Full Job Description
July 2024
JOB DESCRIPTION
Job Classification: Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP) or Physician Assistant (PA)
Working Title: Nurse Practitioner/Physician Assistant
This position is responsible for providing therapy, medication assessment, and crisis response to new and existing consumers at the Brief Psychiatric Care Clinic (BPCC) under the supervision of the BPCC psychiatrist. The BPCC program is designed to reduce pressure on local emergency departments and to provide a bridge of care to community mental health providers.
Supervised by: BPCC Psychiatrist
Employees Supervised: None
Division: Brief Psychiatric Care Clinic
Normal Work Hours/Days: 40 hours per week
Monday through Thursday 8:00AM to 5:30 PM
Friday 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM
PRIMARY JOB FUNCTIONS:
Work directly and harmoniously with the BPCC psychiatrist and nursing staff in recipient assessment, follow-up, and referral for continuing care.
Perform intake assessments via recipient interviews, review of medical history, and by interviewing family members when needed.
Use data gathered from the assessment to formulate a diagnostic impression which considers the individuals biological and psychosocial history.
Use ICD-10 and DSM-5 to code the appropriate diagnostic impression into the electronic medical record.
Using the diagnostic formulation, develop individualized treatment plans for medical management, which will be monitored and adjusted based on the recipients response.
Understand how and when to use laboratory values to assess suitability for medication and to monitor its effects on the individual recipient.
Work with the other staff at BPCC to determine adjunctive services and referrals needed for the recipient to obtain optimum functioning (e.g. individual therapy services, need for medication assistance programs, substance treatment referrals, vocational rehabilitation services, primary medical services, etc.).
Provide education for recipients, families, and clinical staff re: psychiatric diagnosis and medical management of psychiatric disorders.
Maintain accurate and timely documentation of all services provided in the electronic health record.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
The individual hired for this position is a non-physician practitioner, who has formal education or specialized training in behavioral health and is qualified to prescribe the full range of psychotropic medications. Must be licensed in Alabama as a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner by the Alabama Board of Nursing and prefer a minimum of two years experience working with persons who have a serious mental illness. Physician Assistants must be licensed by the Alabama Board of Medical Examiners and prefer a minimum of two years experience working with persons who have a serious mental illness.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS and ABILITIES:
Demonstrable knowledge of sound mental health practices and procedures.
Demonstrable knowledge of and ability to address mental health and substance use related issues.
Demonstrable organizational skills as well as the ability to clearly and effectively communicate both orally and in writing.
Knowledge of the special needs and behavioral characteristics of individuals who are diagnosed with mental illness and substance use disorders.