Admissions Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner

Job Description

Job Description

At ERC Pathlight, we're on a mission to change lives—and we're looking for people who feel called to do the same.

As one of the nation's leading treatment providers for eating disorders and mood, anxiety, and trauma-related conditions, we bring innovative, evidence-based, and deeply compassionate care to patients across the country. With multiple locations nationwide and extensive virtual programming, we meet patients exactly where they are and help them move toward lasting recovery.

Founded in 2008 by renowned psychiatrists and psychologists, ERC Pathlight now supports more than 6,000 patients each year. And as the need for world-class mental health care continues to rise, our commitment is stronger than ever: to expand access, elevate the standard of care, and empower every patient to rebuild their life with dignity and hope.

When you join ERC Pathlight, you become part of a team that shows up every day to make a real difference. You'll work alongside passionate clinicians, dedicated support staff, and mission-driven leaders who believe in collaboration, growth, and doing the right thing—always.

Here, your work matters. Your ideas matter. You matter.

If you're energized by purpose, motivated by impact, and ready to help transform the future of mental health treatment, you belong here.

Come build hope. Come save lives. Come grow with us.

The Clinical Admissions Nurse Practitioner is responsible for applying advanced clinical knowledge and independent professional judgment to evaluate, assess, and determine the clinical appropriateness of admissions, level of care, and recommended line of service for individuals seeking treatment. As a licensed clinical professional, this position independently analyzes complex behavioral health, medical, psychosocial, and operational information to determine medical necessity, assess clinical risk, and develop evidence-based recommendations that support safe, timely, and appropriate patient placement.

The role serves as a clinical expert throughout the admissions process by conducting comprehensive clinical assessments, evaluating escalated and routine admission cases, interpreting multiple sources of clinical information, and integrating patient presentation, diagnostic findings, referral information, and organizational capabilities to formulate individualized admission recommendations. Decisions are made through the consistent exercise of professional discretion and independent judgment in accordance with applicable clinical standards, regulatory requirements, accreditation standards, payer guidelines, and organizational policies.

This position collaborates with physicians, advanced practice providers, referral sources, hospitals, outpatient providers, and interdisciplinary teams to resolve complex clinical issues, communicate recommendations, facilitate continuity of care, and support optimal treatment outcomes.

Essential Duties:

Clinical Assessment and Admission Determinations

• Independently evaluate routine and complex admissions referrals to determine clinical appropriateness for admission, recommended level of care, and treatment setting through the application of advanced clinical knowledge, evidence-based practices, and professional judgment.
• Analyze and synthesize behavioral health, medical, psychosocial, and operational information from multiple sources, including patient interviews, referral documentation, medical records, collateral contacts, and provider consultations, to formulate clinically appropriate admission recommendations.
• Assess medical necessity, clinical risk, patient safety considerations, functional impairment, and presenting symptoms to support timely and appropriate treatment recommendations.
• Exercise independent professional discretion in determining admission eligibility consistent with organizational standards, regulatory requirements, accreditation standards, payer guidelines, and nationally recognized level-of-care criteria.
• Independently identify complex, atypical, or high-risk clinical presentations requiring physician or leadership consultation and facilitate timely escalation while providing a comprehensive clinical analysis and recommendation.
• Author clear, accurate, and clinically sound documentation that supports admission determinations, level-of-care recommendations, and the clinical rationale for decision-making.
• Approve patients for admission to ERC Pathlight programs when clinical presentation, medical necessity, and organizational capabilities support safe and appropriate placement.
• Maintain complete, accurate, and timely clinical documentation within designated electronic systems, including UPR, ChartKeeper, Salesforce, NOVA, and other approved documentation platforms.

Clinical Consultation and Interdisciplinary Collaboration

• Serve as a clinical resource and consultant to admissions staff, physicians, referral sources, and interdisciplinary team members by providing expert guidance regarding admission appropriateness, level-of-care determinations, and treatment recommendations.
• Collaborate with physicians, advanced practice providers, referral sources, hospitals, outpatient clinicians, and internal stakeholders to resolve complex clinical issues, facilitate continuity of care, and support optimal patient outcomes.
• Provide clinical consultation and mentorship to Clinical Assessment team members to promote consistent application of clinical standards, strengthen independent clinical decision-making, and support quality admission practices.
• Communicate complex clinical findings, recommendations, and admission decisions to patients, families, referral partners, and other stakeholders in a compassionate, educational, and clinically appropriate manner, ensuring understanding of treatment recommendations and level-of-care rationale.
• Participate as an active clinical contributor in interdisciplinary meetings to review escalated cases, evaluate admission trends, identify opportunities for quality improvement, and support operational readiness across the admissions continuum.
• Identify emerging clinical trends, workflow challenges, and opportunities to improve the quality, consistency, efficiency, and effectiveness of admission review processes, and provide recommendations to leadership based on clinical expertise and analysis.
• Support organizational compliance by consistently applying regulatory, accreditation, payer, and organizational standards throughout the admission review process while exercising independent clinical judgment in complex situations.

Must Haves: 

• Graduate Degree- Master's degree required for candidates licensed as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) or Physician Assistant (PA)
• Current, active, and unrestricted licensure as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN), Physician Assistant (PA), or Registered Nurse (RN).
• Proven ability to identify and prioritize critical information to support effective decision-making
• Experience balancing risk considerations with business objectives and operational effectiveness
• Demonstrated success leveraging diverse perspectives and cross-functional input while making sound, independent decisions
• Demonstrated cognitive flexibility and adaptability in navigating changing environments and complex challenges

This range is dependent upon candidate's state of residence, experience and market expectations.

Virtual Pay Range

$111,000—$165,000 USD

What We Offer  

At ERC Pathlight, caring for people is our mission and that begins with caring for our own team. Your well-being matters, and our benefit program is designed to support every part of your life. 

We offer competitive compensation; comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage; generous Paid Time Off; Parental Leave benefits; Retirement benefits; and tuition reimbursement to help you continue growing in your career. 

We also recognize that mental health is part of every person's experience. That's why we strive to create a workplace where you feel supported, seen, and encouraged—personally, professionally, and at home. 

When you thrive, you can do your best work. And your best work changes lives.