Behavioral Health Nurse Practitioner

FTE/Scheduled Weekly Hours:

1.00 / 40 / 1st Shift (United States of America)

PRIMARY FUNCTIONS

Plans and directs care in the clinic independently and in collaboration with physicians and other health care professionals, providing behavioral health care to individuals and families that emphasize health promotion and disease intervention. This includes, but is not limited to, comprehensive assessment, ordering, conducting, and interpreting diagnostic tests within the scope of expertise and organizational protocols.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
1.    Assessment

• Assesses patients in clinic setting through physical examination and comprehensive history taking. Acquires an initial psychiatric evaluation for patients who are seeking psychotherapy services.
• Helps patients by evaluating medical and psychosocial conditions.
• Differentiates normal and abnormal physical and psychosocial findings and determines which require consultation and/or referral to another provider or other health care professionals.
• Maintains historical records by documenting symptoms, medications, treatment, and writing summaries.

2.    Treatment Plan

• Develops and implements treatment plans, including prescription of psychotropic medications.
• Develops treatment plans by determining nature and extent of cognitive, emotional, developmental, social, and behavioral disorders and establishing treatment goals and methodologies.
• Monitors and evaluates treatment results.
• Evaluates patients by interviewing patient, family, and other persons; conducting physical examinations; observing behaviors; reviewing medical history and related documents; selecting, administering, and interpreting psychological tests; and order and evaluating results.
• Maintains interdisciplinary treatment by reviewing treatment plans and progress, and consulting and collaborating with primary care providers, mental health therapists, nurses, and other healthcare providers.
• Makes decisions and takes actions on behalf of patients that are guided by ethical standards, including maintaining confidentiality, and always delivers care in a non-judgmental and non-discriminatory manner.

3.    Patient Communication

• Counsels patients and families on health and medical issues to help them understand limitations and abilities.
• Communicates with the patient and others regarding roles in patient care, and makes referrals, including provisions for continuity of care as needed.
• Addresses calls and concerns from patients in a timely manner.

4.    Patient Health Record and Billing

• Ensures documentation of all pertinent patient information meets organizational standards.
• Utilize CPT and ICD-10 coding and codes appropriately.

5.    Medical Staff and Community Relations

• Communicates effectively with the direction of the Physician allowing for the best patient care experience.
• Interacts regularly and positively with the Medical Staff.
• Demonstrates the ability to respond to emergency situations and prioritize patient care needs.
• Acts as a resource person for decisions and planning regarding mid-level services in the clinic.
• Reads and discusses published research for application to practice and uses research findings in practice as appropriate.
• Interacts positively with other community agencies and seeks out appropriate partnerships that would benefit the institution and its patients.
• Will do outpatient work only and will participate in behavioral health call rotation by phone.
• Practice location embedded in primary care clinic.

6.    Quality

• Assists in assuring the establishment and maintenance of standards of care and standards of practice.
• Demonstrates knowledge of current Standards of Practice and applies them to daily practice.
• Evaluates the quality and effectiveness of patient care delivery and acts on findings, including making recommendations to Administration.
• Considers factors related to safety, effectiveness, and cost in planning and delivering patient care.
• Assures compliance with all applicable regulations and Joint Commission standards.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
1.    Education, Experience, and Training

• Successful completion of a masters or doctorate nursing program that meets the Commission on Collegiate Nurse Education of the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission standards.
• Licensed to practice as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP-BC) by the Iowa Board of Nursing.
• Current national certification as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner by one of the following: American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) or American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP).
• Must possess current Iowa Registered Nurse License. 
• Must possess a current DEA registration and State of Iowa Controlled Substances Act registration.
• Must possess the ability to function independently under general guidance of the supervising Physician and the policies and procedures of the institution.
• Must possess and demonstrate critical thinking skills.
• Ability to learn and navigate computer systems including the online training modules, the employee timesheet and the performance appraisal system. Job specific systems are also required.
• Must maintain emotional stability in emergency situations.
• Must possess valid certifications as determined by hospital privilege delineation.
• Must be able to read, speak, and write fluent English.

2.    Physical Requirements

• Sitting – Approximately 25% of shift.
• Standing – Approximately 50% of shift.
• Walking – Approximately 25% of shift.
• Lifting – Approximately 25 pounds.
• Twisting – Infrequent.
• Bending – Infrequent.
• Squat/Kneel – Not a requirement.

WORK ENVIRONMENT
1.    May come in contact with hazardous chemicals or treatment modalities.
2.    The possibility exists of exposure to communicable disease due to working in a healthcare environment.
3.    Involvement in patient care may result in unavoidable work-related illnesses.

This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee occupying this position.  A review of this description has excluded the marginal functions of the position that are incidental to the performance of fundamental job duties.  All duties and responsibilities are essential job functions.  Employees will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related duties requested by his/her manager.

Requirements are representative of the minimum levels of knowledge, skills, and/or abilities.  To perform this job successfully, the employee will possess the abilities or aptitudes to perform each duty proficiently.  Some requirements may exclude individuals who pose a direct threat or significant risk to the health and safety of themselves or other employees.  All requirements are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities.

This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an "at will" employment relationship with the Waverly Health Center.
 

This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee occupying this position.  A review of this description has excluded the marginal functions of the position that are incidental to the performance of fundamental job duties.  All duties and responsibilities are essential job functions.  Employees will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related duties requested by his/her manager.

Requirements are representative of the minimum levels of knowledge, skills, and/or abilities.  To perform this job successfully, the employee will possess the abilities or aptitudes to perform each duty proficiently.  Some requirements may exclude individuals who pose a direct threat or significant risk to the health and safety of themselves or other employees.  All requirements are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities.

This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an "at will" employment relationship with the Waverly Health Center.