Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

El Dorado Community Health Centers; Placerville (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

El Dorado Community Health Centers is seeking an experienced PMHNP to provide comprehensive outpatient psychiatric evaluation and treatment for adults and families in a community health setting. You will work under supervision with the Associate Medical Director and collaborating clinicians, delivering medication management, psychotherapy, and crisis response as needed.

The role requires prescribing and monitoring psychotropic medications, coordinating with addiction medicine, and ensuring

Qualifications

• At least one year of outpatient behavioral health/psychiatric experience.
• Master’s degree in nursing with PMHNP specialization and current PMHNP-BC certification.
• California NP license (PMHNP) and RN license considerations.
• BLS certification and furnishing number required.
• DEA certificate for controlled substances as applicable.

Responsibilities

• Provide full scope outpatient psychiatric evaluation and treatment for adults and families.
• Prescribe, monitor, and adjust psychotropic medications with ongoing safety monitoring.
• Conduct risk assessments for suicide, self‑harm, and harm to others; develop safety plans.
• Coordinate with Addiction Medicine and behavioral health staff for co-occurring disorders treatment.
• Deliver individual and family psychotherapy within scope of practice.
• Maintain medical records legibly and promptly using the eCW EMR system.
• Participate in continuing education and quality improvement efforts.
• Support clinic operations to ensure timely, dignified patient experiences.

Skills

Oral and written communication

Spanish language

Clinical risk assessment

eCW EMR familiarity

Education

Master of Science in Nursing (PMHNP specialization)

PMHNP-BC certification

BLS certification

Furnishing number

DEA certificate for controlled substances

Tools

eCW EMR system

Job description

JOB SUMMARY:

Under the general supervision of the Associate Medical Director and in collaboration with the consulting Psychiatrist and other clinician providers, provide full scope outpatient psychiatric evaluation, and treatment of mental health diseases, including mood disorders and behavioral disorders, including addiction medicine, medication management and psychotherapy for adult patients and their families in a community health clinic setting. This position is responsible for working with all Center departments to ensure that the patient experience is delivered in a timely, dignified, and caring manner.

Brief Description

JOB SUMMARY:

Under the general supervision of the Associate Medical Director and in collaboration with the consulting Psychiatrist and other clinician providers, provide full scope outpatient psychiatric evaluation, and treatment of mental health diseases, including mood disorders and behavioral disorders, including addiction medicine, medication management and psychotherapy for adult patients and their families in a community health clinic setting. This position is responsible for working with all Center departments to ensure that the patient experience is delivered in a timely, dignified, and caring manner.

Job Duties And Responsibilities

All Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner scope of practice and clinical privileges/procedures are authorized by the approved written Nursing Standardized procedures of El Dorado County Community Health Center, written in accordance with the Nursing Practice Act (NPA) Section 2725 and California Code of Regulation (CCR 1480). State of California, as implemented and regulated by the State of California Board of Registered Nursing, www.rn.ca.gov

Clinical Practice

• Provide psychiatric mental health care services to Center clients of all ages consistent with scope of practice laws and Nursing Standardized Procedures, including comprehensive psychiatric diagnostic evaluation, mental status examination, and development of an individualized treatment plan.
• Prescribe, manage, and monitor psychotropic medications, including ongoing monitoring for therapeutic response, side effects, and drug interactions, and adjusting treatment according to standard practice.
• Obtain appropriate consults with a psychiatrist or physician when problems presented are outside the scope of practice or when unfamiliar with a particular aspect of the client's care.
• Provide brief therapeutic interventions, individual and family psychoeducation, and supportive counseling within scope of practice, coordinating with behavioral health staff and community resources for ongoing therapy needs.
• Provide medication-assisted treatment for substance use and co-occurring disorders in coordination with the Addiction Medicine Physician and other Center providers, as applicable and within scope of practice.
• Perform risk assessments for suicide, self-harm, and harm to others; develop and implement safety plans and provide crisis intervention as needed.
• Provide oral and written mental health education to Center clients and their families and answer questions, working closely with other clinic staff who provide these services to assure appropriate education and information, including follow-up, for clients.
• Maintain productivity standards within 10% of the practice goal in order to sustain fiscal viability while maintaining high quality clinical care.
• Perform independent assessments and treatment procedures in emergency or crisis situations.
• Take the lead or participate in the development, periodic review, and updating of Protocols and Standardized Procedures related to behavioral health and psychiatric care.
• Participate in a comprehensive quality improvement process which includes routine auditing of medical records to ensure quality clinical care and that clinic protocols are followed, and ensuring that the Board's quality assurance committee's recommendations concerning medical care are implemented.
• Be available to answer questions/provide consultation to all clinic staff during clinic hours, including triaging telephone calls and making referrals.
• Coordinate communication during the following situations: a) call if going to be late; b) sign out clients to the appropriate clinician/clinic staff for follow-up; c) give appropriate notice as required by EDCCHC for time off; d) respond to messages in a timely manner during working hours.
• Complete legible and legally defensible medical records in a timely manner on a daily basis, including completing accurate and timely chart entries on client transactions, orders, test results, and progress notes summarizing client care for continuity of care between visits, using the eCW EMR system.
• Complete and submit all billing in an agreed upon timely manner.
• Attend continuing education programs and provide evidence of necessary education completion to upgrade skills and maintain licensing requirements.
• Establish and maintain good relationships within the healthcare and behavioral health community.
• Attend and participate in staff meetings as required or requested.
• Support and contribute to efforts to maintain and improve client satisfaction in all aspects of health care delivery.

