PSYCHIATRIC NURSE PRACTITIONER OR APP

SEARHC is a non-profit health consortium which serves the health interests of the residents of Southeast Alaska. We see our employees as our strongest assets. It is our priority to further their development and our organization by aiding in their professional advancement.

Working at SEARHC is more than a job, it’s a fulfilling career. We offer generous benefits, including retirement, paid time off, paid parental leave, health, dental, and vision benefits, life insurance and long and short-term disability, and more.

Provides behavioral health assessment and treatment in close collaboration with the Psychiatrist, medical providers, and the behavioral health team.  Such treatment will include maintaining an independent caseload and assisting other mental health providers in their clinical treatment of patients. 
 

Key Essential Functions and Accountabilities of the Job 

• Manages a caseload of patients within an interdisciplinary team model with psychiatric and substance use disorders, medical conditions and extensive psychosocial stressors.  Performs medical and psychosocial assessments, patient and family education and disposition planning.  Responsibilities include coordination of referrals to other facility services and community agencies.  Provides mental health care services in an outpatient setting in collaboration with the Psychiatrist and other SEARHC providers.  This includes mental health evaluations, problem based counseling, medication management, and other appropriate treatment. 
• Provides hospital, clinic and village based mental health assessment, consultation, and acts as liaison to SEARHC clinic and/or hospital medical staff to ensure continuity of care. 
• Participates in medical staff functions as requested, peer review, patient care conferences, quality assurance and other relevant reviews and meetings. 
• Maintains active and collaborative working relationships with the Psychiatrist, as well as other behavioral health and medical providers.   
• Serves as a liaison between behavioral health and medical care, to ensure effective communication and continuity of care. 

Other Functions 

• Other duties as assigned 

Supervisory Responsibilities 

• This position does not require supervisory responsibilities. 

Education, Certifications, and Licenses Required 

• Graduate of a PA or NP training program – required 
• National Certification as a Physician Assistant - required 
• Licensed in State of Alaska, or obtain license in Alaska within 6 months of employment - required 
• BLS certification - required

Experience Required 

• Two years of experience in mental health treatment at the PA/NP level or prior training and experience that allows the practitioner to work independently in a wide range of mental health settings – required. 4

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities 

Knowledge of: 

• Knowledge of clinical mental health treatment as a nurse practitioner or physician’s assistant including assessment, diagnosis, and standards of care 
• Knowledge of current developments and best practices in mental health treatment and medication management 

Skills in: 

• Critical decision making regarding a patient’s condition and appropriate plan of care 
• Professional clinical skills in the practice of medicine, including assessment, diagnosis and treatment of behavioral health conditions. 
• Excellent oral and written communication skills to ensure thorough documentation and positive working relationships with patients and other health care providers. 
• Skilled in differential diagnosis including identification of interactions between physical conditions, mental health issues, and substance use disorders 

Ability to: 

• Ability to work cooperatively with other health care and social service professionals.  
• Ability to integrate information from a variety of sources to assess, diagnose and treat complex conditions in both routine and crisis situations.  
• Ability to apply best practices, standards of care, and ethical guidelines in interactions with patients and staff. 

Travel Required:   

• Up to 25% travel expected. 

Safety and Risk Management Responsibilities: 

• Employees are responsible for complying with safe work rules; reporting all accidents and injuries immediately; cooperating in all accident and injury investigations; reporting defective equipment and unsafe conditions. 

Physical Demands: 

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle or feel and reach with hands and arms.  The employee is occasionally required to climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl. 
• The employee may frequently lift and/or push/pull up to 25 lbs. 
• The employee may be expected to lift patients as required. 

Work Environment: 

• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. 
• The setting for this role will include office and healthcare settings. Exposure to controlled temperature environments, both hot and cold, is to be expected. 
• The normal work routine involves no exposure to blood, body fluids or tissues.  Persons who perform these duties are not called upon as part of their employment to perform or assist in emergency medical care or first aid or to be potentially exposed in some other way.