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Department

Job Summary

The Outpatient Behavioral Health Services (OBHS) Nurse plays a crucial role in supporting and advocating for individuals undergoing treatment for opioid use disorders. Working closely with healthcare providers, the OBHS Nurse helps implement and manage medication-assisted treatment plans, ensuring the safety, well-being, and recovery of patients. This role requires a deep understanding of opioid addiction, pharmacology, crisis intervention, behavioral health, medical comorbidities, and nursing principles.

Nurses work within a free-standing facility delivering care to a patient population diagnosed with severe opiate use and the co-occurring factors of social impairment, high risk behavior, and both physical and psychological concerns. OBHS employs a high level of security, which impacts daily working conditions, including both personal and institutional safety and clinical operations. Environmental awareness, independent, critical thinking, and decisive, decision-making skills are required in the OBHS ambulatory care setting. Nurses are trained in trauma and therapeutic response, verbal de-escalation, addictions medicine, and Motivational Interviewing to provide whole person care.

Under general supervision, the professional nurse adheres to the American Nurses Association (ANA) standards of professional nursing and performance, and the ANA Code of Ethics to provide care to all healthcare consumers. Applies critical thinking, evidence-based practices, and competence to collaborate with the health care team to promote excellence in healthcare consumer safety and quality outcomes. Utilizes the Theory of Human Caring and Caritas in daily practice. "Jean Watson, PhD, RN, AHN-BC, FAAN, Founder / Director, Watson Caring Science Institute."


Essential Functions:

• Patient Assessment:
  Conduct thorough assessments of patients to determine eligibility and appropriateness for medication-assisted treatment. Collaborate with the healthcare team to obtain comprehensive patient histories, including substance use, medical, and psychiatric history. (30%)
• Treatment Planning:
  Develop individualized medication-assisted treatment plans in collaboration with physicians and other healthcare providers. Educate patients on the benefits, risks, and expectations of medication-assisted treatment. (5%)
• Medication Administration:
  Administer and monitor medications used in medication-assisted treatment, such as methadone, buprenorphine, or naltrexone. Monitor and manage potential side effects, adverse reactions, and drug interactions. (20%)
• Monitoring and Documentation:
  Regularly assess and document patient progress, including changes in physical health, mental health, and substance use. Maintain accurate and up-to-date electronic health records, ensuring compliance with confidentiality regulations. (5%)
• Patient Education:
  Provide education to patients and their families about opioid use disorders, medication-assisted treatment, and recovery. Offer counseling and support to help patients navigate the challenges of recovery. (10%)
• Collaboration and Communication:
  Collaborate with physicians, therapists, social workers, and other healthcare professionals to ensure coordinated and comprehensive care. Communicate effectively with patients, addressing their concerns and fostering a supportive and therapeutic relationship. (5%)
• Crisis Intervention:
  Respond promptly and effectively to crises or emergencies related to opioid use disorders. Implement crisis intervention strategies and coordinate with the healthcare team to provide appropriate care. (15%)
• Quality Improvement:
  Participate in quality improvement initiatives to enhance the effectiveness of medication-assisted treatment programs. Stay informed about the latest research and developments in opioid addiction and medication-assisted treatment. (5%)
• Policy and Procedure:
  Assists in the creation, evaluation, and ongoing review of existing clinical practices and policies. Monitors and reports on changing internal or external critical incidents and diversion that impact OBHS and Denver Health policy. Recommends and implements changes to practice and policy based on those observations. (5%)

Education:

• Minimum of an Associate's Degree in Nursing required.

Work Experience:

• 1-3 years experience in a direct patient care setting required.
• Work in outpatient clinics, psychiatric emergency services, mobile narcotic units, or triage department preferred.