Safety

• Maintain current knowledge of policies and procedures as they relate to safe work practices.
• Follow all safety procedures and report or resolve unsafe conditions to ensure an injury‑free work environment.
• Use appropriate ergonomic measures to reduce risk of work‑related injuries.
• Adhere to infection control procedures in the clinic, including bloodborne pathogen protocols.

Knowledge Of

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Current, standard psychiatric mental health and primary behavioral health care practices, treatments, tests, and therapies.
• Current and emerging trends in technologies, techniques, issues, and approaches in psychiatric mental health nursing.
• Psychopharmacology, including indications, contraindications, and monitoring requirements for psychotropic medications.
• Evidence‑based practices for the treatment of substance use and co‑occurring disorders.
• Scope of practice laws regarding professional licensure (PMHNP) and Center Protocols and Standardized Procedures.
• General information about federal, state, and local laws and regulations regarding scope of practice issues affecting licensed community clinics, including confidentiality requirements specific to behavioral health records.
• Basic information about public and private health insurance and third‑party reimbursement issues.
• Community resources related to specialty behavioral health care, crisis services, and other health‑related services.

Skills In

• Effective oral and written communication.
• Excellent, efficient and effective use of the eCW EMR system.
• Exercising good judgment in clinical decision making and client care, including risk assessment and crisis management.
• Using a computer for word processing, data entry and e‑mail.
• Speaking and understanding Spanish highly desirable.

Ability To

• Maintain adequate physical and mental health status in order to demonstrate professional and ethical competence in providing high quality clinical care to Center clients.
• Maintain quality control standards.
• Interpret, adapt and apply treatment protocols/guidelines and procedures.
• Understand client needs as consumers of health care and focus service around those needs.
• Develop rapport and work with people of all ages, cultural, religious, social and ethnic backgrounds, including acknowledging and honoring psychosocial, spiritual and cultural beliefs.
• Maintain professional behavior with all levels of colleagues, staff, clients and the public, including refraining from negative comments about peers in public and in the medical record, resolving conflict with peers and staff in a private setting, and demonstrate courtesy and respect to all staff.
• Analyze and pay attention to detail.
• Share the EDCCHC mission and team orientation approach and cooperate in accomplishing common goals and objectives.
• Accept and be receptive to audit feedback and other types of clinical review.
• Inspire confidence and trust in clients and staff.
• Maintain a high level of confidentiality, with particular sensitivity to behavioral health record protections.
• Meet work deadlines.

Requirements

QUALIFICATIONS

Experience:

At least one year of recent experience in a busy outpatient behavioral health or psychiatric practice serving multigenerational, multicultural patients is required, which can include experience obtained during the PMHNP program; experience in a non‑profit rural community clinic or community mental health setting is preferred. Speaking and understanding Spanish is desirable.

Education And Licensing Requirements

• Current, valid, unsuspended State of California license as a registered nurse.
• A Master of Science Degree in Nursing (or Doctor of Nursing Practice) including specialized advanced clinical and didactic education as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner from an accredited school of nursing.
• Current PMHNP certification (PMHNP-BC) by a national nurse practitioner certifying board (e.g., ANCC), or certification within 12 months of hire.
• Current BLS certification.
• Furnishing number.
• DEA Certificate with authority to prescribe controlled substances, including buprenorphine‑based medications for the treatment of opioid use disorder as applicable.

Physical Requirements:

Normal health center/interior office environment. See, hear, talk, walk or move about, sit and/or stand for long periods of time, reach, stoop, bend, lift up to 50 lb.; transfer clients of any weight; repetitive hand movement; use and view a computer; use a calculator, operate fax, copier, telephone and car; read and write English.