Mental Health Nurse Clinician (#SK6 )

$55.70-$70.38 hourly / $9,654.48-$12,198.97 monthly / $115,856.00-$146,390.40 yearly

• Interview clients and conduct psycho-social assessments and evaluations of presenting problems;
• Observe clients’ reactions, conditions, and symptoms and initiate appropriate actions as necessary;
• Prepare case histories and diagnostic treatment plans;
• Consult with physicians and/or psychiatrists regarding drug treatment plans or changes in clients’ condition or behavior;
• Participate in case conferences and team meetings to review individual needs and service plans;
• Provide ongoing liaison with human service providers regarding treatment and care;
• Offer technical assistance and support to other human service providers and collaborate with agencies to identify and develop needed health care services;
• Serve as an internal consultant in psychiatric nursing, geriatrics, organic impairments, and effects of psychotropic and other drugs;
• Participate in and/or lead staff conferences and workshops;
• Serve as a liaison and consultant to community agencies, educating them on emotional crises and disturbances related to organic impairments;
• Initiate and maintain records, reports, case notes, correspondence, and forms for assigned client caseload;
• Provide and/or oversee short-term case management services to emotionally disturbed clients, supporting them to function at the most independent level in the least restrictive setting;
• Coordinate with representatives from other agencies and organizations in the collaborative treatment of shared clients;
• May supervise, oversee, and instruct student interns, including assigning, coordinating, and reviewing their work;
• May act as a case management or assessment team leader, developing and implementing treatment plans for assigned clients;
• Perform physical assessments of patients;
• Administer medication orally and/or by injection under a physician’s direction;
• Plan, coordinate, and participate in special programs and projects as assigned;
• May provide vacation or temporary relief for other classes.

EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS

Knowledge of:

Thorough knowledge of:

• Psychiatric nursing principles and practices, including proper administration of medications, treatments and therapies.
• Working knowledge of:
• Uses effects and possible adverse reactions to medicines and narcotics.
• Physiological, psychological and social aspects and characteristics of emotional disturbances and mental illness.
• Principles and methods of counseling and the accepted techniques for assessing psycho-social behavior.
• Human behavior and development.
• Problems and needs of the emotionally ill and socially disturbed.
• Pharmacology of medications and psychotropic drug treatment.

Some knowledge of:

• Appropriate and available community resources.
• Pertinent laws and regulations regarding health and social service pro grams.
• Laws and regulations as they pertain to clients' legal rights.

Ability to:

• Assess and diagnose all types of client behavioral and emotional actions/problems and develop and implement effective and appropriate treatment plans.
• Evaluate, diagnose and differentiate psychiatric and organic conditions and impairments and recommend effective and appropriate treatment plans.
• Train others at various levels of expertise in the concepts, theories, symptoms and diagnosis of emotional illness and organic impairments.
• Conduct effective and appropriate individual and group psychotherapy on an on-going basis.
• Prepare a variety of administrative and professional reports.
• Coordinate and direct the work of others effectively and positively lead and participate in a treatment team.
• Establish and maintain a variety of case notes, client records, health
• histories and other required documentation.
• Communicate effectively in both oral and written form; expressing complex and technical terminology and concepts.
• Learn Health Services Agency policies and procedures as they relate to client support and treatment programs.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships.
• Distinguish speech and non-speech sounds in noisy environments.
• Lift objects such as boxes of belongings and move furniture weighing up to fifty pounds.
• Restrain combative clients who may require physical strength and stamina.
• Stand and walk for extended periods of time may be required for some positions.

Training and Experience:

Any combination of training and experience, which would provide the required knowledge and abilities, is qualifying. A typical way to obtain these knowledge and abilities would be:

Possession of a Master's Degree with a major in Psychiatric Nursing or closely related behavioral science field which has included completion of a university approved internship, preferably a clinical internship, in a mental health agency and two years of experience providing psychiatric nursing, treatment, counseling*, or case management services to clients in a mental health setting. Psychiatric nursing in a mental health facility or hospital may be substituted for the advance degree on a year for year basis.

*Substance abuse counseling may be considered for up to 50% of qualifying experience. Educational counseling is not considered qualifying experience.

Special Requirements, Conditions:

License Requirements: Possession of a valid California class C driver license or the ability to provide suitable transportation which is approved by the appointing authority; possession of a Registered Nurse's license issued by the State of California.

Background Investigation: Fingerprinting is required.

Special Working Conditions: All assignments: Exposure to offensive odors such as unwashed people and clothes, human and animal feces; the possibility of infections which may cause chronic disease or death may occur in the course of physical interventions to control client behavior; hostile or violent individuals; and may be exposed to cigarette smoke. Juvenile Hall and Acute/Emergency Services assignments: Exposure to noise, such as people yelling. Children's Service assignment: Exposure to disturbing material, such as photos of abused children; allergens such as poison oak, insect stings or bites, and pollens. Note: Per sons in this classification may be assigned to positions with any of the above working conditions on an emergency, as needed basis.

Other Special Requirements: Availability to work a flexible schedule, including evenings, weekends, holidays and on an emergency, as needed basis, which may include 24 hour "on-call" availability.

EST: 10/90 REV: 10/96 Analyst: JS, KT

Bargaining Unit: 41
EEOC Job Category: 02
Occupational Grouping: 50
Worker's Comp Code: 0290
Analyst:  KT/JS