Mental Health Resource Nurse

POSITION SUMMARY

The Mental Health Resource Nurse (MHRN) functions as a member of the Seniors Mental Health regional team as well as the interdisciplinary team within their assigned transitional care, acute care, and long term care facilities. The MHRN provides leadership and expert mental health consultation in the provision of recovery focused patient/family centered care and acts as a resource for navigation of the Mental Health (MH) system. The Mental Health Resource Nurse’s service priority area is serving clients who are experiencing psychosocial crisis, mental illness or behavioral health concerns, and/ or co-occurring disorders in long term care. The MHRN provides bio psycho social education and support to staff in building mental health literacy and enhancing capacity of all health providers in the service to promote a recovery-oriented culture. The MHRN works with staff to conduct PIECES informed assessments, develop behavioral intervention plans, assist with Mental Health referrals, as well as follow-up and disposition with residents/patients experiencing mental or behavioral health issues and/or co-occurring disorders.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Overview:

Participate/guide the interdisciplinary team through the initial and ongoing systematic assessments and utilizes critical thinking to assist in identifying the resident/patient and family’s bio-psycho-social and spiritual needs. Collaborative in the development of the patient care plan utilizing the collected assessment data. Collaborate and act as a role model for staff to implement individualized, goal-directed interventions in accordance with developed care plans. Complete and act as a resource for quality documentation in the health record, and transitional and legal correspondence. Develop and maintain strong working relationship with and provides a linkage/navigation for the facility to the Mental Health system. Act as liaison between facility services and internal PMH/external service agencies to ensure that resident/patient services are fully provided. Provide consultation, assessment knowledge and skills to assist facility staff in formulating or revising a plan of care in response to psychiatric and mental health crisis situations. Provide education, support and assistance with navigation to families of patients/residents experiencing mental health illness. Consult and initiate referrals to primary care providers, external agencies, and service providers related to resident/patient mental health needs and criteria for access to services. Participate in the orientation of new staff, preceptorship of students, and physicians/medical residents as appropriate. Participate in self-evaluation and contribute to the evaluation of the care team members. Advocate and assist in the performance of nursing standards. Support, participate and act as a resource in the teams’ capacity to provide comprehensive individualized care with a recovery focus to those patients/residents with MH issues and responsive behaviors. Actively participate in resident/patient care conferences, team meetings, staff meetings, and other facility and regional activities. Participate in health promotion activities as they relate to the facility or community of practice. Promote the advancement of mental health knowledge by encouraging utilization of research findings and best practice guidelines. Participate in evaluation/research projects relevant to the provision of care and/or the nursing profession. Provide individual, group, and public education to promote awareness of mental health issues and healthy coping strategies. Work collaboratively with the client, family, community, personal care home staff, other professionals and stakeholders to identify needs, strengths and available resources. Sundry duties as assigned.

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