Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner

Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner

The University of Maryland (UMD), University Health Center (UHC) seeks a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner (NP) to join the Psychiatry and Substance Use Services (PASS) team and provide direct care to a diverse student patient population. The purpose is to conduct psychiatric evaluations and to provide intake assessments, ongoing medication management, as well as consultative work with other departments as indicated and as directed. This is an onsite position reporting to the campus five days per week in College Park, MD. After a probationary period, one day of telework will be available if approved.

The psychiatric NP will be expected to meet assigned productivity standards as defined and as directed by the PASS Director. The UHC psychiatric NP will also work with other UHC departments, including General Medicine (primary care, women's health, transgender care, The Counseling Center, etc.) This is to collaborate on shared patients, consult on mutual patients, and offer urgent evaluations from these entities.

The psychiatric Nurse Practitioner should be familiar with use of the Electronic Medical Record (EMR) system in general, and quickly learn to navigate and document in the EHR used by PASS at the UHC. The psychiatric NP must be able to problem solve, prioritize duties, and manage several priorities at once. At all times, they should conduct themselves in a professional manner, communicate effectively, and seek guidance if/when needed.

This is a full time exempt position. The psychiatric NP will be expected to carry a full patient census during their clinical schedule. Typically the service is busy during the academic year and slows down over the summer and during winter and spring breaks. The psychiatric NP will be expected to provide direct patient care that includes intakes, medication management follow up, triage, urgent triage, etc. At times, this care may extend beyond regular duty hours. Currently, a full-time position would entail working from 8:30-5:00, M-F – hybrid 1 day of telework eligible (after probation time). In addition, after hours on-call, including Saturday and Sunday, is required and rotated equitably among all psychiatric providers. New visits are currently scheduled for 90 minutes, and follow up visits for 30 minutes; visit times are subject to change depending on need.

Essential Duty/Responsibilities:

• Provide direct psychiatric services to UMD students, including the assessment, diagnosis and continuing medication management of students with mental health conditions.
• Collaborate with the counseling center therapists with whom they share patients, offering psychiatric guidance and supervision as/when appropriate and/or as directed by the PASS Director.
• Collaborate with primary care/acute care providers, assisting patients experiencing mental health crises and provide triage and warm handoffs to primary/acute care patients, as indicated by the PASS director.
• May be requested to provide other urgent evaluations of patients referred from other UHC departments and other campus entities.
• Psychiatric NP's must be available to assess need for hospitalization and assist with the Emergency Petition (EP) process of patients as needed. They will also liaise with hospitals re: post-hospitalization care as needed.
• Participate in call duties in a rotation schedule (with other psychiatric providers) as directed by the PASS Director (currently one week rotated amongst each psychiatrist/psychiatric nurse practitioner).
• Participate in Health Center in-service, peer review, educational activities, designated Health Center Committees and designated campus committees as assigned.
• Other duties as assigned.

Preferences:

• Master's Degree in Nursing from an accredited school.
• Completion of the University Health Center credentialing process is required prior to start date.
• Direct patient care experience working as a PMHNP.
• Experience working with young adults/college students is a plus.
• Experience working in an outpatient clinic setting is preferred, but inpatient psychiatric experience is also acceptable.
• Some level of inpatient, PHP, IOP is a plus.

Physical Demands:

• Ability to stand, walk or sit for an extended period of time.
• Reaching by extending hand(s) or arm(s) in any direction.
• Finger dexterity required to manipulate objects with fingers rather than with the whole hand(s) or arm(s), for example, using a keyboard.
• Communication skills using the spoken word.
• Ability to see within normal parameters.
• Ability to hear within normal range.
• Ability to move standard equipment through a hospital or clinical environment.

Licenses/Certifications:

• Registered Nurse license and Certified as a Nurse Practitioner. Must be licensed as a PMHNP in the State of Maryland or other state where practicing.
• CDS and DEA License active and current.
• Current American Heart Association or American Red Cross CPR certification required. Must maintain current licensure and certification during the duration of employment.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Education: Master's or Doctorate Degree in Psychiatric Nursing from an accredited school.
• Experience: Two (2) years or more of experience as a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner in direct patient care.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities:

• Knowledge of Electronic Medical Records.
• Knowledge of telemedicine platforms.
• Skill in providing medication management.
• Ability to incorporate into practice theoretical concepts and advanced clinical skills with patients, families, and interdisciplinary health care team members.
• Ability to communicate effectively with all members of the interdisciplinary health care team to enhance collaboration and problem-solving.
• Ability to communicate effectively, verbally and in writing, to provide information to patients, caregivers, and other health care personnel.
• Ability to function effectively in a fluid, dynamic, and rapidly changing environment.