Summary:
The Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) provides comprehensive psychiatric assessment, diagnosis, medication management, treatment planning, consultation, and follow-up services for children, adolescents, and adults with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD), Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), developmental disabilities, behavioral health conditions, trauma-related disorders, substance use disorders, and other neurodevelopmental conditions.

As a member of a multidisciplinary neurodevelopmental and behavioral health team, the PMHNP works collaboratively with psychologists, pediatric and primary care providers, therapists, rehabilitation professionals, care coordinators, and families to distinguish psychiatric symptoms from neurodevelopmental, medical, communication, sensory, and environmental factors.

The PMHNP supports an integrated model of care emphasizing person- and family-centered, trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and evidence-informed treatment, including services delivered through telehealth and rural outreach when appropriate.

Major Responsibilities:

• Conduct comprehensive psychiatric evaluations for children, adolescents, and adults.
• Obtain psychiatric, medical, developmental, family, social, trauma, substance use, medication, and treatment histories.
• Complete mental status examinations and psychiatric risk assessments.
• Evaluate mood, anxiety, attention, behavior, sleep, psychosis, trauma-related symptoms, substance use, emotional regulation, and other psychiatric concerns.
• Assess for co-occurring psychiatric conditions among individuals with FASD, autism, intellectual or developmental disabilities, and other neurodevelopmental conditions.
• Differentiate psychiatric symptoms from behaviors or functional difficulties associated with developmental, cognitive, sensory, communication, medical, or environmental factors.
• Order and interpret laboratory studies and other diagnostic testing within professional scope and organizational policy.
• Develop psychiatric diagnoses and clinical formulations consistent with current diagnostic standards.
• Evaluate psychiatric and behavioral health conditions occurring alongside FASD or suspected prenatal alcohol exposure.
• Consider the impact of executive functioning, memory, attention, processing speed, adaptive functioning, communication, and emotional regulation when developing treatment plans.
• Avoid interpreting neurodevelopmentally based difficulties solely as noncompliance, oppositional behavior, or lack of motivation.
• Adapt psychiatric interviews and treatment recommendations to the individual's developmental and cognitive abilities.
• Use clear, concrete communication and involve caregivers or support persons when clinically appropriate and authorized.
• Collaborate with the multidisciplinary diagnostic team regarding possible FASD and other neurodevelopmental conditions.
• Monitor medication effectiveness and adverse effects carefully when treating individuals with complex neurodevelopmental presentations.
• Educate families and caregivers regarding the interaction between neurodevelopmental functioning and behavioral health symptoms.
• Provide psychiatric assessment and treatment for autistic children, adolescents, and adults with co-occurring behavioral health needs.
• Evaluate anxiety, depression, attention concerns, sleep disorders, trauma-related symptoms, emotional dysregulation, and other psychiatric presentations.
• Consider sensory, communication, environmental, and developmental factors when evaluating changes in behavior.
• Adapt assessment methods to the individual's communication style and support needs.
• Collaborate with Speech-Language Pathology and Occupational Therapy when communication or sensory factors may affect psychiatric presentation.
• Utilize neurodiversity-affirming and person-centered approaches.
• Educate caregivers and treatment teams regarding appropriate psychiatric supports and environmental accommodations.
• Support individuals and families in making informed decisions regarding psychiatric treatment.
• Initiate, prescribe, adjust, monitor, and discontinue psychiatric medications within applicable licensure, credentialing, and prescribing authority.
• Review medication histories and identify potential medication interactions, duplication, contraindications, or adherence barriers.
• Educate patients and caregivers regarding medication purpose, expected benefits, potential risks, side effects, and monitoring requirements.
• Monitor therapeutic response, side effects, laboratory findings, and functional outcomes.
• Promote appropriate and evidence-informed use of psychiatric medications.
• Consider behavioral, environmental, developmental, therapeutic, and family-based interventions as components of comprehensive treatment rather than relying solely on medication.
• Coordinate medication management with primary care, pediatric, specialty medical, and pharmacy services.
• Maintain appropriate controlled-substance prescribing and monitoring practices when applicable.
• Document medication decisions and clinical rationale according to organizational and regulatory standards.
• Develop individualized psychiatric treatment plans based on assessment findings, functional needs, strengths, and patient and family priorities.
• Provide brief supportive, psychoeducational, motivational, and therapeutic interventions within professional scope.
• Coordinate psychiatric treatment with psychotherapy, substance use treatment, developmental services, rehabilitation therapies, and community supports.
• Provide education regarding psychiatric conditions, coping strategies, symptom management, sleep, stress, and wellness.
• Assess suicide risk, self-harm, aggression, psychosis, acute substance-related concerns, and other psychiatric emergencies.
• Determine appropriate level of care and coordinate crisis, emergency, inpatient, or higher-level behavioral health services when necessary.
• Collaborate with behavioral health clinicians and other providers during psychiatric crises.
• Follow applicable mandatory reporting and duty-to-protect requirements.
• Participates in multidisciplinary case consultation, diagnostic conferences, treatment planning, and care coordination.
• Conduct psychiatric evaluations to identify co-occurring behavioral health conditions.
• Review developmental, psychiatric, medication, and substance use histories.
• Provide psychiatric findings to the multidisciplinary diagnostic team.
• Recommend psychiatric, behavioral, medical, and community-based interventions.
• Provide ongoing psychiatric treatment following diagnostic assessment when appropriate.
• Screen for alcohol and other substance use.
• Support integrated treatment planning for individuals with complex co-occurring needs.
• Explain psychiatric findings and treatment recommendations in understandable language.
• Educate families regarding psychiatric symptoms and neurodevelopmental conditions.
• Provide psychiatric evaluations and medication management through telehealth when clinically appropriate.
• Participate in rural outreach and community-based clinics.
• Develop treatment plans that consider medication availability, laboratory access, transportation, and other rural healthcare barriers.
• Coordinate psychiatric care with primary care, behavioral health, rehabilitation, and developmental services.
• Participate in integrated treatment planning.
• Maintain accurate and timely psychiatric evaluations, treatment plans, progress notes, medication records, and other required documentation.
• Follow applicable federal and state laws, professional standards, organizational policies, and prescribing requirements.
• Maintain patient confidentiality and HIPAA compliance.
• Monitor treatment outcomes and medication-related quality measures.
• Participate in development of psychiatric clinical protocols and workflows.
• Assist with program evaluation and grant-related performance measures when appropriate.

• Performs other duties as assigned or required.

Education Requirements:

• Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), or other qualifying graduate nursing degree from an accredited program.
• Graduate preparation as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner.
• Current Registered Nurse and Advanced Practice Registered Nurse licensure, or eligibility for appropriate licensure in the state of practice.
• Current national certification as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner through an approved certifying organization.
• Prescriptive authority consistent with applicable state law and organizational credentialing requirements.
• Current DEA registration or eligibility when required for assigned duties.
• Knowledge of psychiatric assessment, diagnosis, psychopharmacology, treatment planning, and crisis intervention.
• Ability to collaborate effectively within a multidisciplinary healthcare team.
• No DWI or other major alcohol or other drug violations within the last 36 months.

Hours of Work:
The hours of work are Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with one hour for lunch. Chugachmiut maintains a drug/alcohol and non-smoking work environment. Possible nights and weekends as needed. Travel to remote locations by boat, snowmobile, ATV, or small plane is required, and employees must be willing and able to travel.

**Offering a sign-on bonus of $5,000-$10,000 after hire**