

Education/Experience Required:

• With an Associate’s degree, five years of experience in psychiatric or behavioral health nursing is required, or with a Bachelor’s degree, one year of experience in psychiatric or behavioral health nursing is required, or with a Master’s degree and knowledge of psychiatric disorders and medications.  

• Illinois Licensure as a register professional nurse or Illinois licensure by reciprocity within six months of the initial date of employment.   

Other Qualifications

As the largest human service provider in Lake County, we believe that services must be available without barriers. No residents are turned away due to the inability to pay. We believe in providing services in an environment of mutual respect, free of discrimination or bias. Whether assuring accessible and effective care, impacting policy, or assessing and monitoring risks, the Lake County Health Department and Community Health Center has been an essential part of the public health system in Lake County for 60 years. We are looking for passionate, qualified team members who can help make a difference in our agency and, most importantly, in our community. 

Additional information about the Lake County Health Department, our culture, and why you should join our team can be found athttps://lakecountyil.attract.neogov.com/health-department.

At this time, you must live in Illinois or Wisconsin to be eligible to work at Lake County Health Department. You can find our salary gradesathttps://www.lakecountyil.gov/4515/Salary-Grades. For unionized positions, a list of our collective bargaining agreements can be found here: https://www.lakecountyil.gov/2686/Collective-Bargaining-Agreements.

Any offer of employment is conditioned on the successful completion of a background screening, drug and alcohol testing and may include a pre-employment medical exam.

The Lake County Health Department and Community Health Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer.  We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression, national origin, disability, veteran status, and other protected characteristics.