Job Description
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) Position Overview
The Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) provides evidence-based, strength-focused, culturally sensitive psychiatric care in an outpatient behavioral health setting. The role involves psychiatric assessment, diagnosis, medication management, supportive therapy, care coordination, and collaboration with a multidisciplinary healthcare team.
The PMHNP is responsible for delivering compassionate, high-quality care while maintaining accurate clinical documentation and complying with applicable state and federal regulations.
Key Responsibilities Administrative Responsibilities
- Maintain accurate, current, and complete clinical records in accordance with established standards.
- Use electronic health records and electronic prescribing systems accurately and efficiently.
- Complete required documentation and administrative activities in a timely manner.
- Participate in required quality assessment and improvement activities.
- Attend scheduled clinical and administrative meetings.
- Participate in committees or other organizational activities as required.
Clinical Responsibilities
- Conduct comprehensive face-to-face psychiatric assessments, including:
- Psychiatric history
- Medication history
- Mental status examination
- Psychiatric formulation
- Diagnosis using current DSM criteria
- Written treatment plan
- Manage medication follow-up visits for an assigned caseload.
- Evaluate, initiate, adjust, and monitor psychiatric medications within the provider's scope of practice.
- Provide supportive therapy and other appropriate behavioral health interventions.
- Provide emergency psychiatric assessments, consultations, and medication prescribing as needed.
- Consult with physicians, nurses, therapists, and other healthcare professionals regarding psychiatric and medical concerns.
- Coordinate appropriate community-based and behavioral health services.
- Collaborate effectively with multidisciplinary healthcare teams.
- Provide care consistent with applicable professional standards, laws, regulations, and scope of practice.
- Maintain appropriate prescriptive authority and prescribe medications, including controlled substances, within the limits of applicable laws, training, and clinical expertise.
- Perform other clinical duties appropriate to the position and scope of practice.
- Patient Population and Clinical Scope
- The PMHNP should be comfortable providing services to patients across a broad range of behavioral health presentations, including:
- Severe and persistent mental illness
- Mood disorders
- Anxiety disorders
- Psychotic disorders
- Substance use disorders
- Co-occurring behavioral health conditions
- Other psychiatric and behavioral health diagnoses
- Experience providing clinical services to patients of different age groups is expected.
Required Qualifications
- Current, unrestricted Advanced Practice Nurse/APRN license in Colorado and in good standing.
- Graduate degree in nursing from an accredited academic institution.
- Current listing on the appropriate Advanced Practice Registry as a Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner or Clinical Nurse Specialist.
- Prescriptive authority consistent with applicable state and federal laws.
- Meets all applicable Colorado statutory and regulatory requirements for advanced practice psychiatric nursing.
- Experience working effectively as part of a multidisciplinary healthcare team.
- Experience in or familiarity with integrated primary care or behavioral healthcare settings.
- Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced clinical environment.
- Experience and comfort treating a broad range of behavioral health conditions, including substance use disorders.
- Experience working with adults with severe and persistent mental illness.
- Strong verbal and written communication skills.
- Excellent time-management and organizational skills.
- Flexibility and ability to adapt to changing clinical needs.
- Strong clinical documentation skills.
- Computer proficiency and ability to use electronic health records.
- Valid Colorado driver's license and reliable transportation when required for work-related travel.
- Current CPR/First Aid certification.
Preferred Qualifications
- At least two years of supervised experience using medications commonly prescribed within psychiatric practice.
- Advanced knowledge of psychiatric nursing principles.
- Advanced knowledge of psychiatric medications and medication interactions, including medication-medication and medication-food interactions.
- Advanced knowledge and experience in psychiatric assessment.
- Advanced experience in ongoing psychopharmacological treatment and medication management.
- Spanish language proficiency.
Professional Expectations
The PMHNP is expected to:
- Adapt effectively to changes in the clinical environment.
- Take ownership of problems and participate in identifying practical solutions.
- Exercise sound clinical judgment and demonstrate appropriate follow-through.
- Maintain current knowledge and skills necessary to perform essential job functions.
- Demonstrate a willingness to assume additional responsibilities within the appropriate scope of practice.
- Promote collaborative teamwork and respectful professional relationships.
- Demonstrate compassion, professionalism, and appropriate boundaries when interacting with patients, families, and colleagues.
- Communicate effectively and respectfully with members of the healthcare team.
- Maintain flexibility and professionalism in a variety of clinical situations.
Physical and Work Environment Requirements
- Ability to stand, sit, walk, and drive for prolonged periods.
- Ability to occasionally lift and carry items weighing up to 20 pounds.
- Ability to work effectively in stressful or emergent situations.
- Frequent use of computers and other office equipment for clinical documentation and patient care.
- Frequent communication with patients, families, and healthcare professionals.
- Possible exposure to communicable diseases and bodily fluids in the course of clinical duties.
- Ability to travel between clinical locations when required.
- Ability to drive safely in adverse weather conditions when work-related travel is necessary.
Regulatory and Scope-of-Practice Requirements
- The PMHNP must practice within the limits established by applicable Colorado statutes, regulations, professional standards, and organizational policies.
- Prescriptive authority, including the prescribing of controlled substances, must remain within the provider's education, training, clinical expertise, and legally authorized scope of practice.
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