Registered Nurse Behavioral Health

HCW Duties (5.1 Task 1): The duties for the HCW are the following: In addition to exhibit 5:

5.1.1. Although the BHCF may assist the PCM and PCMH in completing several nursing tasks, it is imperative that the BHCF is aware of his or her primary responsibility: to serve as a liaison between the patient and the PCM; and to facilitate care for patients newly prescribed long-term and/or daily medications (by their PCM) for anxiety, depression, or PTSD. 

5.1.2. Coordinates patient care through a continuum of care and the levels of care to achieve optimal health outcomes in relation to care, quality and cost effectiveness. Assesses, coordinates, facilitates, and delivers care for adult patients relevant to the practice environment and procedures performed. Provides patient and family education according to credentialed provider’s instruction and documents patient and family understanding.

5.1.3. Works independently in the absence of direct oversight and adheres to Air Force values. Effectively uses appropriate communication format in addressing and resolving professional issues. 

5.1.4. Ensures compliance with standards of care and practice in accordance with all established policies, procedures, and guidelines used in the medical treatment facility. Provides care within ethical and legal boundaries. Participates in peer review and monitoring of professional nursing practice with the ability to provide and receive feedback regarding advancement of professional practice and safe patient care.

5.1.5. Evaluates and cares for patients utilizing the nursing process as a basis for professional practice. Demonstrates proper patient preparation for examination and treatment. Performs dosage calculations as required to accurately administer ordered pharmacologic agents. Assesses patient’s compliance, barriers to compliance and develops a nursing plan of care accordingly.

5.1.6.  Develops, executes, and provides ongoing monitoring of appropriate patient-specific plan of care including short- and long-term goals, objectives, and actions. Coordinates and collaborates on the care plan along with the patient, family/caregiver, and healthcare team.

5.1.7.  Identifies, develops, and executes appropriate targeted population-based mental health disease management activities such as, but not limited to individual and/or group patient contacts and training programs. 

5.1.8.  Serves as an advocate for and ensures appropriate education is provided to the patient or targeted populations for the purpose of promoting adherence to treatment plans, self-care actions, and education programs. Ensures activities match the level of the patient’s clinical risk, readiness to change and health literacy.

5.1.9. Utilizes critical thinking to synthesize data from multiple sources and makes appropriate clinical decisions implementing nursing care theories and existing evidence-based practices to return the patient to prehospital and/or acute illness baseline prior to discharge to home or transferring to next level of care. 

5.10.  Recognize patients at risk for harm to self and/or others or experiencing adverse signs and symptoms and react quickly in emergency situations. Ability to calmly assess like-threating situations and appropriately coordinate/expedite life-saving intervention. Competence in all required emergency procedures for the population cared for.

5.11.  Identifies, collects, monitors, interprets, and evaluates measurable outcome data within established time frames according to local/AF/DoD requirements. Submits reports as required per local/AF/DoD policy and guidance.

5.12. Educates/trains the healthcare team and facility staff on policies and procedures for utilization and implementation of guidelines, protocols and other behavioral health and mental health disease management activities. 

5.13.  Coordinates and participates in interdisciplinary team meetings, designated facility meetings, and Care Coordination meetings. Shares knowledge and experiences gained from own clinical nursing practice and education relevant to mental health nursing and case management. 5.14. Participates in local, AF, DoD, and national teleconferences as required and relative to the program operations and reporting requirements.

5.15.  Ability to effectively apply core case management functions: a) assessment and identification of patients for case management and need for an established plan of care; b) collaboration with the patient, family/caregiver, and members of the health care team for developing an effective plan of care; c) facilitation of care coordination and communication among all involved parties; d) advocate for the patient and family/caregivers to ensure identified education and appropriate, timely care is received.

5.16.  Participates in the orientation, education, and training of other staff. May serve on committees, work groups, and task forces at the facility. 

5.17.  Ensures compliance with professional standards of care and practice (i.e., American Nurses Association (ANA), American Academy of Ambulatory Care Nursing (AAACN), The Joint Commission (TJC), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), etc.). Adheres to Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) guidelines, the Department of Defense (DoD) Health Information Privacy Program and DoD/Defense Health Agency (DHA)/Air Force/Military Treatment Facility (MTF) policies, procedures, and guidelines. Provides care within ethical and legal boundaries.

5.18.  Follows applicable local MTF/AF/DoD instructions, policies, and guidelines.

5.19.  Ensures a safe work environment, employee safe work habits and patient safety IAW regulatory agencies, infection control policies, and process improvement initiatives. Promote and contribute quality performance, performance improvement programs, and nursing practice in a setting that supports professional practice and sets a positive example; identify and deliver excellence in the delivery of nursing services and care to patients/residents; introduces and disseminates best practices in nursing services. Proactively identifies process issues that could lead to negative patient outcomes and participates in the appropriate safety reporting processes for the facility.

5.20.  Excellent written and oral communication skills to perform accurate documentation, both written and electronic, of all activity to include patient care hand-offs and care coordination in accordance with requirements. 

5.21.  Completes medical record documentation and coding, and designated tracking logs and data reporting as required by local MTF/AF/DoD instructions, policies, and guidance. 

5.22.  Completes all required electronic medical record training, MTF-specific orientation and training programs, and AF/DoD mandated training applicable to the job.

5.23.  Participates in peer review and monitoring of professional nursing practice with the ability to provide and receive feedback regarding advancement of professional practice and safe patient care.

5.24.  Travel. Position will require attendance at a five-day mandatory DoD/Air Force BHCF training, location TBD. Ability to complete training and meet core competencies must be demonstrated within three (3) months of hire. The three-month threshold for demonstration of core competency skills will be extended if the Air Force is unable to provide training opportunities within three-months.

· Degree/Education (5.2.4): Associates or bachelor’s degree of Nursing.  Graduate from a college or university accredited by Accreditation Commission  for Education in Nursing (ACEN), the Commission on Collegiate Nursing  Education (CCNE) or as otherwise identified in the TO. 

· Certifications in addition to Basic Life Support (5.2.3): Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers Certification form American Heart Association or American Red Cross (Online Certification is not acceptable)

· Experience: 

· Must have at least 36 months of total nursing experience in a direct patient care clinical setting. 

· Must have experience providing services such a psychiatric nursing or behavioral health and wellness counseling for 24 recent consecutive months of direct patient specialty care experiences. 

· A minimum of 24 months of experience with a variety of psychopharmacological agents used in patient treatment, the desired effects to include side effects and complications of their use, as well as the accurate administration of the psychopharmacologic agent. 

·  Must possess a working knowledge of the administrative requirements for proper documentation of patient conditions including disease progress, acknowledgement of teaching, and follow up care. 

· Must possess a working knowledge of human growth and development, and pathophysiology of disease processes, as they apply to the care environment for all ages of the spectrum from pediatrics to geriatrics. 

· Must have the ability to establish a nursing plan of care that effectively applies core disease management principles to mental health conditions and includes in that plan:

a) assessment and identification of target populations; 

b) implementation and execution of Clinical Practice Guidelines or standards;

c) collaboration and coordination of activities with other healthcare members; 

d) promotion and education of patient self-management actions.

· Board Certification (5.2.6.4.4): The HCW shall   maintain a Certified/certification   eligible by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) as a Psychiatric   and Mental health Nurse. 

· Licensure/Registration: See Exhibit 5