PORTER-STARKE SERVICES is seeking a PRN RN to join our team!

Porter-Starke Services is seeking a Registered Nurse to recommend and oversee implementation of all medical policies and procedures for the Recovery Center Services at the Opiate Treatment Program in Valparaiso, ensuring the safety and well being of the clients utilizing programs.

Porter-Starke Services, Inc. is a Community Mental Health Center (CMHC) based in Valparaiso and serves northwest Indiana with additional offices in Portage, Knox, and LaPorte. Porter-Starke also operates Marram Health Center, a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) with two offices in Gary and Hebron.

COVID-19 considerations: Per Federal CMS COVID-19 vaccine requirements, all Porter-Starke Services employees must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or request and be approved for a valid religious or medical exemption before they can begin employment.

BENEFITS:

• Company-wide employee recognition events
• Employee Wellness programs
• Discount eligibility for cell services & the YMCA
• 401k eligibility with 20% matching

Learn more about Porter-Starke Services, Inc. by visiting our website- https://www.porterstarke.org/

POSITION COMPETENCIES, ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

The Registered Nurse recommends and oversees implementation of all medical policies and procedures for the Recovery Center, ensuring the safety and well being of the clients utilizing programs. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

Competencies:

The staff member must demonstrate knowledge of:

• Methadone maintenance and treatment.
• All medical policies and procedures specifically related to the various services provided in the opiate treatment program.
• Safety regulations for the services.
• Crisis and emergency protocols.
• Pharmacology, medication administration techniques, and medication effects.
• Basic first aid, infection control principles and public health requirements

The staff member must demonstrate skills in:

• Signs and symptoms of psychiatric and substance abuse disorders
• Interpersonal communication, problem-solving and organization.
• Handling crisis and medical emergencies.
• Interfacing and networking with outside contacts.
• Presenting information and responding to questions from individuals and groups of clients, customers, co-workers and the general public.
• Typing and basic computer usage.

Essential functions:

Essential functions include the following:

• Interacts with health care professionals and provides necessary care.
• Reviews client’s medication supplies and setup.
• Reviews and documents client response to medication and health status.
• Assesses physical health of clients and confers with physicians to coordinate care as needed.
• Conducts client education programs according to needs identified, including health and wellness education.
• Participates in staff meetings and other meetings as requested or assigned.
• Completes electronic medical record documentation as required.
• Other duties may be assigned.

Responsibilities:

• Dispenses Methadone and other medications
• Orientate newly-admitted clients regarding medical aspects of the treatment to be undertaken, also interpret these to the client’s family at his/her request. Accepts request from counseling staff for client’s appointments with physicians and works with counselor in screening appropriateness of request.
• Daily assessment of client’s reaction to Methadone are recorded and reported to the counselor. Participates in treatment team meetings, providing information that will be useful to counselors in client management.
• Maintains accurate well organized client’s folders, Methadone accountability records, documents any discrepancies immediately and reports them to the Nursing Supervisor.
• Makes daily no show list.
• May be designated “in charge” responsibility at any time.
• Participates in Urine surveillance responsibilities as requested, and performs other duties as assigned.
• Trains and continuously evaluates staff on medication policies and procedures.
• Interacts with health care professionals ensuring safety and well being of clients.
• Teaches specified courses for staff to develop specific skills needed to enhance services provided to clients.
• Coordinates medication reviews and staffings with agency physicians.
• Develops techniques and supervises clients to assure medication compliance when judged necessary by the treatment team.
• Conducts record searches as requested by the treatment team or physician to obtain a history of medications and responses.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Current Indiana license as a Registered Nurse is required. A bachelor’s degree or higher is preferred.
• A minimum of 2 years experience in psychiatric and or substance abuse nursing is preferred
• A valid driver’s license and proof of automobile insurance is required.