The Behavioral Health Advance Practice Nurse provides support to the Behavioral Health leadership team to assist, coordinate and influence nursing practice and program excellence in the Behavioral Health Division.  Take a leadership role in educating and orienting staff within the division.  Acts as a resource person for health care associates and works cooperatively within the hospital community to coordinate nursing education, policy and maintain standards of care and performance improvement consistent with St. Luke’s Professional Practice Model, C.A.R.E. delivery model (Continuity, Accountability, Relationship-based, Evidence-based), and FOCUS values. 

At UnityPoint Health, you matter. We’re proud to be recognized as a Top 150 Place to Work in Healthcare by Becker's Healthcare several years in a row for our commitment to our team members.  

Our competitive Total Rewards program offers benefits options that align with your needs and priorities, no matter what life stage you’re in.  Here are just a few:      

• Expect paid time off, parental leave, 401K matching and an employee recognition program.   

• Dental and health insurance, paid holidays, short and long-term disability and more. We even offer pet insurance for your four-legged family members.  

• Early access to earned wages with Daily Pay, tuition reimbursement to help further your career and adoption assistance to help you grow your family.   

With a collective goal to champion a culture of belonging where everyone feels valued and respected, we honor the ways people are unique and embrace what brings us together.   

And, we believe equipping you with support and development opportunities is a vital part of delivering an exceptional employment experience. 

Find a fulfilling career and make a difference with UnityPoint Health.

Educator

• The Behavioral Health Nurse Educator participates in orientation and continuous staff development.
• Assesses, designs, implements and evaluates education programs which incorporates basic education theory and principles
• Plans, conducts and/or serves as a resource person for Behavioral Health continuing education programs.
• Serves as a resource to the behavioral health nursing staff, as well as to other members of the health care team based on professional standards of care.  
• Utilizes formal and informal teaching methods.
• Supports competency development and implementation. .
• Serves as a consultant both within the institution and to outside agencies or groups.
• Shares knowledge to facilitate the interdisciplinary approach to patient care.
• Consults nursing management regarding identified issues or barriers in delivery of care, staff achievement of competency, system concerns, physician concerns or specific patient care problems.
• Acts as a resource to implement plan for improving nursing care based on research findings and evidence based practice.

Expert Practitioner

• Use of advanced concepts in the application of the nursing process in the clinical setting.
• Development, implementation and evaluation of evidenced-based standards of practice and care.
• Implementation and evaluation of new methods of care giving in a behavioral health setting.
• Partners with physicians and patient care team members to achieve progress towards outcomes.
• Provision of staff direction in clinical decision making and priority setting.
• Maintains current knowledge of trends and advances in behavioral health nursing practice.
• Provides leadership for evidence based practice changes.
• Consults with individuals, families, community agencies or colleagues from associated disciplines or within nursing.
• Assumes responsibility for own professional growth and development.
• Maintains clinical competence in area of specialization and serves as a role model for other nursing associates

Leader

• Demonstrates clinical leadership as a role model for staff nurses.
• Assists with formulation of evidence based nursing policy and procedure.
• Assists with development, implementation and evaluation of departmental goals and outcomes.
• Evaluates patient care outcomes.
• Models behavior that invites colleague interaction and demonstrates mutuality.
• Builds partnerships that support and promote care coordination and care management strategies.
• Supports organizational efforts of establishing and maintaining relationships with communities, benefactors and other employees.
• Assists with special projects as assigned.
• As a member of the leadership team, the Behavioral Health Nurse Educator supports the Director in planning, goal setting, problem solving, performance improvement and educational endeavors

• Current licensure in good standing to practice as a Registered Nurse in Iowa.
• Must possess and maintain current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification or obtain certification within three (3) months from date of hire.
• Valid driver’s license when driving any vehicle for work-related reasons.
• Writes, reads, comprehends and speaks fluent English.
• Multicultural sensitivity.
• Customer/patient focused.
• Critical thinking skills using independent judgment in making decisions.
• Collaboration and flexibility
• Planning and organizing skills
• Use of usual and customary equipment used to perform essential functions of the position.