Psychiatric Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner

Vision Statement - Our vision of Lifeline Connections is to be the recognized premier provider of substance use and mental health services in the Pacific Northwest by providing integrated care, comprehensive services, and enduring relationships.

Mission Statement - Through the use of superior customer service, high quality programs and a well-trained and dedicated staff, our mission is to inspire hope and support life-saving changes for people affected by substance use and mental health conditions.

Pay Range: $82.00 to $87.00 Hourly

Job description:

This position is responsible for conducting psychiatric assessments, assessing physical health needs monthly, making appropriate referrals to community physicians, and managing and administrating medication monthly. This position provides clinical services to agency PACT patients. In fulfilling these duties, the incumbent performs the following duties:

• Provide patient service coordination, including participation with the individual treatment teams.
• Participate in and conduct parts of the patient-centered comprehensive assessment of psychiatric history (e.g., onset, course and effect of illness, past treatment and responses, and risk behaviors), mental status, and diagnosis; physical health and dental health; use of drugs or alcohol; education and employment; social development and functioning; activities of daily living (e.g., self-care, living situation, nutrition, money management); and family structure and relationships.
• Document patient progress in a permanent record of patient activity according to established methods and procedures.
• Participate in staff meetings and individual service planning review meetings.
• Take the lead role in providing psychiatric medication management and medical services.
• Manage pharmaceuticals and medical supplies.
• Coordinate, schedule, and administer medical assessments of patient physical health, making appropriate referrals to community physicians for further assessment and treatment, and coordinate psychiatric treatment with medical treatment.
• Provide ongoing assessment of patients’ mental illness symptoms and patients’ response to treatment. Make appropriate changes in service plans to ensure immediate and appropriate interventions are provided in response to changes in mental status or behavior that put patients at risk.
• Provide symptom education to enable patients to identify their mental health symptoms.
• Provide direct clinical services to patients on an individual, group, or family basis in the office and in community settings to teach behavioral symptom-management techniques to alleviate and manage symptoms not reduced by medication and to promote personal growth and development by assisting patients to adapt to and cope with internal and external stresses.
• Provide individual treatment in the office and in community settings in a stage-based treatment model that is non-confrontational, considers interactions of mental health and substance use, and has patient-determined goals.
• In coordination with the other Registered Nurses on the team, assist and support patients to have and effectively use a personal primary care physician, dentist, and other medical specialists as required.
• Must have a solid commitment to the right and ability of each person with a severe and persistent mental illness to live in ordinary community residences, work in market jobs, and have access to helpful, adequate, competent, and continuous support and services. Skills and competence to establish supportive trusting relationships with persons with severe and persistent mental illnesses and respect for patient rights and personal preferences in treatment are essential.
• In coordination with the Program Director and Team Lead, provide training to Lifeline employees regarding specific subject areas related to expertise.
• Support and implement agency policies and procedures.
• Other duties as assigned by the Regional Director and Team Lead.

The incumbent will function as a Psychiatric Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner under the direct supervision of Lifeline Connections' Medical Director. Most working hours are spent indoors in offices but may require transporting oneself to patients’ homes and other community agencies if necessary. This expectation complies with the PACT model and should be expected.

Requirements:

• Master’s degree in psychiatric mental health nursing.
• Licensed as a Washington State Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner.
• Carry American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) certification.
• At least one year of work experience in an inpatient or outpatient psychiatric setting is preferred.
• Attend a minimum of monthly supervision meetings and daily PACT huddles.
• Become a buprenorphine practitioner within six months of hire.
• Ability to communicate both verbally and in writing.
• Great attendance.
• Have the ability to work well with others.
• Have the ability to complete all tasks as assigned accurately; and
• Maintain a high level of confidentiality with all information acquired.

Top benefits or perks:

As a team member at Lifeline Connections, you’ll enjoy:

• Benefits:
  • Medical, Dental, and Vision
  • 401K with 5% match
  • 12 Paid Holidays per Year
  • 1 Personal Holiday Per year
  • Approx. four weeks PTO in the first year

Location: Location of the position is in Bellingham, Washington but the incumbent should expect to travel throughout Whatcom County if needed.

Contact/application information:

Contacts are with members of the treatment team, consumers, significant others of the consumers, administrative, supervisory, and clerical personnel, employers, representatives of various community agencies specializing in the treatment of substance use and mental health, related community representatives, including lawyers, parole officers, and other court officials. All personal contacts are carried out by federal and state statutes, laws, and regulations dealing with the confidentiality of alcohol and drug-dependent consumer records.

If you are interested in learning more about this possibility, please apply through Lifeline Connections website. You can also email the PACT Clinical Supervisor directly for more information about the opportunity.