The per diem decanoate nurse is responsible for administering long-acting injectable medications and providing comprehensive nursing care to patients in our outpatient treatment programs. This role ensures safe medication administration, patient education, monitoring for adverse effects and coordination of care with interdisciplinary team.
Key Responsibilities:
- Administer long-acting injectable mediations per provider order using proper technique and anatomical sites.
- Verify medication orders, dosage, and patient identity according to protocol.
- Assess patients, prior to and post -injection, for side effects, contraindications, or changes in condition, and proper therapeutic response.
- Monitor for adverse reactions and manage emergencies appropriately.
- Educate patients and families on medication purpose, side effects, and follow-up care.
- Document medication administration and patient responses accurately in the electronic medical record.
- Knowledge of long-acting injectable antipsychotics and psychopharmacology, preferred.
- Collaborate with interdisciplinary team to ensure continuity of care.
- Adhere to infection control, safety, and HIPAA regulations.
- Safe handling, storage, and disposal of sharps/waste.
- Provide brief supportive counseling and reinforce treatment adherence.
- Reports directly to designated supervisor.
Qualifications: - Active RN license in good standing
- Current CPR/BLS certification
- Experience in psychiatric or behavioral health, or community mental health nursing, preferred.
- Strong assessment, documentation, and communication skills
- Ability to work independently in a per diem capacity.
Work Schedule: - Per diem/as needed basis, up to 15 hours/ week
Additional Requirements: - Ability to stand for extended periods.
- Manual dexterity to prepare and administer injections.
- Ability to respond quickly in emergency situations.