Mental Health Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)

• Establishes and maintains a therapeutic relationship with veterans to enable them to identify, work on, and resolve a myriad of complex psychosocial problems. Helps veterans to utilize the strengths of their own cultures in their recovery process.
• Provides age-specific care to veterans with substance abuse and/or psychiatric conditions who reside in the three residential treatment programs: Substance Abuse, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and Homeless Domiciliary.
• Serves as a primary contact for an assigned caseload of residents in Substance Abuse and the Domiciliary, to include, but are not limited to, individual and group supportive counseling, education, assessment and evaluation. Provides information regarding program requirements and resources and assistance in securing needed services, and follow up to ascertain resident participation in treatment activities. Assists residents to identify and progress toward rehabilitation goals, including transition to independent community living. Fosters residents personal growth by helping them to accept responsibility for their behavior, gain insight into their problems, and develop improved problem solving and coping skills.
• Manages most aspects of admission and discharge procedures, including room selection, clothing inventory and search procedures, admission urine drug screen collection, administrative requirements, orientation, mandatory appointments, completion of resident contracts, provision of bed linens, Orientation Group.
• Assists the veteran to acclimate to the residential program and setting, utilizing observational and interview skills to assess the veteran's adjustment. Assesses the veteran's ability to perform the activities of daily living, manage individual health care needs, and interact appropriately with others.
• Manages all aspects of daily operations, including resident behavior, building rounds and room inspections with particular emphasis on safety and security, administrative and clinical reporting, attending to the emergent and non-emergent needs and requests of the residents.
• Makes independent decisions as the rep. of the Program Manager, and handles emergencies, including fire, utility failures, serious illness, injury, death and verbal and/or physical altercations among residents.
• Handles all documentation requirements, including but not limited to resident electronic records (CPRS) (progress notes), patient appts & resident contracts, daily count sheet, lab slips, meal slips, incident reports, resident mail, daily log as prescribed by each unit, unit policies and procedures, work orders, refrigerator temperature logs, gig lists, passes, urine drug screening log.
• Monitors activities of residents, individually and collectively, for adherence to program requirements; observes for changes in behavior, emotional states and physical condition and intervenes accordingly; utilizes video surveillance system to assure a safe environment; conducts urine drug screen specimen collections and Breathalyzer testing on a scheduled and random basis and in a prescribed manner that insures chain of custody.
• Monitors vital signs as ordered, and documents in the EMR. Documents residents' vital signs including pain and refers to the Nurse or medical provider. Monitors residents on bed rest. Refers ill veterans to the Nurse, Medical Provider, Psychiatrist or OD. Provides CPR when needed. Calls a medical or psychiatric code when needed.
• Participates as a member of the interdisciplinary treatment team, providing input into the screening interviews, treatment team meetings, and treatment plans; monitoring adherence to the structured plan and providing timely feedback.
• Reviews and provides first level approval of residents' requests for passes, extensions, and other privileges.
• Supervises Incentive Therapy and/or Compensated Work Therapy workers assigned to the Domiciliary.
• Conducts room and building inspections daily to assure adherence to health and safety standards. Monitors resident details, providing instruction/training as needed; supervises the Expediters; oversees the GI Party; orders linen.

• Education: Graduate of a school of practical or vocational nursing approved by the appropriate State agency and/or accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC) at the time the program was completed by the applicant.
• Licensure: Full, active, current and unrestricted licensure as a licensed practical or vocational nurse in a State, Territory or Commonwealth (i.e., Puerto Rico) of the United States, or District of Columbia.
• Has and maintains current AHA Basic Life Support (BLS)
• Has no health or physical disability restrictions that interfere with performance of assigned duties
• No Sponsorship available

All candidates must be able to:

• Sit, stand, walk, lift, squat, bend, twist, and reach above shoulders during the work shift
• Lift up to 50 lbs from floor to waist
• Lift up to 20 lbs
• Carry up to 40 lbs a reasonable distance
• Push/pull with 30 lbs of force

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.