Licenses:

• RN-Registered Nurse - DORA - Department of Regulatory Agencies required.
• BLS-Basic Life Support (BLS/CPR) - AHA - American Heart Association required.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Psychiatric Nursing: Understanding of psychiatric disorders, including substance use disorders, and the ability to assess and manage mental health issues.
• Pharmacology: In-depth knowledge of medications used in MAT, such as methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone, including their mechanisms of action, side effects, and potential interactions.
• Addiction Medicine: Knowledge of evidence-based practices in addiction treatment, including behavioral interventions, counseling techniques, and harm reduction strategies.
• Crisis Intervention: Understanding of crisis intervention techniques and the ability to respond effectively to emergencies, including overdose situations.
• Trauma-Informed Care: Familiarity with trauma-informed care principles to create a safe and supportive environment for individuals who may have experienced trauma.
• Cultural Competence: Awareness and sensitivity to cultural factors that may influence a person's experience with behavioral health issues and substance use disorders.
• Legal and Ethical Considerations: Knowledge of relevant laws, regulations, and ethical guidelines related to behavioral health and addiction treatment.
• Collaborative Care: Ability to work collaboratively with a multidisciplinary team, including physicians, therapists, social workers, and other healthcare professionals.
• Empathy and Compassion: Ability to empathize with individuals facing behavioral health challenges and demonstrate compassion in providing care.
• Adaptability: Flexibility and adaptability in responding to the dynamic needs and challenges of individuals in recovery.
• Problem-Solving: Ability to assess complex situations, identify problems, and develop effective solutions to support individuals on their recovery journey.
• Resilience: Emotional resilience to cope with the emotional demands of working with individuals facing behavioral health and substance use disorders.
• Advocacy: Advocacy skills to ensure individuals have access to appropriate resources, treatment, and support services.

Shift

Work Type

Salary

Benefits

• Social security replacement retirement plan with employer contribution of 3%

• On-site employee fitness center and wellness classes

• Community resource navigation support

• Childcare discount programs & exclusive perks on large brands, travel, and more

• Education & development opportunities including career pathways and coaching

Our Values

• Respect

• Belonging

• Accountability

• Transparency

All job applicants for safety-sensitive positions must pass a pre-employment drug test, once a conditional offer of employment has been made.

Denver Health is an integrated, high-quality academic health care system considered a model for the nation that includes a Level I Trauma Center, a 555-bed acute care medical center, Denver?s 911 emergency medical response system, 10 family health centers, 19 school-based health centers, Rocky Mountain Poison & Drug Safety, a Public Health Institute, an HMO and The Denver Health Foundation.

As Colorado?s primary, and essential, safety-net institution, Denver Health is a mission-driven organization that has provided billions in uncompensated care for the uninsured. Denver Health is viewed as an Anchor Institution for the community, focusing on hiring and purchasing locally as applicable, serving as a pillar for community needs, and caring for more than 185,000 individuals and 67,000 children a year.

Located near downtown Denver, Denver Health is just minutes away from many of the cultural and recreational activities Denver has to offer.

Denver Health is an equal opportunity employer (EOE). We value the unique ideas, talents and contributions reflective of the needs of our community.

Applicants will be considered until the position is filled.

About Denver Health

Take your career to the next level at Denver Health, where we offer a robust benefits package and endless opportunities for growth. Denver Health is a nationally-ranked, locally-trusted, premier healthcare institution located in the heart of Denver, Colorado.Twenty-five percent of all Denver residents, or approximately 150,000 individuals, receive their health care here. We are known as an integrated health care system that encompasses multidisciplinary academic specialties, a community health system, a level I adult trauma center, pediatric emergency and urgent care center home to Denver Public Health and many of the nation's leaders in medicine.Denver Health is an Equal Opportunity Employer At Denver Health we pride ourselves on our commitment to diversity. Equal opportunity is a fundamental principle of Denver Health. As an equal opportunity employer, Denver Health is committed to recruit, hire, promote and administer all human resource actions in a non-discriminatory manner. Denver Health is committed to providing equal opportunities in all business practices and to all persons regardless of age, race, color, national origin, genetic information, religion, sex, pregnancy, disab...ility, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status or veteran status (collectively “protected status”). Denver Health strives to maintain a work environment that is free from unlawful harassment and discrimination and will not tolerate any such conduct by employees or directed at employees within the scope of their employment. Read the full Human Resources Employee Principles and Practices policy.

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