The Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD, known as "The HARRIS CENTER," is seeking an experienced Nurse Practitioner (NP) to join our team. Under the clinical supervision of an identified Psychiatrist and alternate Psychiatrist, and in collaboration with the Division Medical Director and CMO; the Advance Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) is a registered nurse with additional training and certification in advanced medical practice including prescriptive authority, preferably with a focus in Mental Health treatment & is licensed to practice nursing in this advanced role in the State of Texas. The focus of care is on health promotion and disease prevention. Such care is delivered within the rules and regulations of the Texas Board of Nursing (BON) and the Texas Board of Medical Examiners (BME). This nurse is prepared to practice in an expanded role to provide mental health care and services to individuals, families or groups in a variety of settings. The APRN acts independently and in collaboration with other health care professionals in the delivery of services. The APRN’s services include but are not limited to assessment, diagnosis, examinations, ordering, conducting and interpreting diagnostic and lab tests, prescription of psychiatric pharmacologic agents, and treatments and non-pharmacological therapies.

Your role in Action:

• Utilizes a five-step systematic process (nursing process) to deliver patient services. This process includes assessment, analysis, planning, implementation and evaluation.
• Demonstrates decision making that is clinically sound, systematic, timely, well researched and reflects awareness of impact including reporting to the supervising psychiatrist (s) and appropriate members of the management and administrative staff while working independently with minimal supervision.
• Completes and documents comprehensive physical and health assessments and evaluations for assigned patients.
• Develops treatment plan for acute and chronic primary health illnesses
• Provides team-based care and helps with coordinating and providing care for providing primary care health education, disease prevention, and healthy lifestyle habitsas a member of the multidisciplinary treatment team and in collaboration with the supervising primary care physician.
• In collaboration with the supervising primary care physician, provides primary care medication services within established protocol that includes but is not limited to ordering diagnostic tests and tests interpretation, medication prescription, and medication monitoring.
• Promotes positive health behaviors and self-care skills through education and counseling of patients.
• Informs, explains and educates patient/family, health care team and community as needed regarding medications, disease processes and health information at level fitting patient, family, team members’, and community comprehension.
• Demonstrates and promotes positive work relationships with staff, team members, supervisors, unit/program, division administration and other disciplines and/or agencies.
• Performs related work as assigned, adapts to changing work requirements and complies with Agency policies and procedures.

What qualifications you will need:

Education:

• Master’s degree in Nursing (MSN) with recognition by the BON as an Advance Practice Registered Nurse with Prescriptive Authority or Clinical Nurse Specialist with Prescriptive Authority.

Experience:

• Minimum of 5 years registered nursing experience (not including clinical hours required for education) and a minimum of at least 1 year as an APRN providing primary care in a medical practice, clinic, urgent care or emergency room.

Knowledge Skills and Abilities:

• Texas Board of Nursing (BON) Nurse Practice Act and nursing professional standards of practice.
• Practice Parameters as set forth by the BON for APN’s with Prescriptive Authority.
• Applicable pharmacy rules and regulations.
• Prescription practices and monitoring related to psychopharmacology
• Health Status Assessments, Physical Examinations, Psychiatric Evaluations, Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scales (AIMS) and Psychosocial Behavioral Assessments.
• DSM-IV TR and/or DSM 5 diagnostic criteria and formulation.
• Diagnostic test interpretation (labs, EKG’s, etc.)
• Crisis intervention techniques.
• Standard Precautions and infection control procedures for dealing with sharp instruments, needles, blood and body fluids.
• Good body mechanics to avoid injury.
• Basic principles of psychiatric/mental health nursing.
• Effective communication skills (verbal and written).
• Effective data collection skills.
• Positive interpersonal skills.
• Able to organize with the ability to prioritize and complete task independently.
• Initiative and self-direction with strong time management skills.
• Able to coordinate and work effectively with others.
• Able to use all related medical equipment, machines and monitors.
• Able to execute standard word processing on computer.
• Clinically sound decision making.
• Ability to develop therapeutic relationships with chronically mentally ill patients and/or developmentally disabled consumers.

What we have to offer:

The HARRIS CENTER offers competitive salary, excellent benefits package, retirement plans with company matching, prior service credit towards generous PTO accrual, outstanding wellness programs and professional development.

Employees can also take advantage of business casual dress code, corporate discounts, and gym memberships. New hire referral bonus, discounts are also available on an optional basis. These include mobile phone service, fitness centers and other wellness amenities.

What else you should know:

• Your work week: Enjoy a flexible schedule, 5 days a week.
• Your workplace: Based at our Southeast Location, 3737 Dacoma St Houston, TX 77087.
• Your flexibility, our commitment: This role requires adaptability with flexible scheduling as well as provides ethical nursing care in a confidential, caring, non-judgmental, non-discriminatory manner.
• This posting is associated with position #2046-86507.

About us:

The HARRIS CENTER is the state-designated Local Mental Health Authority and Local Intellectual and Developmental Disability (IDD) Authority serving Harris County, Texas. As the largest behavioral and developmental disability care center in Texas, The HARRIS CENTER provided care to over 79,000 people in fiscal year 2019 and has an annual budget of over $275 million.

As part of its mission to transform the lives of people with behavioral health and IDD needs in the third largest county in the United States, The HARRIS CENTER provides a full continuum of services at 86 different sites across Harris County. In addition, services are provided in more than 42 different languages as well as sign language in order to better serve what is one of the most diverse and multi-cultural communities in the nation.

By utilizing the unique expertise of its more than 2,300 employees, The HARRIS CENTER is committed to meeting the behavioral health and IDD needs of Harris County residents and giving them hope to live to their fullest potential.