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Intake Admissions RN- FT Nights

Palms Behavioral Health

Harlingen, Texas

Patient Case Managers & Advocates · Nurse Case Managers

Sign-on bonus

Posted Aug 15

Shift
Nights
Unit
Intake

What the listing says

Role

Schedule
Nights
Term
Permanent
Setting
Behavioral Health
Accepts
RN
Experience
1+ years

Ratio not posted. Ask in the interview.

Pay

Sign-on bonus
$10,000

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About this role

Purpose statement

The Intake RN performs the daily operations of patient intake and/or admissions, with may include screening, financial counseling, insurance verification and assessment at or outside the facility, depending on the needs of the patient or hospital. Screens and assesses admissions to evaluate clinical and medical appropriateness and communicates this information to a physician who makes the admissions and level of care decision. Works closely with business office, nursing, and clinical staff as well as external parties to ensure the timely admission of patients. Responds to inquiries regarding admissions.

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Roles and Responsibilities

Essential functions

Facilitates admissions and assessment processes for incoming patients. Provides initial evaluation and initiate the integrated assessment, documenting patient symptoms, functioning and needs. Collaborates with other facility medical and psychiatric staff to ensure appropriate recommendations and admissions.

Communicates projected admissions to designated internal representative in a timely manner. Provides additional coverage for the Call Center Team – e.g. answers phones, processes admission requests, completes call center duties reviewing and accepting patients, verifies insurance, and assists with insurance pre-certifications during times of high volume Ensures all medical admission documentation is gathered from external sources prior to patient admission and secures initial pre-authorization for treatment and admission. Reviews patient charts to determine medical necessity and staffs each referral and assessment with appropriate physician to obtain orders, recommendations, and DSM-V diagnosis, when appropriate.

Communicates treatment recommendations to and coordinate with other treatment teams. May administer patients’ medications and follows all physician's orders in consultation with psychiatrist and in accordance with established hospital and licensing agency protocols. Educates patients on side effects, and through discussions determines the effectiveness of education; questions compliance and adjusts medications under psychiatrists' supervision as needed; monitors lab results to validate medication compliance.

May maintain accountability of administration, recording, control and security of medications, including narcotics. Assures completion of Adverse Drug Reaction forms as necessary. Maintains knowledge of the most common medications used for psychiatric patients.

Advocates for the lowest level of care consistent with the patient’s needs. Coordinates admission and transfer between levels of care within the facility. Assures thorough, accurate documentation is completed for all patients on each shift and facilitates the response to requests for services, including the initial response, the assessment, and referral process, the designation of appropriate level of care, initiation/admission into services, and appropriate follow up activity.

Responds to inquiries about the facility within facility policy timeframes. Performs insurance benefit verifications, disseminating the information gathered to patient, their families and other appropriate facility staff. Provides accurate and ongoing assessment of patient status in the admissions process.

Reviews client charts to determine medical necessity and staffs each referral and assessment with appropriate physician to obtain orders, recommendations, and DSM-V diagnosis, when appropriate. Other duties as assigned, including assisting on patient unit. May administer clients’ medications.

Follows all physician's orders in consultation with psychiatrist and in accordance with established hospital and licensing agency protocols. Educates patients on side effects, and through discussions determines the effectiveness of education; questions compliance and adjusts medications under psychiatrists' supervision as needed; monitors lab results to validate medication compliance. May maintain accountability of administration, recording, control and security of medications, including narcotics.

Assures completion of Adverse Drug Reaction forms as necessary. Maintains knowledge of the most common medications used for psychiatric clients.

Education/experience/skill requirements

Graduation from an accredited school of nursing required. BSN preferred. One or more years' experience in mental health or substance use disorder admissions preferred. Experience in clinical interviewing, patient assessment, referral, treatment planning, communicating with external review organizations or comparable entities. Experience in the managed care pre-certification process, level of care assessments and utilization. Outstanding interpersonal and interviewing and assessment skills. Skill in telephone etiquette and paging procedures.

Licenses/designations/certifications

Valid current RN license from the state or from a compact state, where applicable. CPR and de-escalation and restraint certification required (training available upon hire and offered by facility). First aid may be required based on state or facility requirements.

Work location

This position is onsite at the facility and is not a remote position.

Sign on Bonus : $10,000

Supervisory

Requirements

This position is an Individual Contributor.

#RNHP

Why Palms Behavioral Health? Palms Behavioral Health offers a comprehensive benefit plan and a competitive salary commensurate with experience and qualifications. Qualified candidates should apply by submitting a resume. Palms Behavioral Health is an EOE.

Veterans and military spouses are highly encouraged to apply. Summit BHC is dedicated to serving Veterans with specialized programming at our treatment centers across the country. We recognize and value the unique strengths of the military community in supporting our mission to serve those who have served.

Sourced from a public job board.

Requirements

  • This position is an Individual Contributor.
  • #RNHP
  • Why Palms Behavioral Health? Palms Behavioral Health offers a comprehensive benefit plan and a competitive salary commensurate with experience and qualifications. Qualified candidates should apply by submitting a resume. Palms Behavioral Health is an EOE.
  • Veterans and military spouses are highly encouraged to apply. Summit BHC is dedicated to serving Veterans with specialized programming at our treatment centers across the country. We recognize and value the unique strengths of the military community in supporting our mission to serve those who have served.

Place

City
Harlingen, Texas
Median rent
$928/mo

rent and tenant-paid utilities · Census ACS 2024

Local household income
$53,645/yr

all local households, not nurse pay · Census ACS 2024

Metro price level
14% below the national average

Harlingen area index 86.0, where 100 is the national average.

Harlingen sits in the heart of the Rio Grande Valley, offering a warm South Texas climate and easy access to Gulf Coast beaches like South Padre Island. This mid-sized border-region city blends affordable suburban living with a growing healthcare sector, making it a practical landing spot for traveling nurses seeking year-round sunshine and a bilingual, bicultural community.

Map showing the location of Harlingen, TX
Approximate location in Harlingen, TX. · © Mapbox © OpenStreetMap· Open the live map

Cost figures from U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis · 2024 metro Regional Price Parities · Census ACS 2024.

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About the employer

Palms Behavioral Health
Hiring organization

Workplace: PALMS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH.

Worth asking

The posting doesn’t answer these. Good ones to ask a recruiter or in the interview.

  • Can you walk me through base pay range, differentials, and sign-on bonus repayment terms?
  • What should I expect for weekly hours, weekend, holiday, call, and rotation?
  • What orientation, preceptor time, and ongoing unit support are included?
  • How are patient load, floating, and staffing support handled day to day?
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