Licensed Vocational Nurse/Licensed Psychiatric Technician

Description

Are you interested in working in a fast-paced, challenging behavioral healthcare organization? Are you interested in a position that is rewarding and makes a difference in the lives of others? Do you like to be challenged and work in a setting that allows you to grow? Then Alvarado Parkway Institute wants to hear from you! 

Alvarado Parkway Institute (API) is a free-standing psychiatric hospital in La Mesa, California with three Intensive Outpatient/Partial Hospitalization Programs. Alvarado Parkway Institute (API) provides comprehensive adult inpatient behavioral health and addictive disorders services in a 66-bed hospital setting located in La Mesa, California. At Alvarado Parkway Institute, we are committed to improving the mental health and well-being of our community. Alvarado Parkway Institute in La Mesa is San Diego County's leading provider of comprehensive mental health and substance abuse care. API offers a variety of Outpatient Services designed to assist patients in functioning at the highest level. API provides Partial Hospitalization services and Intensive Outpatient services. These programs emphasize symptom management, community integration, and prevention of hospitalization or re-hospitalization. Value-added services enhance the patient's treatment experience. 

Alvarado Parkway Institute is currently seeking a qualified individual to join our team as our Inpatient Licensed Vocational Nurse/Licensed Psychiatric Technician. The Licensed Vocational Nurse and Licensed Psychiatric Technician delivers direct quality patient care under appropriate clinical supervision to adult patients with addictive disease disorders or related substance or chemical dependency problems, or those duly diagnosed with psychiatric and chemical dependency disorders; to serve actively and constructively as a member of the organization’s multi-disciplinary treatment team, and support the organization’s and adult program philosophy of care.

Alvarado Parkway Institute offers a comprehensive benefits package designed to support the health, well-being, and financial security of our employees. Benefits include a 401(k) retirement plan, medical, dental, and vision insurance, Paid Days Off (PDO), paid sick time, Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA), life insurance, Long Term Disability, Critical Illness/Hospital Protection/Accident Insurance Plans, and access to an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for personal and professional support.  

You must complete an application online at our website to be considered for possible employment: https://apibhs.com/careers 

Requirements

Responsibilities

• Administers patient medications prescribed by physician.
• Assists dietary staff in identifying patients on special diets and assuring patients’ compliance with dietary orders.
• Completes nursing assessments under the supervision of the Registered Nurse.
• Update treatment care plans under the supervision of the Registered Nurse.
• Participate in treatment planning: (a) assists in identifying patients’ problems, needs and strengths; (b) suggests modifications to treatment plan based on observation of patients’ behavior; (c) provide input into discharge planning.
• Participate in implementing patients’ treatment plans by: (a) monitoring patients’ progress; (b) communicate information regarding patients’ behavior to other members of the treatment team; (c) maintain communication with patient, family members and referral sources in patients’ interest; (d) facilitates or co-facilitates didactic groups, community meetings, or drug or alcohol education groups; (e) encourage and facilitate patients’ participation in therapeutic activities; (f) supervise patients to ensure their safety and their involvement in treatment; (g) provide input during shift report.
• Accompany and transport patients as assigned.
• Help maintain the therapeutic milieu on unit, including, but not limited to, facilitation of community meetings.
• Maintain patient, program, department, and related documentation.
• Orient new patients to unit, program, and milieu.
• Carry out general nursing care assistance, appropriate to Adult Addictive Disease patients as assigned and supervised by nurse in charge.
• Maintain a safe, orderly, and therapeutic physical environment for patients.
• Assists patients in carrying out activities of daily living, when congruent with patients’ treatment plan and needs.
• Carry out clerical and administrative assignment to support patient care, the department, and organizational operations.
• Provide backup services to Needs Assessment and Referral Department.
• Participates in activities which enhance professional growth and development.
• Other duties as assigned.

 Required Skills and Experience: 

Knowledge of:

• Basic knowledge of detoxification assessment and treatment procedures.
• Familiarity the disease concept of addiction treatment.
• Knowledge of 12-step treatment and of cognitive aspects of addictive disease treatment.
• Use of standard office equipment and accessing, inputting, and retrieving information from a computer. 
• Knowledge in assisting in developing and following treatment plans for clients on his/her caseload; and exhibits awareness of changes in service needs and informs others as appropriate.

Skills in:

• Giving and following verbal and written instructions with attention to detail and accuracy.
• Performing complex mental functions and basic arithmetic functions; interpreting complex laws, regulations and policies; collecting, interpreting, and/or analyzing complex data and information.

Ability to:

• Communicate effectively in person or via telephone in a manner which can be understood by those with whom the person is speaking, including a diverse population.
• Coordinating multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Ability to interact effectively with clinical team and other staff.
• Possess organizational, problem-solving and time management.
• Ability to identify signs of withdrawal from major classes of abused substances and ability to apply this knowledge to the treatment of chemically dependent patients.

Required Education, Experience, and Certifications: 

• Valid California Licensed Vocational Nurse or Licensed Psychiatric Technician license.
• Current CPR Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Provider Certification.
• Administering medication, administration, processing physician orders, lab results

Preferred Education, Experience, and Certifications: 

• One year of psychiatric nursing experience.
• Evident knowledge.

Physical Requirements:

While performing the duties of this job, this position is frequently required to do the following:

• Use standard office equipment and access, input, and retrieve information from a computer.
• Use computer keyboard with manual and finger dexterity and wrist-finger speed sufficient to perform repetitive actions efficiently for extended periods of time.
• Communicate effectively in person or via telephone in a manner which can be understood by those with whom the person is speaking, including a diverse population.
• Give and follow verbal and written instructions with attention to detail and accuracy.
• Perform complex mental functions and basic arithmetic functions; interpret complex laws, regulations, and policies; collect, interpret, and/or analyze complex data and information.
• Vision sees details of objects at close range.
• Coordinate multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Reach forward, up, down, and to the side.
• Sit or stand for minimum periods of one hour at a time and come and go from the work area repeatedly throughout the day.
• Walk and/or stand for long periods of time (3/4 of the workday). 

Conditions of Employment

In compliance with API’s policies and guidelines, all API employees are required to adhere to the following:

Background/Reference Check & Licensure/Certification

• Completion of a satisfactory background and reference checks.
• Employee signed employment non-compete/confidentiality agreement
• Individuals whose position may require licensure, registration or certification must maintain such as current and valid. It is the employee's responsibility to send updated copies to Human Resources before the expiration date. It is the employee's responsibility to notify Human Resources of any changes or proposed changes in status to licensure, registration, or certification. Failure to do so could result in employee suspension.

Flu Vaccinations; Medical

• Annual Flu vaccination is required as a condition of hire and ongoing employment. Only those who are allergic to the vaccine or meet contraindications as indicated on the current CDC Vaccine Information Statement shall be exempt from this condition of hire and ongoing employment but are required to wear a mask while inside an API owned or operated building or vehicle during influenza season, Employees must provide physician documentation to support any reported allergy or contraindication. Flu season typically runs between November and March.
• Pass drug and alcohol test performed by Concentra.
• Clear TB skin test or Chest X-Ray at Concentra.
• Complete a satisfactory physical examination at Concentra designed solely to determine your ability to perform the duties of the position being offered. 

EEO Statement

API provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.