Registered Nurse - Eating Disorders Program

Weekly outpatient therapy isn’t always enough, and a trip to the ER isn’t the only answer. Patients and their families rely on Compass Health Center when in crisis – every day, we help people overcome depression, anxiety, suicidality, obsessions/compulsions, trauma, chronic pain, and other obstacles in order for our patients to live freely.

About This Role

We are seeking a Registered Nurse to provide compassionate, direct patient care within our Eating Disorders Program, supporting patients whose relationship with food, eating, movement, and body image is a primary focus of treatment. In this role, you will provide exemplary nursing care while remaining sensitive to the individual psychiatric, nutritional, and medical needs of each patient. You will work closely with Registered Dietitians, Primary Therapists, Group Therapists, Family Therapists, Psychiatry Providers, and other members of the interdisciplinary treatment team to support safe, coordinated, patient-centered care.

What You’ll Do

Medical Monitoring

• Complete nursing assessments and obtain relevant medical history
• Measure, monitor, and document vital signs and other clinical indicators
• Obtain and document patient weights in accordance with program protocols
• Monitor patients for signs of medical instability and promptly escalate concerns to providers and the interdisciplinary treatment team
• Monitor and communicate relevant laboratory results and other medical findings
• Collect specimens as ordered
• Support ongoing assessment of medical status in collaboration with Psychiatry Providers and Registered Dietitians
• Recognize how co-occurring OCD, trauma, anxiety, depression, and other psychiatric symptoms may present within eating-disorder treatment and communicate relevant observations to the treatment team

Medication Management

• Administer medications safely and accurately
• Assist Psychiatry Providers with prescription refills
• Coordinate with insurance companies regarding medication prior authorizations
• Monitor and communicate medication-related concerns, side effects, and patient responses
• Maintain compliance with medication storage, handling, and administration policies

Eating Disorder & Meal Support

• Provide direct nursing support during meals and snacks (as assigned)
• Support patients experiencing distress, anxiety, or other acute symptoms related to eating
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary treatment team regarding nutritional concerns, meal support, medical monitoring, and changes in patient status
• Assist with implementation of individualized treatment plans within scope of practice
• Support safe transitions between levels of care by communicating relevant medical and nursing information to the treatment team

Patient & Family Support

• Provide therapeutic, compassionate communication to patients and families
• Provide education regarding medications, medical monitoring, and nursing-related aspects of treatment
• Participate in interdisciplinary communication regarding patient progress, concerns, and treatment needs

Care Coordination & Documentation

• Maintain accurate and timely nursing documentation throughout treatment
• Assisting with the completion of medical documentation for patients and their families
• Assist Psychiatry Providers with laboratory orders and retrieval of results
• Participate in interdisciplinary rounds and communicate relevant medical observations
• Coordinate with outpatient providers of the patient's care team (as appropriate)
• Assist with medical and nursing components of discharge and aftercare planning

Phone Triage & Clinical Support

• Provide phone triage and respond appropriately to patient and family concerns
• Determine when concerns require follow-up, provider consultation, or urgent intervention
• Communicate changes in patient condition promptly to appropriate clinical staff
• Provide support and assistance during crisis or emergency situations
• Follow established protocols for escalation of medical or psychiatric concerns

Program Operations

• Perform basic materials-management functions, including ordering and stocking supplies
• Support medication inventory and program safety procedures
• Participate in required program training, supervision, consultation, and quality-improvement initiatives
• Provide support and assistance to organizational committees (as needed)
• Contribute to the development and continuous improvement of program standards and clinical workflows
• Participate in compliance monitoring and other program-quality initiatives
• Perform other duties as assigned

Who You Are

• Current Registered Nurse licensure in the State of Illinois (required)
• BSN (preferred); LPN candidates may be considered where appropriate
• Current Healthcare Provider CPR certification (required)
• Minimum of 1 year of hospital or clinical nursing experience (required)
• Experience in behavioral health or eating-disorder treatment (required)
• Experience in PHP, IOP, residential, inpatient, or other higher-acuity behavioral healthcare settings (preferred)

Skills & Approach

• Possesses excellent therapeutic communication skills
• Provides compassionate, nonjudgmental, patient-centered care
• Comfortable working in a behavioral-health environment and supporting patients experiencing significant emotional distress
• Comfortable monitoring medically vulnerable patients and escalating concerns promptly
• Able to recognize the interaction between psychiatric symptoms and medical/nutritional concerns
• Comfortable collaborating closely with Registered Dietitians, therapists, prescribers, and other clinical disciplines
• Demonstrates strong clinical judgment and attention to detail
• Maintains appropriate professional boundaries while building therapeutic relationships
• Practices with cultural humility and respect for individual patient experiences
• Values teamwork, continuous improvement, connection, innovation, and patient-centered care
• Able to work within established clinical protocols, program standards, and treatment-team recommendations
• Seeks supervision and consultation when appropriate