Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

POSITION DESCRIPTION:

Under the direction of the Chief Medical Officer, provide comprehensive health care for patients as established by clinic protocols and according to community standards. The Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) will provide outpatient psychiatric evaluation and medication management services at SBNC’s Primary Care clinics. These services include health maintenance, acute episodic care, monitoring long term care of chronic illness, and patient education. Refer patients to appropriate patients to hospital and specialty services, as indicated. This position is an integral part of the Patient Centered medical Home (PCMH). This position supports optimal patient outcomes and integrates care with all disciplines of Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Perform routine physical and gynecologic exams.
• Take medical, gynecological, contraceptive and sexual histories.
• Initiate, recommend, perform, and interpret laboratory screening and diagnostic procedures, including but not limited to urinalysis, Pap smears, STI testing, wet mounts, pregnancy tests, etc.
• Initiate treatment measures where indicated.
• Assume responsibility for clinical management of acute and chronic illnesses.
• Collaborate with staff clinician on management and follow-up of abnormal lab and exam findings.
• Responsible for providing psychiatric services to clients in a variety of clinical settings during scheduled hours. The scope of services includes outpatient psychiatric evaluations and medication management services.
• Assess, diagnose, and treat adults, adolescents, and children experiencing symptoms of behavioral health disorders.
• Prescribe, recommend, or discontinue drugs and treatments to treat mental, emotional, or behavioral disorders in.
• Collaborate with counselors, social workers, or other treatment team members to coordinate client care.
• Responsible for timely and accurate completion of medical records, including assessment, treatment plan, progress notes, outcome measures, and billing entries. Counsel clients during appointments, as necessary.
• Design/participate in the development of individualized treatment plans, incorporating best and leading practices into treatment interventions.
• Examine or order laboratory or diagnostic tests for clients to provide information on general physical condition and mental disorders
• Recommend treatments and evaluate their effectiveness. Make referrals to other medical specialties where appropriate.
• Provide unbiased patient education and counseling, including contraceptive education and counseling.
• Initiate and manage the use accepted treatment modalities.
• Complete medical records in a timely fashion.
• Identify psychosocial factors affecting health decisions and practices, and counsel accordingly.
• Maintain appropriate medical records and documentation; learn and use SBNC’s electronic health records (EHR) system.
• Protect and maintain in good condition all medical equipment appliances, hand instruments, and is responsible for the security and proper use of such instruments and equipment.
• Participate in lectures for health education training and updates, as needed.
• Participate in clinician and staff meetings.
• Assist other clinicians as needed.
• Mentor and evaluate nurse practitioner students and medical residents, as appropriate.
• Assist clinic staff as appropriate.
• Consult with the Chief Medical Officer regarding management of individual patients as needed and for interpretation of policies and protocols.
• Design/participate in the development of individualized treatment plans, incorporating best and leading practices into treatment interventions.
• Examine or order laboratory or diagnostic tests for clients to provide information on general physical condition and mental disorders
• Recommend treatments and evaluate their effectiveness. Make referrals to other medical specialties where appropriate.
• Provide unbiased patient education and counseling, including contraceptive education and counseling.
• Initiate and manage the use accepted treatment modalities.
• Complete medical records in a timely fashion.
• Identify psychosocial factors affecting health decisions and practices, and counsel accordingly.
• Maintain appropriate medical records and documentation; learn and use SBNC’s electronic health records (EHR) system.
• Protect and maintain in good condition all medical equipment appliances, hand instruments, and is responsible for the security and proper use of such instruments and equipment.
• Participate in lectures for health education training and updates, as needed.
• Participate in clinician and staff meetings.
• Assist other clinicians as needed.
• Mentor and evaluate nurse practitioner students and medical residents, as appropriate.
• Assist clinic staff as appropriate.
• Consult with the Chief Medical Officer regarding management of individual patients as needed and for interpretation of policies and protocols.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS/QUALIFICATIONS:

Qualifications: Current and Valid Nurse Practitioner License and Furnishing Number from the California Board of Registered Nursing. Current CPR Certification, ACLS Preferred. Bilingual in English/Spanish Preferred

Education: Master’s or Doctorate in Nursing with focus on Psychiatric nursing.

Experience: Minimum of two (2) years of experience as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, preferably in a community clinic setting.

Desired Skills and Abilities: Requires excellent communication skills. The ability to work independently. Excellent Communication Skills (Written and Verbal). Strong Critical thinking skills. Good history taking skills. Excellent Interpersonal Communication. Strong enthusiasm and willingness to pitch in whenever needed. Functions well in a high-stress environment.

Physical Demands: May be required to lift objects weighing up to 25 pounds Sitting in normal seated position for extended periods of time. Reaching by extending hand(s) arm(s) in any direction position for extended periods of time. Reaching by extending Finger dexterity required to manipulate objects with fingers rather than whole hand(s) or arm(s), for example using a keyboard.

The physical demands described above are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential function of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this job unless providing such accommodations would result in undue hardship for the SBNC.

Salary Range: $155,000 - $165,000