Overview

The ACCS Residential Nurse is a Registered Nurse (RN) who promotes community integration and functioning of adults living with mental health conditions and complex medical needs. Working in a comfortable residential group living environment, the ACCS Residential Nurse will coordinates access and manage health care for residents in conjunction with Care Coordination entities and all associated medical and behavioral health providers. The ACCS Residential Nurse monitors and consults with Medical staff regarding the medical and psychiatric conditions of each resident. In addition, the Registered Nurse develops and oversees the delivery of health promotion strategies for modifiable risk factors by staff and oversees Medication Administration Program (MAP) compliance for the residence.

Keywords: RN, Registered Nurse, Nursing, Residential Nurse, Mental health nursing, VinfenRN

Responsibilities

Summary:

The ACCS Intensive Medical GLE (IM GLE) Nurse (Registered Nurse) promotes the full integration and
functioning of Persons Served (PS) needed to live a healthy life in the community. Coordinates access to
and management of health care for PS in conjunction with Care Coordination entities and all associated
medical and behavioral health providers. Monitors and consults with IM GLE staff regarding the medical
and psychiatric conditions of PS. Develops and oversees the delivery of health promotion strategies for
modifiable risk factors by staff. Oversees Medication Administration Program (MAP) compliance for the
residence.

Job Duties and Responsibilities:

The essential job duties/responsibilities of the position include but are not limited to the information listed
below:
• Promote the engagement, housing permanency, community tenure, achievement of greater selfsufficiency
and successful completion of tenure for all PS living at the site.
• Oversee management of medical conditions of residents to proactively address the complex medical
conditions of the PS, including diabetes; kidney, pulmonary, mobility, physical safety and end of life
issues; medical consequences of HIV/AIDs virus, and incontinence, etc.
• Oversee nursing service delivery to all assigned PS, including participation in services, treatment and
support skills planning and implementation of recovery goals, readiness for discharge, and
transitions to and from acute care settings as needed.
• Meet with and conduct regular Nursing assessments of each PS in the residence. Update assessment
when significant medical status changes occur.
• Coordinate support services, including hospice and the involvement of religious and spiritual supports
for PS and their families/other supporters.
• Develop, train staff on, and maintain all residents' Treatment Plans and Care Plans for residents.
• Supervise and direct the nursing support practices of the residence's Certified Nursing Assistants.
• Oversee MAP policies, protocols, audits and compliance for residence. Ensure that medications for
PS are stored, administered, and disposed of in accordance with MAP requirements and company
policies.
• Train and monitor staff's hands-on assistance to PS for grooming, showering, dressing, etc.
• Educate and train direct service staff on pertinent health matters regarding PS's condition,
diagnosis(s), medication and signs and symptoms of chronic, acute and urgent physical health issues
(e.g. Diabetes, HTN, CHF, COPD, Vital signs management).
• Monitor and communicate PS needs for, and coordinate PS access to, health care with Care
Coordination entities and all associated medical and behavioral health providers as needed.
• Facilitate referrals to community providers as needed with Care Coordination entities.
• Attend hospital discharge meetings when significant medical issues are present, advocate for
rehabilitative stay if needed, and obtain hospital discharge summaries at time of discharge.
• Educate and support PS families and friends (following HIPAA authorization protocols) regarding PS
needs and preferences as they relate to health issues and care.
• Engage PS in personal health promotion activities targeted at modifiable risk factors. Use recoveryoriented,
person-centered, motivational interviewing, harm-reduction, trauma-informed, culturally
competent, and strengths-based approaches to help PS think through their current health
circumstances, consequences and interest in change.
• Design, facilitate and oversee health promotion interventions to address modifiable risk factors for
early morbidity and mortality of residents.
• Design, facilitate and oversee health promotion interventions and day activities to address overall
health and wellbeing of PS.
• Record relevant information following established protocols.
• Train/ tutor staff to prepare for MAP certification and recertification. Teach MAP at least once per
year. Attend State mandated MAP Consultant meetings twice a year.
• Monitor receipt of physical, dental and other medical documentation; work with Care Coordination
entities and care providers to obtain as needed. Provide thorough and thoughtful documentation of
PS needs and services.
• Support the provision of evidence-based practices and best practices to PS, including Motivational
Interviewing; Harm Reduction; Housing First; Stages of Change; Wellness Recovery Action Plans
(WRAP); Seeking Safety and Cognitive Behavioral interventions.
• Promote healthcare and employment services access for PS.
• Advocate with medical providers for simple, effective medication regimens and for the reduction of
poly-pharmacy.
• Promote engagement, safe housing, community tenure, achievement of greater self-sufficiency and
successful completion of service for all PS.
• Provide on-call clinical coverage as scheduled.
• Engage as Member of ACCS Nurse Community of Practice, facilitated by Vinfen's Director of Nursing,
to support and improve role competency and professional development.
• May serve, on a limited basis, as LPHA for PS with identified high risk medical needs to facilitate Care
Coordination with external parties.
• Perform other related duties, as assigned.

