Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

Job Description

Job Description

Description:

Position Summary:

The Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP/APN) provides comprehensive psychiatric evaluation, diagnosis, medication management, and ongoing treatment services for individuals receiving behavioral health treatment. The PMHNP practices within the scope of New Jersey licensure and collaborates with psychiatrists, therapists, medical providers, and other interdisciplinary team members to deliver safe, evidence-based, trauma-informed, and client-centered care.

The PMHNP supports the organization's mission by promoting clinical excellence, regulatory compliance, client safety, and continuous quality improvement while ensuring services are delivered in accordance with accreditation standards, applicable state and federal regulations, and organizational policies.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

Clinical Assessment & Psychiatric Care

• Conduct comprehensive psychiatric evaluations, including obtaining psychiatric, medical, substance use, social, developmental, and family histories to establish accurate diagnoses and determine appropriate levels of care. 
• Diagnose psychiatric and co-occurring disorders utilizing DSM-5-TR criteria, clinical judgment, and evidence-based assessment tools. 
• Develop individualized, client-centered treatment plans that address each client’s psychiatric, medical, psychological, and psychosocial needs while supporting recovery-oriented care. 
• Perform routine psychiatric follow-up appointments to evaluate symptom progression, treatment effectiveness, and overall client stability. 
• Reassess clients throughout the continuum of care and modify treatment plans as clinically indicated based on changes in condition, response to treatment, or emerging clinical concerns. 
• Provide psychiatric consultation to members of the interdisciplinary treatment team regarding diagnosis, treatment planning, and clinical interventions. 
• Ensure all clinical services are delivered in accordance with organizational policies, professional standards of practice, and applicable state and federal regulations.

Medication Management

• Evaluate clients for appropriate psychopharmacologic treatment utilizing current evidence-based clinical practice guidelines. 
• Prescribe, adjust, discontinue, and monitor psychiatric medications within the scope of New Jersey Advanced Practice Nurse licensure and collaborative practice agreements. 
• Monitor medication effectiveness through ongoing assessment of therapeutic response, adverse effects, medication adherence, and potential drug interactions. 
• Order, review, and interpret laboratory testing and diagnostic studies necessary for safe medication management and ongoing client monitoring. 
• Educate clients and, when appropriate, their families regarding medication indications, expected outcomes, potential side effects, risks, benefits, and the importance of medication compliance. 
• Complete medication reconciliation during admissions, transfers, and discharge to promote clients safety and continuity of care. 
• Prescribe controlled substances in accordance with DEA regulations, New Jersey law, and organizational prescribing policies, including utilization of the Prescription Monitoring Program (PMP) when applicable. 
• Document informed consent and client education related to medication management in accordance with organizational standards.

Interdisciplinary Collaboration

• Work collaboratively with psychiatrists, physicians, therapists, case managers, counselors, admissions personnel, and other healthcare professionals to coordinate comprehensive client care. 
• Participate in multidisciplinary treatment team meetings, clinical case conferences, utilization review discussions, and discharge planning to ensure continuity and effectiveness of care. 
• Provide psychiatric consultation and clinical guidance to members of the treatment team regarding client symptoms, medication concerns, behavioral interventions, and treatment recommendations. 
• Communicate effectively with internal departments and external healthcare providers to coordinate referrals, transitions of care, and follow-up treatment services. 
• Foster a collaborative and respectful work environment that promotes teamwork, accountability, and client-centered care.

Crisis Intervention & Client Safety

• Assess and manage psychiatric emergencies, including suicidal ideation, homicidal ideation, psychosis, severe mood instability, substance withdrawal complications, and behavioral crises. 
• Complete comprehensive suicide risk assessments, violence risk assessments, and safety evaluations utilizing approved evidence-based screening tools. 
• Develop individualized safety plans and implement appropriate interventions to reduce client risk while maintaining a therapeutic environment. 
• Respond promptly to psychiatric emergencies and collaborate with medical, and clinical staff to stabilize clients requiring immediate intervention. 
• Participate in post-incident reviews, root cause analyses, and quality improvement initiatives following significant client safety events. 
• Promote client rights, dignity, confidentiality, and trauma-informed care throughout all clinical interactions.

