NURSE PRACTITIONER / PSYCHIATRIC MH - EMERGENCY APPOINTMENT HOMELESSNESS

Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner

The Department of Mental Health is seeking qualified candidates to fill emergency Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner vacancies related to the homelessness crisis. Under the emergency order, applicants who meet the requirements may be hired for an initial period of up to 90 days, with an opportunity for permanent County employment. During your initial work period, you will be assessed on your work performance. This assessment will be weighted 100%. Those who successfully pass the assessment will be considered for permanent appointment to Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner.

A Nurse Practitioner is an advanced practice registered nurse who possesses the advanced education, knowledge, clinical skills, and expertise beyond their initial professional registered nurse preparation to provide proficient higher-level health care in their area of specialization, who works in collaboration with physicians and other members of the health care team following established standardized procedures and, within written guidelines and regulations, provides complete physical examinations, review of systems, diagnosis, psychosocial assessments, and management of health-illness needs in primary health care or other specialty areas.

Positions allocable to this class are assigned principal responsibility for patient management based on accepted practices, including but not limited to, reviewing medical histories and performing physical exams, ordering and interpreting diagnostic tests, responding to changes in patient status, and providing needed prescriptions, evaluations, referrals, consultations, and treatments as permitted under the standardized procedure. Incumbents may provide home health services and Durable Medical Equipment, Department of Motor Vehicle evaluations, physical therapy, and order specialized treatment. Nurse Practitioners function in a variety of settings, including but not limited to primary health care, specialty care, hospital-based practice, rehabilitation, public health, and mental health.

As professional health providers, Nurse Practitioners are responsible for seeking expert opinion whenever the incumbent determines that a case falls outside the scope authorized by standardized procedures, their experience, policies, or protocols. While the Nurse Practitioner plans and implements health care goals for patients, incumbents may refer the patient to physicians or other specialty providers for consultation.

The Nurse Practitioner is responsible for the patient throughout the course of the treatment, and, with the patient and/or family, creates the plan of care, considering the impact of social determinants of health that may influence the patient's health and wellness, and may make referrals to support in the community as needed. The Nurse Practitioner effectively communicates the plan of care to patients and/or family, and ensures in their absence appropriate clinical coverage has been arranged for patient management and communication.

The required licenses and certificates MUST be current and unrestricted: a provisional, conditional, probationary, temporary, expired, or restricted license and certificate will NOT be accepted. Applicant may still be hired even if applicant does not have DEA certificate at time of submission. In such situations, DEA certificate must be obtained within 60 days of employment. Failure to obtain the DEA certificate within the 60 days of employment will result in termination.