Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN)

The Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) will provide outpatient psychiatric evaluation and medication management services at New Living Health Care Services (NLHCS). NLHCS is a District of Columbia CORE service agency servicing residents in the District of Columbia. The APRN will work in coordination with NLHCS Clinical Director and Care Coordinator to ensure effective care coordination between outpatient counseling services, medication management and psychiatric services to adults and families with behavioral health issues. This position will be supervised externally by the NLHCS Medical Director who is a psychiatrist. The APRN will work out of the NLHCS Northeast site located at 350 Eastern Avenue, NE Washington, DC. The APRN will also work in collaboration with a Medical Assistant to coordinate client care, assist with insurance pre-authorization, and scheduling appointments.

Job Requirements and Qualifications:

Minimum Required Education

• Master’s or Doctorate Degree in Nursing with focus on Psychiatric nursing
• Graduation from a state-certified advanced practice program specializing in psychiatry/mental health

Minimum Required Experience

• At least 1-2 years providing direct client care to persons receiving treatment for psychiatric disorders
• Ability to work with both adults and families.

Preferred Experience

• 3+ years of experience as a psychiatric provider
• Experience in telemedicine

Licenses/Certifications

• Must be certified by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) in Psychiatric Mental Health (PMH) as a Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN)
• An unrestricted license to practice as an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) in the District of Columbia
• Must have a valid DEA number and unrestricted DEA license in the District of Columbia
• A state-issued Controlled Substance Registration (CSR) in the District of Columbia
• Registration with the state Prescription Monitoring Program (PMP) in the District of Columbia County
• No suspension/exclusion/debarment from participation in federal healthcare programs (e.g. Medicare, Medicaid,)
• Maintain credentials and licensure with all major insurance companies and licensing boards with the assistance of the New Living Health Care Services credentialing staff.

Other Skills Required

• Experience in delivering high-quality, client-centered care
• Able to document and navigate EHR independently
• Ability to maintain strict client confidentiality
• Ability to effectively communicate and interact with individuals involved in all aspects of programming – adults, families, grantors, funders, partner agencies, members of the community and New Living Health Care Services team members
• Serves as a representative of New Living Health Care Services , displaying courtesy, tact, consideration and discretion in all interactions with New Living Health Care Services, consumers grantors, funders and DC Department of Behavioral Health
• Proficient computer skills, including working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite
• Ability to work effectively on multidisciplinary team
• Language Skills: Ability to read, analyze and interpret general and professional documents. Ability to write routine reports and correspondence. Ability to effectively present information in one on one and small group situations
• Must possess the ability to make independent decisions when circumstances warrant such action.
• Excellent organizational skills, including the ability to work productively and make independent decisions.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• None

Fiscal Responsibilities

• None

Working Conditions / Environment

• Contractual NTE 30 working hours per week.
• Flexibility in setting work schedules, with work hours falling between 9:00 am and 5:30 pm and supervision at 8:00 pm on Thursday’s.
• Accessible to New Living Health Care clinical director and care coordinator 24/7 for clinical consultation.
• Continuously meet minimum required hours of direct services to clients each week, allowing remainder of work hours for documentation, meetings, training, and supervision.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually low. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to stand, walk, and sit. The employee is occasionally required to reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, or crouch.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Responsible for providing psychiatric services to clients in a variety of clinical settings during scheduled hours. Scope of services includes outpatient psychiatric evaluations and medication management services.
• Assess, diagnose, and treat adults and families experiencing symptoms of behavioral health disorders.
• Prescribe, recommend, or discontinue drugs and treatments to treat mental, emotional, or behavioral disorders in accordance
• with the Collaborative Practice Agreement and the state’s Nurse Practice Act.
• Collaborate with counselors, social workers, or other treatment team members to coordinate client care.
• Responsible for timely and accurate completion of medical records, including assessment, treatment plan, progress notes, outcome measures, and billing entries.
• Counsel clients during appointments, as necessary.
• Design/participate in the development of individualized treatment plans, incorporating best and leading practices into treatment interventions.
• Examine or order laboratory or diagnostic tests for clients to provide information on general physical condition and mental disorders.
• Collaborate with guardians, relatives, and significant others on client’s conditions and treatment when clinically appropriate.
• Prepare and submit assessments, progress notes, reports, and summaries to entities/agencies (funders, insurance companies, etc.) as required.
• Return calls and emails promptly (within 24 hours of receipt or sooner if clinically necessary)
• Respond to client emergencies and be accessible to New Living Health Care Services 24/7 crisis clinicians
• Responsible for making independent decisions based on protocols developed utilizing national guidelines for treatment interventions.
• Responsible for maintaining customer relations with all agency staff and clients.
• Maintain medical records and submit at least 10% of records to the supervising Psychiatrist for biweekly review in accordance with the Collaborative Practice Agreement.
• Records all services performed for accurate billing for services provided in compliance with all local, state and federal laws, as well as payor rules and regulations. Submits billing documents in a timely fashion.
• Look for ways to improve and promote quality. Provides teaching and education to clinical staff, if requested.
• Follow all procedures and protocols as per New Living Health Care Services policy, federal and state regulations, standard practice, and in accordance with the Collaborative Practice Agreement.
• Actively participate in all agency and department education, training, and in-services to confirm understanding of new information or changes to established clinical policies and procedures.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of personnel so classified.