This is specialized nursing work diagnosing and treating acute, episodic, or chronic illness independently or as part of a healthcare team. Will focus in health promotion and disease prevention. May order, perform, or interpret diagnostic tests such as lab work. May prescribe medication. Must be a registered nurse and have specialized, graduate nursing education.

REPORTS TO: MEDICAL DIRECTOR

GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• Perform initial patient screenings such as psychiatric evaluations and patient history and examinations.
• Prescribe medication dosages, routes, and frequencies based on patient characteristics such as age and gender.
• Analyze and interpret patient histories, symptoms, physical findings, or diagnostic information to develop appropriate diagnoses.
• Develop treatment plans based on scientific rationale, standards of care, and professional practice guidelines.
• Diagnose or treat acute health care problems such as mental illnesses.
• Prescribe medications based on efficacy, safety, and cost as legally authorized.
• Counsel patients about drug regimens and possible side effects or interactions with other substances such as food supplements, over-the-counter (OTC) medications, or herbal remedies.
• Recommend interventions to modify behavior associated with health risks.
• Detect and respond to adverse drug reactions, with special attention to vulnerable populations such as infants, children, pregnant and lactating women, or older adults.
• Educate patients about self-management of acute or chronic illnesses, tailoring instructions to patients; individual circumstances.
• Assists in the development of overall policy and protocols related to the management of nursing care problems and the delivery of client care.
• Supervises the delivery of health services and monitors professional methods and techniques.
• Provides consultation and technical assistance in evaluating the appropriateness of client care as it relates to primary care.
• Provides leadership in the development and design of health educational materials and training of personnel.
• Orders, conducts, interprets, and/or evaluates diagnostic tests to identify and assess patients condition.
• Prescribes or recommends drugs or other forms of treatment, such as physical therapy, inhalation therapy, or related therapeutic procedures.
• Discusses cases with physician; informs physician of patient's condition.
• Consults with and/or provides technical assistance to public and private entities concerning health care.
• Conducts specified laboratory diagnostic tests and procedures such as urinalysis, blood counts, x-rays, smears, and cultures.
• Monitors the quality of care or standards of practice to ensure compliance with state and federal requirements.
• Plans and conducts family, patient, and health education by counseling and fostering inclusion of the educational concepts into all phases of the health care provided.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience providing clinical supervision and ability to supervise per Board of Behavioral Science requirements towards appropriate licensure;
• Knowledge of additions, recovery, mental health and other co-occurring disorders;
• Experience in working with addition in a residential and / or intensive outpatient milieu;
• Experience in working with chemical dependency in an outpatient milieu;
• Experience in crisis intervention and conflict resolution skills;
• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to maintain a positive collaborative relationship among staff.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.

LICENSURE, CERTIFICATION OR REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS

• Certification as an Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner in accordance with Chapter 464, Florida Statutes, and in accordance with Rule 64-B9, Florida Administrative Code, or certification as a Physician’s Assistant in accordance with Chapter 458, Florida Statutes.
• Valid Driver’s License;
• Experience working with an ethically, culturally and radically diverse staff; ability to work harmoniously with a wide diversity of individuals.