Behavioral Health - APRN/ Nurse Practitioner

Works as part of a multidisciplinary team to provide clinical services; assumes client care responsibilities inclusive of professional diagnosis and prescribing and/or administering treatment; applies medical knowledge and skills to the process of diagnosis, prevention and treatment of illnesses; offering treatment options and input to treatment plan as a part of a multi-disciplinary team of case managers, therapists, nurses and program managers. Other duties include consultation regarding diagnosis and treatment to other agency staff or to community partners including emergency room and local MDs, and participation in authorization of medical necessity and other utilization management duties.

Essential Duties:

ASSESSMENT

Assessing all aspects of the patient’s health status, including health promotion, health protection, and disease prevention. Employs evidence-based clinical practice guidelines to guide screening activities, identifies health promotion needs, and provides anticipatory guidance and counseling addressing environmental, lifestyle, and developmental issues.

• Obtains and accurately documents a relevant health history, with an emphasis on mental health history, for patients relevant to specialty and age.
• Performs a comprehensive physical and mental health assessment
• Performs a comprehensive evaluation, that includes evaluation of mental status, current and past history of violence, suicidal or self-harm behavior, substance use, level of functioning, health behaviors, trauma, sexual behaviors, and social and developmental history
• Analyzes the relationship between normal physiology and specific system alterations associated with mental health problems, psychiatric disorders, and treatment.
• Identifies and analyzes factors that affect mental health.
• Assesses the impact of acute and/or chronic physical illness, mental health disorders, and stressors on the family system.
• Performs a comprehensive assessment of mental health needs of a community.
• Performs and accurately documents appropriate systems and symptom-focused physical examinations, with emphasis on the mental status exam and neurological exam.
• Involves patients, significant others, and interdisciplinary team members in treatment planning.
• Demonstrates effective clinical interviewing skills that facilitate development of a therapeutic relationship

DIAGNOSIS

Is engaged in the diagnosis of mental health disorders, and related health status.

• Orders and interprets findings of relevant diagnostic and laboratory tests.
• Identifies both typical and atypical presentations of psychiatric disorders and related health problems.
• Differentiates psychiatric presentations of medical conditions from psychiatric disorders and arranges appropriate evaluation and follow-up.
• Develops a differential diagnosis derived from the collection and synthesis of assessment data
• Diagnoses psychiatric disorders.
• Differentiates between exacerbation and reoccurrence of a chronic psychiatric disorder and signs and symptoms of a new mental health problem or a new medical or psychiatric disorder.
• Evaluates potential abuse, neglect, and risk of danger to self and others, such as suicide, homicide, and other self-injurious behaviors, and assists patients and families in securing the least restrictive environment for ensuring safety.

TREATMENT

The planning and implementing therapeutic interventions to assist the patient to achieve an optimal state of health.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Strong computer skills, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective communications among and with nursing and other health disciplines; demonstrated ability to communicate to large groups of health professionals.
• Must demonstrate and maintain knowledge and competency in providing care for patients in adolescent, adult and/or age groups.

Professional Experience/Educational:

• Registered Nurse in the State of CT, with Master’s Degree in Nursing.
• Prefer Two years’ experience in ambulatory care setting preferred.

Certification/Licensure:

• Board Certification as an APRN
• Current Nurse Practitioner certification in specialty area
• Current CNOR/CRNFA (if applicable) certification
• Current provider card in Basic Life Support (BLS); CPR certified

COVID-19 VACCINATION REQUIRMENTS:

COHC requires all new employees to be vaccinated against Covid-19 prior to starting employment with COHC unless they are approved for a reasonable accommodation based on disability, medical condition, or religious belief that prevents them from being vaccinated.