Nurse Advanced Practice

Metrocare Services•Dallas, TX

About The Position

The Advanced Practice Nurse (APN) is a Texas-licensed registered professional nurse prepared for advanced nursing practice through an educational program acceptable to the relevant Texas nursing and medical boards. The APN practices in an expanded role, independently and/or in collaboration with other health care professionals, providing primary health care services to individuals, families, and groups across the life span. Services emphasize health promotion and disease prevention, as well as diagnosis and management of acute and chronic diseases, and may include ordering, conducting, and interpreting diagnostic and laboratory tests; prescribing medications and treatments; and providing non-pharmacological therapies. At Metrocare, the APN provides psychiatric evaluations and care to people with mental health challenges and developmental disabilities. The role includes supporting patients and families, participating in interdisciplinary care planning, prescribing and monitoring psychoactive medications, coordinating care with community providers and caregivers, responding to psychiatric or medical emergencies, and maintaining accurate, confidential clinical documentation. The APN works under physician supervision and follows applicable professional standards, laws, clinical procedures, and productivity expectations.

Requirements

Master’s degree from an accredited university.
At least 6 months of experience as an APN in the clinical area.
Currently licensed as a Registered Nurse in the State of Texas.
CPR certification.
PMAB certification.
Current driver’s license; employees licensed in another state must obtain a Texas driver’s license within three months of employment.
Must be insurable by the Center’s liability carrier when driving a Center vehicle or a personal vehicle on Center business; an acceptable driving record is required.
Liability insurance is required if operating a personal vehicle on Center property or for Center business.
Basic math skills, including the ability to work with reports and numbers and calculate moderately complex figures and amounts.
Ability to formulate differential diagnoses based on history, physical examination, and clinical findings; identify individual, family, or community needs; select diagnostic tests and interventions; and evaluate and modify plans of care.
Ability to work under physician supervision and use applicable protocols, delegation orders, medical orders, practice guidelines, or other physician orders for medical aspects of patient care, including prescription drug orders.
Ability to use a computer, printer, Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, and the Internet.
Ability to conduct work ethically and in accordance with professional standards, state contracts, applicable state and federal laws, and confidentiality requirements.
Analytical skills, professional acumen, business ethics, understanding of continuous improvement, problem-solving ability, and excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Strong organizational skills, ability to prioritize work and meet deadlines, manage multiple tasks and special projects, work autonomously with minimal or no supervision, and maintain professionalism and confidentiality.

Responsibilities

Respond directly and proactively to questions from patients and their families, and explain mental illness symptoms in language appropriate to the individual’s level of functioning.
Conduct and document psychiatric evaluations under physician supervision, including unscheduled evaluations for walk-in individuals who appear to be in crisis or need immediate attention.
Participate in interdisciplinary team meetings to discuss evaluations and diagnoses and develop appropriate plans of service with problems, goals, measurable objectives, interventions, responsible staff, and timelines.
Participate in developing and updating individual service plans, implement interventions, review cases with the team, and modify plans as needed based on changing needs.
Explain the rationale for interventions and changes, and document that informed consent has been obtained according to procedures.
Prescribe and monitor psychoactive medications using professional judgment and in accordance with formulary and dosing procedures.
Document medication-related practices, medication education, required laboratory studies and physical examinations, review findings, and make timely medication adjustments as appropriate.
Coordinate care with other community medical providers and inform residential-service providers or home caregivers about medication changes, behavioral signs to monitor, and reporting procedures.
Respond to psychiatric and medical emergency care needs and maintain current knowledge of the Texas Mental Illness Code and procedures for involuntary hospitalization.
Work with other staff to determine when admission to a more restrictive setting is indicated and complete documentation for an Order of Protective Custody when applicable.
Maintain individual service records and time documentation sufficient to support services and insurance or third-party claims, following applicable procedures and confidentiality requirements.
Schedule sufficient face-to-face consumer interactions to meet assigned productivity benchmarks and document these interactions according to DMS quality standards.
Provide clinical care and documentation consistent with established standards for evaluation, treatment planning, and medication prescribing.
Perform other duties as assigned.