Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner - Petaluma

Summary:
 
The rapidly growing and award-winning team at Executive Mental Health (EMH), with over 25 years of experience as a leading behavioral healthcare group in the State of California, is seeking experienced Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners for a full-time position with the company to support the growth of EMH as a trusted provider of integrated mental healthcare.
 
The psychiatric nurse practitioner will offer an extensive knowledge of nursing, mental health assessment and diagnosis, psychotherapy, and psychopharmacology. The successful candidate will be knowledgeable about assisting clinicians in providing top-quality mental health care and offer experience in the skilled nursing environment and/or working with the elderly community.
 
EMH is looking for candidates throughout California: With the home office in Los Angeles, EMH clinicians provide face-to-face and remote therapeutic interventions throughout the state.  Nurse Practitioners support EMH patients, most of whom reside in SNFs, by attending to their behavioral health needs. The position offers competitive pay and benefits such as fully covered healthcare, 401K retirement plan, paid parental leave, and more.
 
Job description:
 
EMH is expanding now by hiring physicians and nurse practitioners based on the need for competent clinicians to manage the prescription of psychotropic medications as we continue to deliver quality mental health services to a diverse, underserved population residing in skilled nursing facilities (as well as other levels of care). We emphasize the biopsychosocial model and communicate with staff in a collegial way to improve patients’ quality of life.
Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners will support patients cope with psychiatric disorders including ADHD, mood disorders, and anxiety and others. They will evaluate patients before and during their care to monitor their progress and administer medications as needed. At EMH, the Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners will also collaborate with psychiatrists to provide the widest scope of care possible to patients. Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners should hold strong communication skills to work effectively with other medical professionals and patients. They should also possess a strong sense of empathy to understand their patients and provide specialized care.
 
Responsibilities:
 
Supervised by and working closely with the Director of Psychiatric Services at EMH, the job duties of the nurse practitioner shall include, but are not limited to:
 
●      Conduct health assessments such as recording medical and psychosocial history
●      Record symptoms
●      Physically examine patients
●      Make diagnoses
●      Develop a treatment plan that may include medication and other therapies
●      Educate patient on healthy habits to prevent diseases and maintain good health
●      Collaborate with other healthcare providers, including physicians and nurses
●      Order and interpret laboratory test results
●      Follow up on patients to determine the effectiveness of recommended treatments

Skills and aptitudes
 
The work that psychiatric nurse practitioners do is both emotionally and mentally demanding. It requires a broad set of professional skills honed over the course of their careers that allow these nurse practitioners to manage their stress and workload while providing a high-level of care.
 
●      Professionalism: The subject of mental health can be difficult for patients and their families to openly discuss. It is important that psychiatric nurse practitioners act professionally, showing respect and tact when communicating with patients and their families, and when assessing and evaluating a patient’s mental health. They need to establish trust that will enable people to confide in them while maintaining organizational values and acting as an advocate for those coping with mental illness. In addition, psychiatric nurse practitioners must be able to manage the pressure and stress that comes with their position.
 
●      Analytical Skills: Determining the scope and specifics of a mental illness can be difficult because its signs are not often clear and may differ from patient to patient. Psychiatric nurse practitioners must be able to synthesize diverse data and patient research in conjunction with their in-depth medical knowledge and the insights from other professionals. The ability to analyze information will allow them to design plans for care and therapy for their patients.
 
●      Problem Solving: Psychiatric nurse practitioners find solutions. It is their job to help patients to manage their mental health issues. Problem-solving skills are necessary throughout the treatment process. These skills help in identifying key risk factors, such as medical and family history of mental illness, trauma, substance abuse, and environment, among other factors. Psychiatric nurse practitioners must be able to collaborate with other professionals, using logic and reason when addressing emotional topics. They are also responsible for the continual evaluation of a patient’s treatment plan and for finding alternate solutions as new challenges arise.
 

EMH offers a supportive and fun team environment including: