Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner

Job Title: Psychiatric APRN

Reports To: Chief Medical Officer

Job purpose

The APRN will demonstrate courageous and critical thinking and is a caring, compassionate and committed experienced nurse who, acting within their professional boundaries, will provide care for the presenting patient from initial history taking, clinical assessment, diagnosis, treatment and evaluation of care. They will demonstrate safe, competent clinical decision-making and expert care, including assessment and diagnostic skills, for patients both within Behavioral Health as well as the Medical Clinic. The APRN will commit to demonstrating critical thinking in the safe clinical decision-making process. They will communicate and work collaboratively with the general practice team and the mental health team, to meet the needs of patients, supporting the delivery of policy and procedures, and providing nurse leadership as required.

Duties and responsibilities

Clinical practice

• Assess, diagnose, plan, implement, and evaluate treatment/interventions and care for psychiatric patients presenting with an undifferentiated diagnosis
• Clinically examine and assess patient needs from a physiological and psychological perspective, and plan clinical care accordingly. Assess for and rule out common medical and nutritional conditions that may impact psychiatric health and functioning, and refer to primary care providers and medical specialists as needed for further evaluation and care
• Assess, diagnose, plan, implement, and evaluate interventions/treatments for patients with complex needs. Proactively identify, diagnose, and manage treatment plans for patients at risk of developing a long-term condition (as appropriate)
• Diagnose and manage both acute and chronic conditions, integrating both drug- and non-drug-based treatment methods into a management plan
• Be familiar with common, evidence-based psychotherapeutic modalities and be able to intervene with supportive psychotherapy as appropriate. Refer to therapists delivering evidence-based care when needed
• Prescribe and review medication for therapeutic effectiveness, appropriate to patient needs and in accordance with evidence-based practice and national and practice protocols, and within the scope of practice
• Work with patients to support compliance with and adherence to prescribed treatments. Provide information and advice on prescribed or over-the-counter medication on medication regimens, side effects, and interactions
• Identify and evaluate for substance use disorders. Conduct screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment as routine practice
• Prioritize health problems and intervene appropriately to assist the patient in complex, urgent, or emergency situations, including initiation of effective emergency care
• Perform suicide and other safety risk assessments and refer to a higher level of care as appropriate to keep the patient safe. Develop and complete Safety Plans with patients as needed
• Support patients to adopt health promotion strategies that promote healthy lifestyles, and apply principles of self-care
• Perform sexual health counseling and refer to screening and prevention services as appropriate
• The APRN has clinical responsibility for the patient's treatment and delivery of clinical services, working in conjunction with the supervising psychiatrist and under their protocol

Communication

• Utilize and demonstrate sensitive communication styles, to ensure patients are fully informed and consent to treatment
• Communicate with and support patients who are receiving 'bad news'
• Communicate effectively with patients and caregivers, recognizing the need for alternative methods of communication to overcome different levels of understanding, cultural backgrounds and preferred ways of communicating
• Anticipate barriers to communication and act to improve communication
• Maintain effective communication within the practice environment and with external stakeholders
• Act as an advocate for patients and colleagues
• Ensure awareness of sources of support and guidance and provide information in an acceptable format to all patients, recognizing any difficulties and referring them where appropriate

Delivering a quality service

• Recognize and work within own competence and professional code of conduct as regulated by Applicable state and federal laws.
• Produce accurate, contemporaneous, and complete records of patient consultation, consistent with legislation, policies, and procedures
• Prioritize, organize, and manage your own workload in a manner that maintains and promotes quality
• Deliver care according to professional standard guidelines and evidence-based care
• Assess the effectiveness of care delivery through self and peer review, benchmarking, and formal evaluation
• Initiate and participate in the maintenance of quality governance systems and processes across the organization and its activities
• Evaluate patients' response to health care provision and the effectiveness of care
• Support and participate in shared learning across the practice and wider organization
• Use a structured framework to manage, review, and identify learning from patient complaints, clinical incidents, and near-miss events
• Assess the impact of policy implementation on care delivery
• Contribute to the appraisal of the performance of the team, providing feedback as appropriate
• Understand and apply legal issues that support the identification of vulnerable and abused children and adults, and be aware of statutory child/vulnerable patients health procedures and local guidance
• Working with practice management to ensure the whole team has skills and knowledge regarding domestic violence, vulnerable adults, substance abuse, and addictive behavior. Provide guidance and support to ensure appropriate referral if required
• Establish and maintain a concierge-level customer service relationship with all patients and community partners.

