Summary:
The Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner provides a wide range of mental health services to patients and families in a variety of settings. PMHNPs diagnose and prescribe medications for patients who have psychiatric disorders or substance abuse problems. They are licensed to provide emergency psychiatric services, psychosocial and physical assessment of their patients, treatment plans, and manage patient care. They may also serve as consultants or as educators for families and staff. The PMHNP has a focus on psychiatric diagnosis, including the differential diagnosis of medical disorders with psychiatric symptoms, and on medication treatment for psychiatric disorders.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to assist in advancing Grace Health’s mission and to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

SKILLS:

• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations.
• Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals.
• Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public.
• Substantial interpersonal skills are necessary to instruct patients and their families and to collaborate with health team members.
• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
• High level of analytic ability to concentrate and pay attention to detail.
• Must relate well to the clinic’s patient population and their backgrounds.
  EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE:
  Must be licensed by the State of Kentucky and have received training from an Accredited Psychiatric Nursing Program with a minimum of a Master’s Degree as a Psychiatric Specialist. The preference of Grace Health is that PMHNP will have a minimum of one year of experience with children and/or adults who present and are assessed with a DSM-V diagnosis. Individual must have current DEA number of eligibility and have acquired experience in working with a family systemic model of care. The Psychiatric Nurse practitioner will work in conjunction and in accordance with all the psychiatric standards prescribed under the State of Kentucky Mental Health Nurse Practitioner guidelines.
  Certificates, Licenses, Registrations, and other Requirements: Valid driver’s license, proof of automobile insurance, and reliable transportation. Certification in proper crisis prevention initiatives and universal precautions required. If required, TB (PPD) test, completed within 30 days of hire date.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Perform complete initial psychiatric assessments on patients to determine DSM V diagnosis and develop a plan of care including medication prescription if indicated.
• Provide timely documentation of each encounter with a patient including symptoms addressed, need for current treatment, and rationale for any changes in treatment.
• Work in collaboration with other treatment team members to ensure quality of care and consideration of services.
• Conform to standards of timelines in attendance, documentation and quality as defined by agency guidelines and quality assurance plan.
• Seek immediate consultation with physician for the following: Emergent conditions requiring prompt medical intervention or hospitalization, Acute decomposition of patients’ condition, Patient problems that are not resolving as anticipated, if diagnostic, prescriptive or therapeutic procedure /intervention, cannot be performed by the Clinical Nurse Specialist.
• Maintain the required level of continuing education and preferred development activities.
• Attend all team meetings, supervision, and clinical hours scheduled.
• Provide follow-up psychiatric care including monitoring of pharmacological interventions for assigned patients.
• Assist in quality assurance plan for medical needs of consumers and medication management concerns.
• Comply with all Grace Health Policies and Procedures.
• Other related duties that are medically related by not necessarily included in the above detailed list of responsibilities.

OTHER ESSENTIAL DUTIES and RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Grace Health recognizes that managing patient care is a team effort that involves clinical and non-clinical staff. All employees must embrace a team-based approach to patient care and understand that each role is important to our success.
• Team members must demonstrate excellent team communication and coordination to provide quality patient care.
• Care coordination includes communicating with community organizations, health plans, facilities, and specialists.
• Care team members understand and embrace the concept of population management and proactively address the needs of patients and families served by this practice.
• Team members must demonstrate skill and knowledge related to effective communication with vulnerable patient populations.
• Team members must participate in Continuous Quality Improvement activities within the organization to ensure patients receive high-quality care.
• All team members will be involved in the process of improving quality incomes.
• Team members will participate in the review and evaluation processes of practice performance and help to identify opportunities for improvement.
• Team members will participate in Grace Health’s advocacy program.

GENERAL DUTIES:

• Follows policies and procedures of the office, including administrative, clinical, quality assurance, and personnel.
• Maintains good attendance (daily, meetings, and other assignment tasks).
• Maintains timely documentation of all work assignments.
• Maintains patient confidentiality.
• Routinely keeps supervisor informed about attendance and job assignments
• Flexible in being able to multitask.
• Works effectively and at an efficient pace.
• Works cooperatively with providers, administration, and peers.