SUMMARY DESCRIPTION

Under the clinical supervision of an identified Psychiatrist and alternate Psychiatrist, and in collaboration with the Division Medical Director and CMO; the Advance Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) is a registered nurse with additional training and certification in advanced medical practice including prescriptive authority, preferably with a focus in Mental Health treatment & is licensed to practice nursing in this advanced role in the State of Texas.

The focus of care is on health promotion and disease prevention. Such care is delivered within the rules and regulations of the Texas Board of Nursing (BON) and the Texas Board of Medical Examiners (BME). This nurse is prepared to practice in an expanded role to provide mental health care and services to individuals, families or groups in a variety of settings. The APRN acts independently and in collaboration with other health care professionals in the delivery of services. This position services include but are not limited to assessment, diagnosis, examinations, ordering, conducting and interpreting diagnostic and lab tests, prescription of psychiatric pharmacologic agents, and treatments and non-pharmacological therapies.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS
• Utilizes a ?ve step systematic process (nursing process) to deliver patient services. This process includes assessment, analysis, planning, implementation and evaluation.
• Demonstrates decision making that is clinically sound, systematic, timely, well researched and re?ects awareness of impact including reporting to the supervising psychiatrist (s) and appropriate members of the management and administrative staff while working independently with minimal supervision.
• Completes and documents comprehensive psychiatric assessments and evaluations for assigned patients.
• As a member of the multidisciplinary treatment team and in collaboration with the supervising psychiatrist participates in the development and implementation of plans- of - care.
• In collaboration with the supervising psychiatrist, provides medication services within established protocol that includes but is not limited to ordering diagnostic tests and tests interpretation, psychiatric medication prescription, and medication monitoring.
• Promotes positive health behaviors and self-care skills through education and counseling of patients.
• Informs, explains and educates patient/family, health care team and community as needed regarding medications, disease processes and health information at level fitting patient, family, team members', and community comprehension.
• Demonstrates and promotes positive work relationships with sta ? , team members, supervisors, unit/program, division administration and other disciplines and/or agencies.
• Performs related work as assigned, adapts to changing work requirements and complies with Agency policies and procedures.

PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
• As a provider of care, meets the requirements of Professional Standards of Conduct as identi?ed in the Texas Nurse Practice Act for the APRN and delivers care within the framework of Agency policies and procedures and program operational guidelines utilizing the Nursing Process with no more than 2 documented exceptions in a 12-month evaluation period.
• Performs duties and assigned tasks within the guidelines of the APRN agreed upon and signed Protocol with no more than 1 documented exception per quarter.
• As a provider of care, demonstrates sound clinical decision making, within the APRN's scope of practice and established protocol and within Agency policies and procedures, as evidenced by documentation, with no more than 1 documented exception per quarter.
• Documentation is accurate, complete, and timely & includes consumer responses to interventions as outlined by program policies and plan of care modifications when needed with no more than 1 documented exception per quarter.
• Performs and documents mental status assessments, psychiatric evaluations, Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scales (AIMS) and behavior rating scales using correct codes according to Agency and performance contract requirements with no more than 4 documented exceptions in a 12 month evaluation period.
• Completes and documents diagnostic formulation according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Psychiatric Conditions (DSM-IV-TR or DSM-5 when implemented) with no more than 4 documented exceptions in a 12 month evaluation period.
• In collaboration with supervising psychiatrist selects and prescribes appropriate psycho-pharmacologic agents based on patient diagnosis, disease condition, established protocols and within Agency policy and procedure and performance contract requirements, with no more than 4 documented exceptions in a 12 month evaluation period of failing to meet criteria as addressed above.
• In collaboration with supervising psychiatrist orders/ interprets diagnostic studies such as laboratory tests and EKG's including documenting & reporting within required timeframes according to established protocols and medication monitoring requirements with no more than 4 documented exceptions in a 12 month evaluation period.
• Assesses patients for symptom management, medication side effects including Metabolic Syndrome when indicated and according to Agency guidelines with no more than 1 documented exception of failing to monitor as clinically indicated per quarter. Health Information, treatment plan and medication information/education is provided as indicated by consumer needs to consumer/family/staff and/or community on a level fitting to the receiver's comprehension, and documented per unit guidelines & Agency curriculum with no more than 4 documented exceptions with in a 12 month evaluation period.
• Consults with supervising psychiatrist on di ? cult cases and as required by established protocol for physician oversight with no more than 2 documented exceptions in a 12 month-evaluation period.

REQUIREMENTS
• Master's degree in Nursing (MSN) with recognition by the Board of Nursing (BON) as an Advance Practice Registered Nurse with Prescriptive Authority or Clinical Nurse Specialist with Prescriptive Authority.
• Active Texas APRN license (or eligible). AANPCB or ANCC certification.
• DEA registration and NPI number required prior to start.
• Minimum of 5 years registered nursing experience (not including clinical hours required for education) and a minimum of at least 1 year as an APRN in a psychiatrist setting.

APRN ROLE IN ACTION
• Utilizes a five-step systematic process (nursing process) to deliver patient services. This process includes assessment, analysis, planning, implementation and evaluation.
• Demonstrates decision making that is clinically sound, systematic, timely, well researched and reflects awareness of impact including reporting to the supervising psychiatrist (s) and appropriate members of the management and administrative staff while working independently with minimal supervision.
• Completes and documents comprehensive psychiatric assessments and evaluations for assigned patients.
• As a member of the multidisciplinary treatment team and in collaboration with the supervising psychiatrist participates in the development and implementation of plans-of-care.
• In collaboration with the supervising psychiatrist, provides medication services within established protocol that includes but is not limited to ordering diagnostic tests and tests interpretation, psychiatric medication prescription, and medication monitoring.
• Promotes positive health behaviors and self-care skills through education and counseling of patients.
• Informs, explains and educates patient/family, health care team and community as needed regarding medications, disease processes and health information at level fitting patient, family, team members', and community comprehension.
• Demonstrates and promotes positive work relationships with staff, team members, supervisors, unit/program, division administration and other disciplines and/or agencies.
• Performs related work as assigned, adapts to changing work requirements and complies with Agency policies and procedures.