Documentation & Clinical Compliance

• Complete comprehensive psychiatric evaluations, medication management notes, treatment plan documentation, discharge summaries, and other required clinical documentation within established organizational timeframes. 
• Ensure documentation accurately reflects client assessments, diagnoses, clinical decision-making, treatment interventions, medical necessity, and client progress. 
• Maintain complete, timely, and accurate electronic medical records in accordance with accreditation standards, payer requirements, organizational policies, and regulatory agencies. 
• Protect client confidentiality by complying with HIPAA, 42 CFR Part 2, and all applicable privacy regulations. 
• Participate in documentation audits and implement corrective actions when opportunities for improvement are identified. 
• Maintain accurate prescribing records and comply with all applicable documentation requirements related to controlled substances and medication management.

Quality Improvement & Performance Excellence

• Participate in the organization's Performance Improvement (PI) and Quality Assurance (QA) programs by assisting with clinical audits, outcome measurement, peer review, and quality initiatives. 
• Utilize quality data and client outcome measures to identify opportunities for improving clinical effectiveness, client safety, and operational efficiency. 
• Participate in accreditation surveys, regulatory inspections, and organizational readiness activities as needed.
• Support development, implementation, and ongoing evaluation of clinical policies, procedures, and evidence-based treatment protocols as needed.
• Demonstrate a commitment to continuous learning by integrating current psychiatric research, best practices, and clinical guidelines into client care.

Regulatory Compliance & Professional Development

• Maintain current licensure, national certification, DEA registration, CDS registration, and all required credentials necessary to perform the responsibilities of the position. 
• Complete all required mandatory education, annual competencies, continuing education requirements, and organizational training programs within established deadlines. 
• Practice within the scope of the New Jersey Nurse Practice Act, collaborative practice agreement, organizational policies, and accepted standards of psychiatric nursing practice. 
• Demonstrate professionalism, ethical decision-making, accountability, and integrity in all aspects of client care and organizational operations. 
• Serve as a clinical resource and mentor for nursing staff and other interdisciplinary team members by promoting evidence-based practice, clinical excellence, and professional development.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

This position does not have direct supervisory responsibilities but serves as a clinical resource for members of the interdisciplinary treatment team.

Qualifications:

Education:

• Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) from an accredited college or university with a concentration in Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing required. 
• Graduate of an accredited Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) program approved by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), or other nationally recognized accrediting body.

Licensure and/or Certification:

• Current, unrestricted New Jersey Advanced Practice Nurse (APN) license required. 
• Current Registered Nurse (RN) license in the State of New Jersey in good standing. 
• Current national board certification as a Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP-BC) through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) required. 
• Current Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) registration required. 
• Current New Jersey Controlled Dangerous Substance (CDS) registration required. 
• Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification through the American Heart Association or equivalent required. 
• Must maintain all required licenses, certifications, registrations, and continuing education requirements throughout employment.

Experience:

• Minimum of one (1) year of clinical experience providing psychiatric evaluation, diagnosis, and medication management in a behavioral health setting preferred. 
• Experience treating clients with serious mental illness (SMI), co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders, mood disorders, anxiety disorders, psychotic disorders, trauma-related disorders, and personality disorders preferred. 
• Experience working in partial care (PC), intensive outpatient (IOP), or outpatient behavioral health settings preferred. 
• Experience collaborating within multidisciplinary treatment teams preferred. 
• Experience utilizing Electronic Medical Record (EMR) systems for clinical documentation, order entry, and medication management preferred. 
• New graduates with exceptional clinical training, psychiatric clinical rotations, and demonstrated competency may be considered.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:

The successful candidate must demonstrate knowledge of:

• Psychiatric assessment, diagnosis, and treatment planning utilizing DSM-5-TR diagnostic criteria. 
• Evidence-based psychopharmacology, including medication indications, contraindications, adverse effects, and monitoring requirements. 
• Co-occurring psychiatric and substance use disorders, including medication-assisted treatment (MAT) principles. 
• Crisis intervention, suicide risk assessment, violence risk assessment, de-escalation techniques, and emergency psychiatric care. 
• Trauma-informed care principles and recovery-oriented treatment approaches. 
• Motivational Interviewing, client engagement techniques, and therapeutic communication. 
• Behavioral health regulations, standards of practice, and ethical decision-making. 
• Joint Commission Behavioral Health accreditation standards. 
• HIPAA, 42 CFR Part 2, confidentiality regulations, and client privacy requirements. 
• Electronic Health Record (EHR/EMR) systems and clinical documentation best practices. 
• Quality Improvement (QI) methodologies and client safety initiatives. 
• Infection prevention practices and universal precautions.\

 

Requirements: