Psychiatric APRN

Job Overview:  Montana State Hospital provides acute care psychiatric inpatient treatment for adults with serious mental illness. This position is an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) and is responsible for treating and prescribing care to patients as referred.  Responsibilities include directing patient care and collaborating as a provider and treatment team member in the provision of unit specific treatment for psychiatric patients.

Experience, training, knowledge, skills, abilities, and other qualifications must be entered into the online application.  Additional materials submitted, but not requested, will not be considered.

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Work for the state you Love to Live in.  Your paycheck is just part of a total compensation package.  Eligible employees have access to competitive, innovative benefits packages at an affordable cost.  All beginning on your first day of employment.  Highlights of our innovative benefit package include:

• Access to No Cost health centers
• Low-cost Medical, Dental and Vision insurance
• Retirement plan with employer
• 15 Vacation days each year
• 12 Sick days each year
• 10 Paid Holidays each year
• Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness program*
• Student Loan Repayment program*
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Employee Assistance Program
• Wellness Programs
• One free meal per shift
• Shift differential*

*Subject to eligibility rules

Major Duties or Responsibilities:

1. Direct Patient Care                                                                                                                   50%   

• Evaluates patients to identify psychiatric problems and functional deficits.
• Plans and prescribes patient treatment and medication administration and management.
• Assesses response to treatment and makes appropriate adjustments. 
• Evaluates patients for side effects and unintended consequences of treatment and attempts to address.
• Consults with psychiatrists and other physicians regarding patient treatment and care needs.
• Evaluates patients for physical health problems, and consults with and refers to primary care physicians in the Hospital's medical clinic as indicated.

1. Unit and Hospital Treatment Team Functions:                                                                     35%

• Assesses patient needs for commitment and recommitment as required under Montana law.
• Directs treatment team in development of discharge plan, assesses discharge readiness and aftercare needs.
• Provides pertinent clinical information to aftercare providers through completion of the discharge summary and provision of other pertinent information. 
• Refers patients to physicians, psychologists, chemical dependency counselors, mental health centers, social services, and other professionals and agencies as needed.
• Collaborates with other members of unit treatment teams to develop a treatment program, including rules and therapeutic activities for patients assigned to the team. 
• Completes documentation, writes reports, develops treatment plans, conducts evaluations as required by Hospital policies and state and federal regulations and standards. 
• Provides group and individual therapy, and psycho-educational programs to patients.
• Carries out on-call responsibilities, providing coverage for mental health issues while working on-call as the Medical Clinic Provider. 

1. Treatment Team Responsibilities                                                                                           10%

• Consults and collaborates with the nursing staff on progress or problems of individual patients.
• Promotes professional development and meets standards of licensure and accreditation.
• Offers general assistance to patient's family/visitors, and other authorized visitors to address direct patient care and to promote an understanding of patient care as a provider.

1. Hospital Wide Peer Services                                                                                                     5%

• Serves on hospital committees as assigned by the Medical Director or the Hospital Administrator. 
• Participates in, and provides for other staff, continuing education and training programs.
• Participates, as a non-voting member in medical staff activities, providing input into hospital policy and patient care issues.
• Consults with other professionals including physicians, APRN's, nurses, psychologists, social workers, and attorneys as needed to make patient care decisions.

 Physical and Environmental Demands:  Position works with persons who pose unpredictable and physically aggressive behavior requiring staff intervention and possible risk of injury to staff.  Employee in this position may be expected to assist with patient crisis interventions.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (Behaviors):

Required for the first day of work:

• Extensive and advanced knowledge of psychiatric advanced practice nursing.
• Understanding of individual and team approaches to treatment and therapy for mental health illness.
• Knowledge of professional standards of practice for healthcare professionals in different disciplines, in medical clinic settings, and for the operation of a healthcare facility.
• Ability to effectively utilize knowledge and skills, and apply them to practical assessment and treatment modalities for patients.
• Ability to compose and provide information in the form of reports and complete clinical documentation.
• Effective Interviewing and information gathering techniques.
• Ability to communicate effectively, verbally and in writing.
• Ability to analyze, assemble, and organize information.
• Functionality in the use communication technology.
• Ability to operate personal computer and general office equipment as necessary to complete essential functions, including using spreadsheets, word processing, database, email, internet, and other computer programs.

• Masters' Degree from an accredited APRN program as an Advanced Practice Nurse.
• Licensed as APRN in the state of Montana; prescriptive authority with assignment of DEA number.
• Two years of experience providing psychiatric patient care as an APRN preferred.
• ANCC certification as Psychiatric- Mental Health Nurse Practitioner or Psychiatric -Mental Health Clinical Nurse Specialist.

Candidates will be evaluated to determine if they meet the minimum qualifications listed above and on the extent to which the application materials show the candidate possess the knowledge, skills, and abilities associated with this position.  The selection process may consist of review of application materials (application, resume, cover letter...), physical assessment, job skill test, interview(s), background check and reference checks.  Candidates whose application and supporting documentation (cover letter, resume) do not clearly indicate all minimum qualifications are met will not be considered.