Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner

Essential Duties:

Duties include, but are not limited to:

• Develops unique ways to deliver mental health care in a compassionate, expedited, and patient-centered manner in a street medicine-based team environment.

• Assesses patient mental health by interviewing patients, performing examinations, obtaining, updating, and studying medical histories.

• Generates differential diagnoses for acute, chronic and/or undifferentiated illnesses and formulates management plan that address these illnesses

• Identifies opportunities to promote and maintain wellness in patients utilizing screening and prevention guidelines and understands barriers in achieving wellness in people experiencing homelessness and work to address those barriers.

• Utilizes critical thinking and decision making when independently developing treatment plans for patients experiencing homelessness.

• Documents patient care and clinical decision making accurately and efficiently in the agency’s Electronic Medical Record and meets agency requirements regarding timeliness of chart completion and productivity expectations.

• Coordinates patient-centered care of individuals experiencing homelessness using a multidisciplinary team and community resources. Is able to navigate the complex care requirements necessary for effectively caring for those experiencing homelessness.

• Applies evidence-based care principles in treatment of patients experiencing homelessness, integrating patient preferences in care plans.

• Appropriately utilizes healthcare resources in the management of patients experiencing homelessness (specialist referrals, ED referrals, lab utilization and medication management) with a goal of decreased fragmentation of healthcare.

• Maintains positive therapeutic relationships with patients, using language and nonverbal behavior to demonstrate respect and establish rapport.

• Collaborates and effectively seeks consultation with physicians and other care providers as needed in the provision of care and the formulation of treatment plans.

• Provides continuity of care by developing and implementing patient management plans and care transitions.

• Assesses patient health learning levels to provide medical information and health education in culturally and linguistically appropriate communication techniques.

• Assists patients in identifying barriers to care and social determinants of health and appropriately refers patients to community resources as needed.

• Contributes to the integrated care team’s activities around process improvement, workflow design and training.

• Uses data systems to monitor gaps in care.

• Maintains an exceptional level of customer service; addresses and resolves complaints; serves as an example by providing excellent service to internal and external customers, employees and patients.

• Maintains continuing medical education, licensure, credentialing, and privileging requirements at all times.

• Maintains safe and clean working environments by complying with procedures, rules, and regulations.

• Complies with federal, state, and local legal professional requirements by studying existing and new legislation; enforces adherence to requirements; advises management on needed actions.

• Embraces and promotes a professional working environment based on understanding and respect for diversity and multi-culturalism in all of its forms; demonstrates sensitivity, acknowledges varied beliefs, attitudes, behaviors, and customs, and encourages communication and appreciation of all forms of diversity.

• Maintains patient confidentiality by controlling the environment and information being disclosed to authorized individuals ensuring HIPAA and organizational compliance requirements at all times.

Qualifications:

• Position requires extended periods of sitting and standing;
• Position requires regular bending and reaching, including transfer of patients;
• Must be able to lift, carry and push 20 pounds on a regular basis;
• Must be able to lift and carry up to 50 pounds on an occasional basis;
• Able to adapt to rapid, unpredictable work flow;
• Able to focus on work at hand with attention to detail;
• Ability to work with difficult patients and those with severe mental illness.

Experience and Education:

• Graduate of an accredited Nurse Practitioner program with additional training as a PMHNP
• Maintain licensure with the State of Arizona to practice as a Nurse Practitioner
• Maintain board certification to practice as a nurse practitioner
• Certified in Basic Life Support
• Minimum one year experience as a PMHNP, with additional experience in Internal Medicine, Family Medicine or Emergency Medicine highly desirable
• Understanding of substance use issues
• Computer proficiency inclusive of ability to use electronic health records
• Excellent communication skills
• Experience in working with underserved populations highly desirable
• Experience in a community health center preferred