Job Summary:
In coordination with the physician, the Mental Health Nurse Practitioner is responsible for providing medical services to inmates of the Department of Corrections consistent with community standards of care. The position is 2 hours a week.
Skills and Abilities:
- Advanced clinical assessment skills, including psychiatric evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment planning
- Strong knowledge of psychopharmacology and ability to safely prescribe and manage medications within scope of licensure
- Ability to deliver patient-centered mental health care in accordance with community standards and correctional healthcare regulations
- Excellent clinical judgment and decision-making skills in both routine and high-acuity situations
- Proficiency in ordering, interpreting, and acting upon diagnostic tests and clinical data
- Strong documentation skills, including accurate and timely electronic health record (EHR) entries
- Effective communication and collaboration skills when working with physicians, nurses, mental health professionals, and custody staff
- Ability to educate patients on diagnoses, treatment plans, medications, and ongoing care
- Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, secure environment
- High level of professionalism, discretion, and adherence to ethical and legal standards, including HIPAA and PREA compliance
- Commitment to ongoing professional development and evidence-based practice
Performance Expectations:
- Performs and documents patient evaluation, including taking the patient’s history and conducting a physical examination
- Orders and interprets diagnostic tests
- Writes orders for medical medications and treatments, under guidelines of licensure
- May perform invasive procedures as necessary
- Dictates discharge summaries and transfer orders
- Maintains and follows patient care protocols
- Works with members of the healthcare team in educating the patients of their medical care
- Continually updates clinical knowledge and skills through consultation, formal and informal education and review of literature for the benefit of themselves as well as for the healthcare team
- All other duties as assigned.