APRN-Psych- Outpatient Community Health

Optimus Health Care • Bridgeport, CT

6d • Onsite

About The Position

Optimus Health Care, the largest provider of primary health care services in Fairfield County, is seeking an experienced Psychiatric APRN to join their Behavioral Health team. This role involves providing care to a medically complex adult and adolescent patient population in an outpatient and Intensive Outpatient (IOP) setting. The position operates Monday through Friday with no weekend or call responsibilities. The Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner is a key member of the mental health care team, specializing in psychiatric/mental health services. Responsibilities include conducting comprehensive assessments (personal, medical, substance abuse, diagnosis), counseling, prescribing medication, and ordering/interpreting diagnostic studies for individuals of all ages experiencing mental illness or distress. The role also involves establishing and managing treatment plans tailored to the diverse mental health needs of the patient population.

Requirements

• Graduate of an accredited school of nursing and successful completion of an approved Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner program.
• One-three years’ experience in an outpatient setting.
• Knowledge of professional nursing theory, practice, and medical care to give and evaluate patient care.
• Knowledge of organizational policies, regulations, and procedures to administer patient care.
• Knowledge of medical equipment and instruments to administer care.
• Knowledge of common safety hazards and precautions to establish a safe work environment.
• Skill in applying and modifying the principles, methods, and techniques of professional nursing to provide ongoing patient care.
• Skill in taking medical history to assess medical conditions and interpret findings.
• Skill in preparing and maintaining records, writing reports, and responding to correspondence using current electronic media.
• Skill in developing and maintaining quality control/assurance standards.
• Ability to react calmly and effectively in emergency situations.
• Ability to interpret, adapt and apply guidelines and procedures.
• Ability to communicate clearly

Nice To Haves

• Familiarity with telepsychiatry
• Prior experience a plus
• Bi-lingual skills in Spanish preferred

Responsibilities

• Provides comprehensive assessment, plan development, implementation of plan of care and evaluation of effectiveness of interventions with revisions, as necessary.
• Initiate, monitors, alters medications and treatments according to approved protocols.
• Demonstrates thorough understanding of all requirements and practice standards relating to the prescription, administration of medications including compliance with organization policy and procedures, documentation, requirements, medication education.
• Monitors medication and initiates appropriate therapies for certain conditions and changes medications according to variations in a patient's response within established protocols.
• Observes and differentiates between signs and symptoms associated with normal human physiology and those indicative of pathological changes.
• Documents all relevant patient care issues in patients' progress notes and treatment plan all relevant patient care issues.
• Includes the use of seclusion and restraint when appropriate and alternative interventions, documentation requirements, disaster and fire procedures, infection control, risk management.
• Is sensitive to cultural diversity issues, treats patients as an individual, and considers the culture of the patients when providing care and treatment.
• Provides individualized care and treatment that is consistent with/sensitive to the age and life span developmental needs of each patient.
• Ensures progress note and treatment plan documentation is in specified format, problem oriented, corresponds to the therapeutic order
• Adheres to the established formulary for therapeutic regimens before using non-formulary procedures
• Supports standards of psychiatric care through adherence to existing policies and procedures
• Assumes responsibility and accountability for his/her individual judgments and actions

Benefits

• Excellent health & welfare benefit options
• Competitive Compensation
• NHSC Student Loan Repayment, if eligible
• Employer-sponsored benefits, covering medical, dental, and vision coverage; retirement benefits; paid time off and holidays; and other employer-sponsored benefits, subject to plan terms and eligibility.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level