Job Description
ATLANTICARE
ROLE DESCRIPTION
TITLE: Detox RN Residential
JOB CODE: 7023
EXEMPT:
NON-EXEMPT: X
DATE: 10/22
REVISED: 05/2024

• Graduate of an accredited school of nursing; BSN preferred.
• Current Licensure as a Registered Nurse in the State of New Jersey NJ.
• BLS Required.
• Minimum 1 year Nursing Experience.

POSITION SUMMARY
Under the direction of the Leadership, the Detox Registered Nurse is a member of the interdisciplinary team working in collaboration with the physician and advanced practice provider. The Detox Registered Nurse is required to perform the job responsibilities and the required knowledge, skills and abilities as set forth in the job descriptions for the clinic nurse, residential nurse and dosing nurse. The Detox Registered Nurse will be scheduled in any of the units including the medical detox (ASAM level 3.7), the short term residential unit, or the long term residential unit based on the needs in those areas.
This position supports organizational goals by providing quality customer service, participating in performance improvement efforts and demonstrating a commitment to teamwork and cooperation. The Detox Registered Nurse actively supports performance improvement initiatives and provides leadership to other members of the patient care team. By participating in educational activities, the Detox Registered Nurse assumes responsibility for continued professional and personal growth.
QUALIFICATIONS
EDUCATION: Graduate of an accredited school of nursing; BSN preferred.
LICENSE/CERT : Current Licensure as a Registered Nurse in the State of New Jersey or current multi state license required.
BLS Required.
CPI required within 6 months of hire or transfer and continuously maintained after
EXPERIENCE: Minimum 1 year Nursing Experience required. Experience in Behavioral Health and/or Substance Use Disorder treatment preferred
JOB RESPONSIBILITIES
The Detox Registered Nurse utilizes the nursing care process consistent with their license and/or certification including initiation of culturally competent continuum of care including inpatient, outpatient and community settings. The Registered Nurse is responsible to oversee any necessary coordination of the interdisciplinary plan of care and provides for its consistency with the medical treatment plan.
The patient care process includes:

• Assessment: the process consisting of the identification, gathering, and organization of subjective and objective data pertaining to the patient/family/significant other. Assessment also includes the utilization of evidence based measurements (COWS/CIWA) to ensure the safety of patients undergoing the withdrawal process and monitoring for potential risks during the withdrawal process including risks of seizures, accidental overdose, and/or death.
• Planning: the identification of actual or potential problems and desired outcomes (goals) that result in a documented plan of care which provides direction for the interdisciplinary care team as well as the patient.
• Intervention: the specific interventions and orders that are implemented consistent with the plan of care and medical treatment plan. This includes administering medications based on treatment plan and protocols to address acute withdrawal symptoms.
• Evaluation: determining the effectiveness of the interventions in achieving the plan of care and ensuring interventions are effective at managing acute withdrawal symptoms. The evaluation may initiate the need for reassessment and revisions to the problems, goals, plan of care, and interventions. This step provides for documentation of required actions. Based upon findings identified during assessment and reassessment:
• Patients have problems identified and prioritized relative to biophysical, psychological, environmental, self-care, educational and social status.
• Goals are identified consistent with the problem to provide direction for patient care and health promotion.

• Education is consistent with the identified problem and associated goals and is seen as critical to creating an environment that promotes patient empowerment

Additionally, the Detox Registered Nurse:

• Safely and accurately completes wound care interventions based on provider orders and/or in collaboration with wound care clinics
• Utilizes verbal de-escalation interventions to address clients with acute behavioral health care needs including (but not limited to) bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, depression, psychosis, substance induced and/or withdrawal related mood disorders, etc.
• Accurately administers client medications/treatments as ordered. Not limited to methadone/Suboxone and inclusive of medications to address acute withdrawal from alcohol, opioids, and benzodiazepines.
• Administers appropriate emergency treatment (including the use of Naloxone, emergency medications for seizures, AED, and CPR if needed) and completes transfer process to acute care as needed.
• Limited Laboratory Services to includepatient identification and preparation for specimen collection, processing samples for testing, performing required quality control testing and instrument maintenance and function checks, monitoring, recording and reporting tests results to clinicians to include critical values, and maintaining competency/certification of the aforementioned tasks and duties.
• Intervenes and advocates for the needs of the client with other departments and teams to ensure client is receiving high quality care within the healthcare system
• Responsible for maintaining all emergency bags and removing outdated medications.
• Assists physician and advanced practice providers with client physicals and accurately documents results in clients' records.
• Knowledge of methadone and suboxone drug indications, dosage and route of administration; accurate dispensing, recording, and reconciliation of methadone/suboxone per state and federal regulations
• Ability to document incidents regarding methadone/suboxone per federal regulations.
• Maintains confidentiality of all client information in accordance with state and federal regulations.
• Maintains medication rooms and carts keeping them neat and orderly at all times.
• Accurately maintains client records
• Ability to make verbal presentations to clients and staff as related to program or other medical issues as designated.
• Capable of delivering consistently superior quality service as measured by the clients' medical level.
• Provide orientation to new clients (infection control/universal precautions, dosage, safe handling).
• Ordering and obtaining residential medical supplies.
• Ability to maintain a clean work area that is properly stocked to safely administer medication. This shall include (but is not limited to):
  
  • maintaining inventory and supplies at each location
  • bottle labeling to ensure enough supply for next day
  • notifying administration and supervisors of issues and hazards
• Ability to participate in treatment teams and mandatory in-services
• Performs other related duties as assigned by immediate supervisor and other management as required.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Only a registered professional nurse shall assess the nursing care needs of clients.
• All nursing services provided shall be documented in the nursing portion of the client care plan and shall comport with the facility's policies and procedures governing client documentation and with this subchapter. Such documentation shall include, but need not be limited to, the following:,
  
  • A record of medications administered including, but not limited to:
    
    • The date the medication is ordered by the physician and the date the medication is to be discontinued;
    • The name and strength of the medication;
    • The date and time of the administration of the medication;
    • Effects of medication (if indicated);
    • The dosage administered;
    • Method of administration;
    • The signature of the nurse who administered the medication or identification of the nurse by an entry code if a computerized clinical record system is used. If initials are used, a section shall be included identifying the respective signature and title for all initials; and
    • The reason the client refused to receive the medication or why the client did not receive the medication at the designated time, if applicable; and

SUPERVISION RESPONSIBILITIES
None
PERFORMANCE EXPECTATIONS
Demonstrates the technical competencies as established on the Assessment and Evaluation Tool.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
Potential for exposure to the hazards and risk of the substance use treatment environment, blood borne pathogens, including exposure to infectious disease, hazardous substances, and potential injury.

• considerable reaching, stooping, kneeling and crouching
• extensive standing and walking, including stairs
• lifting approximately 25-50 pounds frequently
• lifting approximately 50 to 100 pounds with assistance occasionally
• pushing and pulling of heavy equipment
• the ability to read
• the ability to distinguish colors

Essential functions of this position are listed on the specific Assessment and Evaluation Tool.
REPORTING RELATIONSHIP
This position reports to department leadership.
The above statement reflect the general details considered necessary to describe the principle functions of the job as identified and shall not be considered as a detailed description of all work requirements that may be inherent in the position. This position reports to department leadership.