Qualifications

• Nursing school education required; Bachelor's degree preferred.
• Registered Nurse in Massachusetts required.
• Experience working with people with psychiatric disability and/or co-occurring disorders preferred.
• Strong commitment to the right and ability of people served by ACCS to live, work, have meaningful relationships and receive the clinical treatment, resources and supports needed to thrive in their community of choice
• Knowledge of Nursing treatment principles and modalities, best practices and evidence-based practices.
• Knowledge of health risks of psychiatric disability
• Preference given to bilingual/bicultural applicants and applicants with lived experience of psychiatric conditions.

Knowledge and Skills:
• Strong commitment to the right and ability of people served by ACCS to live, work, have meaningful
relationships and receive the clinical treatment, resources and supports needed to thrive in their
community of choice
• Knowledge of Nursing treatment principles and modalities, best practices and evidence-based
practices.
• Knowledge of health risks of psychiatric disability
• Ability to adhere to the standards of Motivational Interviewing; Harm Reduction; Screening, Brief
Intervention, Referral and Treatment (SBIRT); Housing First; Stages of Change; and Cognitive
Behavioral interventions
• Knowledge of PS engagement strategies
• Knowledge of medical crisis prevention, crisis intervention, and risk management strategies.
• Knowledge of recovery-oriented, person-centered and strengths-based values and principles.
• Knowledge of trauma-informed and culturally competent services. Sensitivity to the cultural,
religious, ethnic, disability and gender issues of PS
• Knowledge of the effects of prejudice including internalized negative attitudes about oneself,
discrimination, and oppression of people with psychiatric disorders, and effects of poverty.
• Knowledge of human, legal, and civil rights of PS
• Knowledge of medical and psychiatric emergency services and acute care systems
• Knowledge of community based mental health, health care, care coordination and other services
and resources available to PS
• Skills and competence to formulate effective Treatment Plan interventions, and to train
paraprofessional staff to implement aspects of plans
• Ability to collaborate effectively with other staff members to address the needs of PS in the
Treatment Plan
• Ability to form supportive, trusting relationships with PS
• Knowledge of Nursing assessment practices
• Knowledge and use of different communication and learning styles
• Ability to make independent judgments and decisions
• Ability to work in a professional and confidential capacity
• Knowledge of personal computer applications and equipment
• Extensive knowledge of documentation standards and requirements

Typical Requirements:
• Nursing school education required; Bachelor's degree preferred.
• Registered Nurse in Massachusetts required.
• Experience working with people with psychiatric disability and/or co-occurring disorders preferred.
• Preference given to bilingual/bicultural applicants and applicants with lived experience of psychiatric
conditions.
• Must have access to an operational and insured vehicle and be willing to use it to transport PS.

Driving Requirements:

Driving is a requirement for this position using either a Vinfen van or a personal vehicle. If using a
personal vehicle, you must possess and maintain adequate insurance as well as maintain a safe driving
record which is subject to annual checks. A valid driver's license must be presented at the time of
employment. Incumbents must be at least 21 years of age, have maintained a valid US driver's license
for at least one year, and must be able to pass a driver's screening background check.

Physical Effort:

Ability to stand, walk, bend, kneel, stoop, crouch, crawl, climb as this is a very physically active position.
Must be able to lift at least 25 pounds using proper lifting techniques or the use of a two-person lift.
Ability to operate a computer and other office equipment such as a calculator, copier, and printer.
Ability to sit, reach, climb stairs, and maneuver through narrow spaces or hallways. Ability to assist PS
with tasks of daily living. Ability to remain in a stationary position 50% of the time as needed. Ability to
bend, reach, file, sit, stand, and move around the facility. Ability to speak, hear, and communicate with
PS, staff, and external representatives. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision,
distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

Additional Certifications Required:

CPR required within first two weeks of hire

Pay Range

USD $94,300.00 - USD $94,300.00 /Yr.