Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

The Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner is responsible for supporting behavioral health care provided in primary care settings by a team comprised of primary care physicians, psychiatrists, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and behavioral health clinicians. This psychiatric consultant is responsible for performing psychiatric assessments, medication management, and diagnostic evaluations of patients. Brief evidenced-based pharmacologic services are provided to patients in the primary care setting. This provider also works in a consultant role with behavioral health clinicians and PCPs to develop and implement sound treatment plans for patients with physical health, mental health and/or substance use issues, responds to and provides crisis intervention services when needed, ensures behavioral health services are delivered in a culturally appropriate fashion and is consistent with State of California laws and regulations, professional standards of care, agency guidelines, and professional ethical guidelines.

Essential Functions of the Job:

• Provide direct psychiatric evaluation and evidenced-based pharmacologic treatment, focusing on patients with diagnostic or therapeutic challenges identified in discussion with the patient's BH clinician and / or PCP.
• Provides consultation to clinical staff and primary care providers (PCPs) as needed regarding the client's care, treatment recommendations and progress via documentation in the client's record, face to face or telephone.
• Actively participates in Quality Assurance activities of the Division with regard to treatment Utilization Review, medication monitoring, peer review, procedures, and processes.
• Completes all required documentation in a timely fashion including the preparation of reports and written documentation, notes, and medical records, all other forms, and documents as required by the department, company, state, and federal agencies.
• Participates in the development and delivery of in-service training for primary care-based providers including medical residents and staff regarding the current understanding of best practices for the recognition and treatment of behavioral health conditions in primary care as requested.
• Performs crisis interventions as needed including but not limited to conducting suicide assessments and making recommendations to medical providers and patients; determines if crisis response services are appropriate for patient safety.
• Works in coordination with the Chief Behavioral Health Officer and Director of Psychiatry to ensure full integration of services and a team-based approach to care.
• Participates in treatment team meetings and committees as needed.
• Participates in regularly scheduled supervision by a psychiatrist on an ongoing basis for professional development and complex case reviews.
• Maintains productivity expectations in accordance with clinic/program guidelines.
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

Additional Duties and Responsibilities:

• Complies with established departmental and health center-wide policies and procedures, objectives, quality assurance program, safety, environmental, and infection control standards.
• Ability to organize, set priorities, and exercise sound independent judgment within areas of responsibility.
• Ability to be culturally sensitive and appropriate in working with underserved and marginalized communities.
• Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with clients, family members, other professional staff, and the public.
• Enhances professional growth and development through participation in educational programs, current literature, in-service meetings, and workshops.
• Assists in providing supervision of interns and/or unlicensed staff under the specification of license held as requested.
• Coordinates with other consulting psychiatrists and/or PCPs for vacation coverage as needed to ensure continuity of patient care.
• Ability to adapt to practice settings which include in person, televideo, and telephonic, with a flexible and patient-centered approach.

Job Requirements:

• Education Required: Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner.

Experience Required:

• Two years of outpatient experience with direct patient care.
• One year worked as an RN in any direct patient care role may be counted toward that experience.
• Minimum of one year of experience needed in a community mental health setting.
• There is preference for successful completion of a PMHNP Psychiatry Fellowship in either adult or child and adolescent psychiatry.

Supervisory Experience:

• Experience supervising medical assistants.

Certifications Required:

• Certification of successful completion of PMHNP graduate program. Nurse Practitioner unrestricted Licensure and Furnishing number to practice in the state of California by date of hire. DEA license by date of hire. Successful completion or expected completion by date of hire of the Psychiatric-Mental Health NP Certification board exam. CPR certification.

Verbal and Written Skills Required to Perform the Job:

• Excellent oral, written communication.
• Knowledge with comfort with tele-health video platforms and electronic medical record systems.

Technical Knowledge and Skills Required to Perform the Job:

• Knowledge of rehabilitation and recovery treatment modalities.
• Integrated Treatment and Care for individuals with co-occurring disorders.
• Demonstrate the ability to be culturally sensitive and appropriate in working with minority communities.
• Demonstrate respect for diversity.
• Knowledge of behavioral medicine, health psychology, and substance use disorder interventions including IMPACT and/or SBIRT model.
• Exercise tact, objectivity, sensitivity, strategy, and judgment in dealing with a variety of people with a variety of co-occurring disorders.
• Organize, set priorities, and exercise sound independent judgment within areas of responsibility.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients, family members, other professional staff, and the public.

Equipment Used:

• General office equipment to include; Personal Computer, Software Systems, Scanner, Telephones, Copy and Fax machines.

Working Conditions and Physical Requirements:

• Standing/walking/lifting.
• Assisting patients transferring from wheelchair.
• Travel to any satellite facilities.
• You may be asked to work from home on a telemedicine day. If you are unable to work from home, an office space at an alternate site other than your usual clinic can be offered.

Universal Requirements:

Pre-employment requirements include I-9, physical, positive background and reference check results, complete application, new hire orientation, pre-employment PPDs. Compliance with all mandated vaccinations and all boosters is a term and condition of employment.