About the position
The Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner (NP) is a vital member of the Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP) outpatient mental health team, dedicated to providing recovery-oriented, Veteran-centered clinical care for Veterans with a variety of psychiatric diagnoses in an outpatient clinic setting. This position is located at the VA Central Western Massachusetts Healthcare System in Springfield, MA, and is part-time, requiring 32 hours of work per week. The NP will utilize advanced clinical judgment to independently deliver evidence-based treatment to Veterans suffering from acute or chronic mental illnesses, which includes the administration of psychotropic medications, psychotherapy, and other therapeutic modalities. In this role, the NP will also be responsible for educating patients and their families about medical and mental health conditions, preventive measures, and prescribed treatments. The position requires strong leadership skills and the ability to collaborate effectively with other mental health and specialty care professionals, ensuring that Veterans and their families are involved in the development of treatment plans. The NP will assess and adjust care plans as necessary to achieve optimal patient outcomes, and will also provide counseling and treatment for patients with substance use disorders and other psychiatric conditions. The NP will be tasked with ordering and interpreting laboratory tests, diagnostic studies, and initiating referrals to specialty services as needed. This position exemplifies the ICARE core values of Integrity, Commitment, Advocacy, Respect, and Excellence, and requires the NP to practice independently as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP), adhering to evidence-based practice guidelines to deliver high-quality care. The NP will collaborate with patients, families, and the healthcare team to develop and implement treatment plans while evaluating health outcomes. Critical thinking skills are essential for managing complex clinical situations, and the NP will lead the delivery of care to ensure continuity and accountability for practice, ultimately improving outcomes for their patient panel or program.
Responsibilities
- Provide evidence-based treatment to Veterans with acute or chronic mental illness.
- Educate patients and families on medical and mental health conditions, preventive measures, and treatments.
- Collaborate with other mental health and specialty care professionals in treatment plan development.
- Assess and adjust care plans to achieve optimal patient outcomes.
- Counsel and treat patients with substance use disorders and other psychiatric conditions.
- Order and interpret labs, tests, and diagnostic studies.
- Initiate referrals and consults to specialty services.
- Demonstrate leadership and engage in collaboration with patients, families, and the healthcare team.
- Utilize evidence-based practice guidelines in the delivery of care.
- Lead the delivery of care to assure continuity and peer accountability for practice.
Requirements
- U.S. Citizenship; non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens.
- Must possess and maintain an active, current, full, and unrestricted APN license to practice as an NP in a State, Territory or Commonwealth of the United States, or in the District of Columbia.
- Must have a post-master's certificate or master's or doctoral degree as a Nurse Practitioner.
- Must be a graduate of a school of professional nursing approved by the appropriate accrediting agency.
- Must maintain full and current board certification in an area of clinical specialty from a recognized certifying body.
- Proficiency in basic written and spoken English.
Nice-to-haves
- Mental Health Prescribing Certification from AANP or ANCC-Psychiatric Mental Health Certificate.
Benefits
- Paid holidays
- Dental insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
- 50 days of paid time off per year (26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year)
- Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA
- Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care insurance options.
