Certified Nurse Practitioner / Physician Assistant-Certified

This position will provide culturally competent mental health care to patients in our FQHC sites in the Quincy area who are experiencing varying levels of difficulties due to life situations or mental health concerns and in need of medication evaluation and/or medication management services.

I. TEACHING (5%)

• Teach and evaluate medical students, residents, physician assistants, and advanced Practice Nursing students as they rotate through the educational program.
• Role model provision of care by an advanced practice nurse focusing on mental health education and trauma.

II. SERVICE (95%)

• Perform services within the scope of the Advance Practice Nurse/Physician Assistant education and experience including, but not limited to: Diagnosis, Treatment and management of acute and chronic illness / mental illness, Ordering and interpreting laboratory and radiology tests, Prescribing/dispensing controlled substances categorized as Schedule III, IV, and V, as defined in Article II of the Illinois Controlled Substance Act.
• Development of a collaborative clinical practice model with primary care physician and psychiatrist and community medical specialists focusing on division of responsibilities and appropriate referrals.
• Participate as a member of the Center to provide medication management, psychiatric services, primary care services, care coordination, case management and other enabling services as appropriate.
• Work collaboratively with staff at the Center to cover needed orders and services for patients.
• Assist in the development, implementation and review of individual treatment plans.
• Provider consultation and medication management on a priority basis to clients for whom intensive community series were put in place in lieu of hospitalization.
• Complete all mandatory and continuing education requirements by specified deadlines.
• Provide necessary client information to other agencies or care providers to coordinate services to identified clients.
• Work cooperatively with staff and providers to create an environment of mutual respect.
• Provide emergency services to patients as needed including those who are identified as having no primary care physician and/or in psychiatric distress.
• Attend School and Center-wide committees.
• Take part in Center Peer Review and Quality Improvement activities.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

1. Graduate of an accredited Nurse Practitioner program with specialization in psychiatric healthcare or a graduate of an accredited Physician Assistant program at time of hire;
2. Received passing score on national certifying exam at time of hire;
3. Licensed or ability to be licensed in the State of IL as an Advanced Practice Nurse or Physician Assistant at time of hire;
4. Controlled Substance License through Federal Drug Enforcement Administration at time of hire;
5. IF an Advanced Practice Nurse, must be board certified as a Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP-BC) by the ANCC at time of hire; or IF a Physician Assistant, must have three years of experience working with psychiatric / mental health patients;
6. Authority/Licensing to write prescriptions for psychotropic medications as allowed by licensing board;
7. Sensitive to the needs of underrepresented minority populations.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience in a behavioral health setting
• Experience providing services to multicultural populations
• Skill in applying varied interventions for patients with acute and chronic illness and mental health disorders.