Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner

Provides Psychiatric Mental Health Advanced Practice Nursing care as a case manager.  Serves as a liaison and advocate for patients by assisting in coordinating continuing care for those with acute and chronic psychiatric problems. 

 Participates as a member of the Behavioral Health, Mental Health, Psychiatry Service within the context of a multidisciplinary team that coordinates care for psychiatric patients.

 Collaborates with families, case managers, discharge planning and multidisciplinary team to ensure appropriate utilization of health care resources. 

Assists the consultation and liaison team to evaluate patients and help implement aftercare.

Performs direct patient care to include: 

     -- Conducts psychiatric triage

     -- Performs psychiatric-assessments to determine appropriate diagnostic impression according to current guidance

    -- Determines appropriate patient disposition (admission or outpatient care)

    -- Educates patients and family members, and significant others about the illness/condition, medication, and available resources

    -- Administers and prescribes medications

    -- Facilitates groups

    -- Provides patient counseling

Assists psychiatrists with medication refill process.

Attends and participates in meetings and professional staff conferences and other appropriate professional activities such as, but not limited to the following: Quality Improvement meeting, professional staff meetings, Commander’s staff meetings, Department meetings, and others required by applicable regulations, MTF guidance, or as directed by the Chief, Department of Behavioral Health or his/her designated representative.

Performs tasks related to the Graduate Education Program (GE) to include teaching and supervisory of clinical caseload of interns, residents, and fellows, and other duties as required by the Graduate Education Program.

Education: Graduate of an Associate, Diploma, or Baccalaureate degree from accredited school of nursing (National League of Nursing), a Master's Degree in Psychiatric Nursing, and a specialty as a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner.  Is also board certified as such by the ANCC, or other recognized certifying body. A copy of the college transcript or Diploma will be submitted.

Licensure/Registration:  Possess and maintain a current, active, valid, unrestricted license as Psychiatric Mental Health Advanced practice Nurse with Prescriptive Authority in at least one U.S. state, District of Columbia, Commonwealth, territory or jurisdiction.  All licenses shall be unencumbered and remain in effect during employment. 

Certification:  Clinical Nurse Specialist in Adult Psychiatry or Psychiatric Mental Health Advanced Practice Nurse.  If certification is required, it must be kept current according to the guidelines of the certifying organization.

Experience:  Minimum one year of experience in the past three years caring for psychiatric patients. 

Life support training.  The nurse must possess and maintain current course completion documentation for basic cardiac life support (BCLS) through an American Heart Association and/or Red Cross approved training program. 

Other Qualifications:  Pass the NLN Psychiatric Medication Test with a minimum score of 80%.  Possess the knowledge, actions, dosages of the most commonly used psychotropic medications. Must have been trained in assessment/evaluation and treatment of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.