Leadership - personal and people development

• Act as a clinical leader in the delivery of practice nursing services ensuring that the needs of the patient are a priority
• Take responsibility for own learning and performance including participating in clinical supervision and acting as a positive role model
• Support staff development to maximize potential
• Actively promote the workplace as a learning environment, encouraging everyone to learn from each other and external good practice
• Encourage others to make realistic self-assessments of their application of knowledge and skills, challenging any complacency or actions that are not in the interest of the public and/or users of services
• Critically evaluate and review innovations and developments that are relevant to the area of work
• Enlist support and influence stakeholders and decision-makers to bring about new developments in the provision of services
• Work with practice management to ensure sufficient staff of appropriate ability, quality and skill mix are available to meet current and future service delivery, that selection and recruitment processes are effective and that equality of treatment of the team incorporates quality HR principles and processes
• Contribute to the development of local guidelines, protocols, and standards
• Promote the role of the advanced nurse practitioner in general practice

Team working

• Understand your own role and scope and identify how this may develop over time
• Work as an effective and responsible team member, supporting others and exploring the mechanisms to develop new ways of working.
• Provides support to the Associate Clinical Director with company mission, and changes in policies and supports the Medical team within the scope of practice.
• Delegate clearly and appropriately, adopting the principles of safe practice and assessment of competence
• Create clear referral mechanisms to meet patient need
• Prioritize own workload and ensure effective time-management strategies are embedded within the culture of the team
• Work effectively with others to clearly define values, direction, and policies impacting care delivery
• Discuss, highlight, and work with the team to create opportunities to improve patient care
• Manage and lead on the delivery of specifically identified services or projects as agreed with the practice management team
• Agree plans and outcomes by which to measure success

Management of risk

• Manage and assess risk within the areas of responsibility, ensuring adequate measures are in place to protect staff and patients
• Monitor work areas and practices to ensure they are safe and free from hazards and conform to health, safety, and security legislation, policies, procedures, and guidelines
• Ensure appropriate supervision of safe storage, rotation, and disposal of vaccines and drugs. Oversee the monitoring, stock control, and documentation of controlled drug usage per legal requirements where appropriate
• Working with the practice management, ensure the nursing team has access to and undertakes mandatory and statutory training requirements
• Apply infection-control measures within the practice per local and national guidelines
• Advocate for policies that reduce environmental health risks, are culturally sensitive, and increase access to health care for all
• Interpret national strategies and policies into local implementation strategies that are aligned with the values and culture of general practice

Managing information

• Use technology and appropriate software as an aid to management in planning, implementation, and monitoring of care, presenting and communicating information
• Collate, analyze and present clinical data and information to the team

Learning and development

• Disseminate learning and information gained to other team members to share good practices and inform others about current and future developments (eg courses and conferences)
• Assess own learning needs and undertake learning as appropriate
• Provide an educational role to patients, careers, families, and colleagues in an environment that facilitates learning

Equality and diversity

• Identify patterns of discrimination and act to overcome this and promote diversity and equality of opportunity
• Enable others to promote equality and diversity in a non-discriminatory culture
• Support people who need assistance in exercising their rights
• Act as a role model in the observance of equality and diversity in good practice
• Assist patients from marginalized groups to access quality care

Qualifications

The APRN will be thoroughly committed to the organization's mission. This person should consider themselves integral to espousing the 26Health's brand and ensure all patients are receiving concierge-level patient care. All candidates should possess or can master Microsoft Office Platforms, E-Clinical Works Electronic Medical Record, and attention to detail. Strong written and verbal communication skills. Work as a self-starter and under little direction on tasks provided by leaders. Be forward-thinking on tasks and proactive in dealing/managing challenges and/or obstacles.

Working conditions

Ability to work in an office setting. Ability to sit for extended periods. Ability to work at a computer for extended periods. Be available to work 40 hours per week.

Physical requirements

There are no extreme physical requirements for this position.