Behavioral Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)

Job Description

Job Description

Salary: DOE

The Behavioral Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) provides comprehensive psychiatric and behavioral health services within an integrated care setting at TAN Healthcare, a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC). The PMHNP works collaboratively with primary care providers, behavioral health clinicians, care managers, nurses, and support staff to provide patient-centered, trauma-informed, and evidence-based care for individuals experiencing mental health disorders.

This role includes psychiatric evaluations, medication management, brief therapeutic interventions, patient education, crisis intervention, telehealth services, and collaboration with interdisciplinary teams to improve patient outcomes and overall wellness. The PMHNP promotes integrated care by addressing both behavioral and physical health needs while supporting underserved, uninsured, underinsured, and medically complex populations.

Essential Job Responsibilities

Clinical Services

• Conduct comprehensive psychiatric and behavioral health assessments for pediatric, adolescent, adult, and geriatric patients as appropriate.
• Diagnose and treat mental health disorders utilizing DSM-5 criteria and evidence-based treatment practices.
• Develop individualized treatment plans in collaboration with patients, families, and interdisciplinary care teams.
• Provide medication management services including initiation, monitoring, adjustment, and patient education related to psychotropic medications.
• Monitor patient progress, treatment adherence, medication side effects, and clinical outcomes.
• Order and interpret laboratory testing and diagnostic studies related to behavioral health treatment.
• Provide brief supportive interventions, motivational interviewing, psychoeducation, crisis counseling, and behavioral health support during patient encounters.
• Assess patients for suicide risk, homicidal ideation, abuse, neglect, self-harm, and psychiatric crises, implementing safety planning and appropriate interventions as necessary.
• Refer patients to specialty psychiatric services, counseling services, inpatient care, community resources, and higher levels of care when clinically indicated.
• Maintain timely, accurate, and compliant documentation within the electronic health record (EHR).

Integrated Behavioral Health Collaboration

• Work closely with primary care providers and behavioral health staff to support whole person care.
• Participate in interdisciplinary case reviews, treatment planning meetings, and care coordination activities.
• Collaborate with care managers, counselors, nursing staff, and community partners to reduce barriers to care and improve treatment engagement.
• Support continuity of care for patients with chronic medical and behavioral health conditions, including individuals living with HIV and other chronic illnesses.
• Address social determinants of health impacting patient wellness and treatment outcomes.
• Assist with population health initiatives, behavioral health screenings, and quality improvement activities.
• Support integrated care delivery consistent with Patient Centered Medical Home (PCMH) principles.

Telehealth Services

• Provide behavioral health services through approved telehealth platforms in accordance with organizational policies and applicable regulations.
• Maintain quality, patient engagement, confidentiality, and documentation standards during virtual encounters.

Patient Education and Advocacy

• Educate patients and families regarding diagnoses, medications, coping skills, lifestyle modifications, and treatment expectations.
• Promote patient empowerment, recovery-oriented care, treatment adherence, and self-management strategies.
• Promote culturally responsive and trauma informed care practices.

Compliance and Quality

• Maintain compliance with HRSA Health Center Program requirements, FTCA risk management principles, HIPAA regulations, state and federal laws, and organizational policies.
• Participate in peer review, quality assurance, risk management, and performance improvement initiatives.
• Support organizational quality goals related to behavioral health outcomes, patient satisfaction, continuity of care, and access to services.
• Maintain current licensure, certification, DEA registration, credentialing, privileging, and continuing education requirements.

Minimum Education, Qualifications, and Experience

Required

• Licensed as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) in the State of Texas.
• Board Certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP-BC).
• Current DEA registration and prescriptive authority OR willing to apply for DEA registration
• Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification.
• Strong communication, documentation, assessment, and interdisciplinary collaboration skills.

Preferred

• Two (2) or more years of experience in behavioral health, psychiatry, integrated care, community health, or outpatient practice.
• Experience working in a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), community health center, or other safety-net healthcare setting.
• Experience providing telehealth services.
• Experience serving underserved, uninsured, underinsured, vulnerable, or medically complex populations.
• Experience working within an integrated primary care and behavioral health model.
• Bilingual English/Spanish preferred.
• Knowledge of trauma informed care, motivational interviewing, evidence based psychiatric treatment practices, social determinants of health, and population health strategies.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to sit, stand, walk, bend, and perform routine clinical duties.
• Ability to communicate effectively with patients, families, staff, and community partners.
• Ability to travel between clinic locations as needed.