General:  Work assignments require a through knowledge of mental health practices and procedures, laws and regulations, the ability to work independently, and involve team leader responsiblity over other nursing and mental health workers.  Ability to observe emotional and physcial behavior; evaluate and assess the need for mental health services; analyze a situation and adopt a course of action; prepare and maintain medical rescords and reports; recognize and respect limits of confidential information; advise other nursing staff; communicate with people of diverse socioeconomic and ethnic origins; speak before groups; exercise independent judgment in medical emergencies; demonstrate tact, diplomacy, patience and compassion; establish and maintain working relationships with co-workers, other agencies and organizations; comply with nursing policies, protocols and program regulations; understand and follow oral and written instructions; work independently and use Telehealth systems when possible.

Observes assigned patients on a daily basis to identify, interpret, and document physical and emotional status and/or patterns, such as assaultive or suicidal behavior, and response to treatment or medication; as part of a multi-disciplinary team, assists in formulating a diagnosis and developing and implementing individualized patient treatment plans based on observations; provides crisis intervention to those individuals experiencing acute episodes.

Participates in or leads individual or group counseling sessions, family conferences, Telehealth VTCs, and recreational and social therapy sessions to assist patients in understanding the nature of emotional and physical problems, to accept the need for treatment,  participates in departmental and team meetings to discuss patient care and progress, shift activity, and program policies and procedures.

Administers psychotropic medications to patients, monitors use, and documents reactions; instructs patients on the purpose, dosage, and side effects of medication, and explains the legal process related to the patient's refusal to take prescribed medication.

Obtains medical, psychiatric, social, and family histories of new admissions; takes and records vital signs; obtains lab specimens; assists physicians with exams; schedules and arranges for special tests; develops discharge plans; maintains charts and logs; monitors supplies; performs catheterizations and enemas; and draws blood.

Aids patients in obtaining proper medical care, after release or during hospitalization, by identifying community agencies and resources to assist patients with stabilization while living in the community; interacts with private medical facilities, courts, and county and State agencies to express concerns of the patient and to discuss treatment.

Assessment/ Counseling 50%
-Utilize professional psychiatric assessment skills in working with patients and their families to assess their needs.
-Assessment includes psychosocial history, mental status exam, usual coping mechanisms, support
systems, review of medical history and collection of collateral information as needed.
-Formulates diagnostic impressions and treatment plans and recommendations using the DSM IV and ICD9 diagnostic
designations. Recommends Prescription of appropriate psychotropic medications when indicated. When
necessary, refers patients to health professionals in other fields. Documents and maintains
-Records in a timely manner and per Tripler Army Medical Center and Behavioral Health clinic policies
-Will include the use of an electronic medical record
-Communicates the results of the evaluations taking full responsibility for the findings, interpretations, decisions, recommendations, and reports.
-Performs comprehensive evaluations for the purposes of fitness for duty evaluations and routine cases for Community Mental Health Service (CMHS)
-Provides crisis intervention and individual or group psychotherapy for a wide array of psychopathology.
-All cases involving command referrals or unusual or abnormal findings are reviewed with the designated clinical psychiatrist or clinical psychologist, using Telehealth systems when possible.
-Maintains and advances practice skills and knowledge in the field of psychiatric nursing by reading current
professional literature, attending formal and informal lectures and study programs, attending patient care conferences and meetings via Tele Health/VTC with other psychiatric care providers.

Consultation 20%
-Functions as a collaborative member of the behavioral health care TBI/Tele Health team providing a nursing perspective to patient care.
-Participates in therapy program development and consultation with all levels of staff regarding how psychological and physiological aspects relate to the behavioral change of the patient.
-Participates in staff development programs and in development and implementation of policy.
-Serves as a resource, liaison, and consultant regarding the evaluation, treatment, and follow-up of psychiatric patients.
-Develops a knowledge base of available community resources within the local community and assists patients in accessing these resources.
-Personal contracts include military and community leaders, social workers, physicians, psychologists, nurses, clinic personnel, educators, and case managers, and health care administrators.
-Serves in a teaching capacity to provide formal and informal education to individuals and family members. Topics include, but are not limited to, suicide prevention classes, stress management classes, mental status evaluation classes, deployment briefs, redeployment briefings and critical incident stress debriefings.

Case Management (20%)
-Participates in care-coordiantin planning activities.
-Acts as the department's liaison with health benefit advisors, health care finders, primary care managers, utilization management personnel and other providers interacting with Tripler Army Medical Center Concussion Clinic and Behavioral Health Department.
-Triages referrals to determine level of case complexity and ensures appointmnets are scheduled in a timely manner with the appropriate provider.

Administration and Research (10%)
-Will implement approved interventions and assess for efficacy and process improvement.
-Will ensure compliance with applicable regulations, quality imkprovement standards, JCAHO requirements and maintain necessary certifications and licenses.

Must have graduated from a professional registered nurse program, Bachelor preferred.

Must have and maitain an active, current, unrestricted valid license as a registered nurse in a US State, District of Columbia, Commonwealth, jurisdiction or a territory.

Have at least 5 years experience as a nurse, with at least one year in behavorial health field.

Have and maintain BLS certification.