Director of Wellness

POSITION FUNCTION

The Nurse plans, coordinates, and evaluates all nursing and infection control activities. Responsible for surveillance, reporting, analysis, and interpretation, inspection, control measures, and consultation regarding nursing activities and infection control practices.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

· Assesses consumer’s acuity of behavioral health and medical symptoms; defines any circumstances that may affect judgment, including, but not limited to special medical needs.

· Performs monthly Clozaril monitoring for consumers including the recording of vital signs and weight monitoring.

· Verifies medication orders monthly for accuracy of completeness and informs physician of any discrepancies.

· Demonstrates knowledge of and skills with substance abuse, dependence and other addictive behaviors over the course of treatment.

· Collaborates with the multidisciplinary Treatment Team, which includes the admitting psychiatrist, to review the psychosocial history and ongoing nursing and medical needs.

· Provides medical/nursing care for consumers, as directed by the physician(s), which may include but is not limited to:

• assesses medical/.nursing related needs (including nutrition),
• provision of medical interventions as directed by a physician,
• education of consumers as to medication and/or medical interventions relating to that consumer,
• monitors medication compliance (by questioning consumers and/or receiving MTM Medication Refusal Sheets )and potential side and adverse effects,
• participates in the orchestration of the interaction between consumer and psychiatrist, assuring that all consumers are properly medically cared for.

· Facilitates group psychotherapy sessions keeping a record of consumer participation.

· Provides educational groups that include topics, such as but not limited to medication usage, side effects, signs and symptoms of behavioral health diagnoses

· Documents consumer progress in accordance to established treatment goals.

· Provides one on one time to address certain issues or when requested by a consumer, family member, or members of the treatment team.

· Coordinates the proper care of all medical emergencies of consumers.

· Provides one to one therapeutic supports to consumers in concurrence with the treatment plan.

· Participates in interagency communication as it applies to facilitating consumer’s treatment plan.

· Assists in the periodic review of the consumer’s treatment plans.

· Communicates pertinent information to various departments/services throughout NVW&R, such as: infection control issues, nursing.

· Uses age-appropriate vocabulary while displaying compassion, respect, flexibility, and hope to all individuals.

· Displays objective, empathetic detachment and willingness to become conscious of, and manage personal biases, maintaining a non-judgmental, non-punitive demeanor and approach.

· Consistently uses patience and persistence in helping to establish and maintain the consumer’s motivation.

· Collaborates with Infection Control Committee to develop and implement processes to reduce risks for

· Endemic and epidemic infections in clients, employees, and visitors.

· Performs checks of the environment to detect potential problems that might contribute to infection.

· Accurately implements activities to reduce the risks and incidence of disease. Examples: hand washing techniques and universal precautions.

· Distinguishes between a normal outbreak of a communicable disease and widespread and potentially harmful outbreak.

· Detects disease or pathology as early as possible. Examples: TB screening, employees reporting illness if out for more than three (3) days.

· Identifies high-risk infections, such as Tuberculosis to prevent their spread in the population New Vitae serves.

· Utilizing internal reports identifies patterns and trends of diseases or pathology.

OTHER ESSENTIAL PERFORMANCE EXPECTATIONS

1. Coordinates the educational programs on topics related to infection control and wellness.

2. Collects data and ensures adequate data analysis, assessment, and interpretation of findings.

3. Writes and reviews all pertinent infection control policies and procedures.

4. Promotes ongoing activities and studies to improve prevention and control activities and reduce infection rates to the lowest possible levels.

5. Provides individual assistance with Directors/Supervisors concerned about the safety of the environment

6. Attend mandatory training sessions at orientation and annually thereafter: General Safety (fire and disaster practices); Confidentiality, Infection Control

7. Completes 12 hours of in house or out-of-house training; at least one (1) staff development program addresses infection control practices. In addition, attends an extra 10 hours of training annually.

8. Participates in various meetings such as Medical Staff, Committee of the Whole, and Recovery (Treatment) Team.

AUTHORITY

· The Nurse shall have the authority and responsibility to educate consumers and their families/guardians as appropriate on nutrition habits, pain control, potential food/drug interactions, medication usage, and discharge planning and instruction.

· The Nurse shall have the authority to monitor and report on the consumer’s progress, as it relates to identify nursing and/or medical needs.

· The Nurse shall have the authority to deny initial access or ongoing treatment to consumers who display signs and symptoms of a communicable infectious process. In addition, the authority is given to the Nurse to send staff home if they display signs and symptoms of a communicable infectious process.

ACCOUNTABILITY

1. Maintains confidentiality of consumer and staff information.

2. Collaborates with the Associate and/or Director to maintain the JCAHO, State, and County regulations that affect the nursing and medical aspects of New Vitae Wellness and Recovery Center and its programs/services.

3. Participates in organization wide quality /performance improvement activities, such as quality improvement teams, collection and interpretation of data.

REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

1. Reports serious incidents and/or breaches in policy and procedure to the Director.

2. Reports to the Director and/or QI Consultant/Coordinator opportunities to improve and/or resolve organizational problems.

3. Reports relevant infection control and employee health data to the COW.

QUALIFICATIONS

1. Education:

Required: A graduate of a diploma nursing program or an Associate Degree in Nursing from an accredited college or university.

Preferred: Baccalaureate degree in Nursing from an accredited college or university.

2. Experience:

Required: A minimum of one year of professional experience in a behavioral health setting.

Preferred: At least three years professional experience in a behavioral health setting.

3. Licensure:

Required: Current licensure to practice nursing in the Commonwealthof Pennsylvania.

4. Skills, knowledge, abilities:

· Knowledge of regulatory and licensing requirements, and quality improvement

theory and techniques

· Ability to work within a multidisciplinary structure

· Strong verbal and written communication skills

· Age specific skill and knowledge (age 14 and up) to understand

range of needed treatment interventions

· Ability to establish a working relationship with a diverse population of consumers

5. Personal attitudes and attributes

· Utilizes a teamwork style

· Maintains a cooperative posture in working with others

· Has the emotional maturity to withstand the stresses of this position

· Is self-assured

· Maintains an appropriate appearance

6. Working Conditions

· Physical Conditions

Ø Able to sit, stand, and walk for periods of time

Ø Able to hear ordinary conversation and phone communications

Ø Fluent in English both verbally and in writing

Ø Literate

· Equipment Operation

Ø Able to operate common office equipment, including a computer

· Hazard of Position

Ø Slight risk of contact with blood-borne pathogens

Ø Physical acting out of consumers

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: From $54,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Pet insurance
• Referral program
• Tuition reimbursement
• Vision insurance

Ability to Relocate:

• Coopersburg, PA 18036: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: In person

Salary : $54,000