POSITION TITLE: Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) / Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)

PROGRAM: Urgent Crisis Center

The Urgent Crisis Center (UCC) is a walk-in, police or ambulance psychiatric crisis stabilization program designed to triage, stabilize, and assess youth who are experiencing psychiatric crisis, and then link the youth/family to a lower level of care within the community. This is a fast-paced environment that operates 24/7, 365 days of the year.

GENERAL STATEMENT OF RESPONSIBILITIES:
The Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN)/Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) is responsible for direct services with children, adolescents and their families including but not limited to evaluation/assessment; medication therapies and medical management; psychotherapy and counseling; parent/consumer education; record keeping; collaboration with other professionals, team members as well as related community services. They carry a cell phone to remain accessible by telephone during non-office hours to respond to the medical needs of Wellmore, Inc. clients, as assigned by the Associate Medical Director of the UCC.

The APRN will work in a multi-disciplinary team in the assessment, treatment, and discharge of children who are cared for in the psychiatric Urgent Crisis Care Center. All staff are required to work their assigned schedule but may be asked to shift/alter in response to high flow workflow time periods.

SUPERVISION: Supervised by: Associate Medical Director of the UCC, Medical Director

EXAMPLES OF RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Under the direct supervision of the Medical Director or designee, prescribe, monitor, manage and maintain psychopharmacological plans for assigned clients.
• To provide assessment, evaluation and treatment of children, adolescents, and families.
• To conduct medication management for individual clients in a short-term capacity (less than 30 days) if clinically indicated and provide follow-up with families requiring this service.
• To provide consultation to parents, parent guidance and/or client education.
• Maintain confidential and/or any other required program documents.
• Coordinates with current treaters including obtaining clinical updates, medical history, and medication history.
• Provides crisis support to children and youth who may be escalated including verbal de-escalation and in emergencies, physical restraint according to policy and procedure.
• To assist the Associate Medical Director in the day to day clinical and administrative management or assigned programs.
• Participates in Urgent Crisis Center workflow meetings, medical team discussions and other child-based or agency committees as appropriate.
• Other tasks as assigned by program leaders or the medical leadership.
• On call responsibilities via telephone and/or telehealth as part of a rotation of psychiatric staff for weekends, overnight shifts or emergencies as assigned by the Associate Medical Director

QUALIFICATIONS:

Must have the ability to maintain the utmost confidentiality of both agency and client matters. Must understand and be able to display the clinical knowledge and expertise necessary to perform crisis intervention. Must be able to display knowledge and expertise in clinical theory and practice as it relates to the populations served by Wellmore, Inc. Must be capable of working as a part of a team and be able to effectively communicate with both families and professionals (in writing and verbally). Bi-lingual (Spanish-English) preferred.

Must possess or readily obtain from Wellmore professional development opportunities the following licenses/certificates/training:

• CPR and First Aid Instructor Certification (through a certified Red Cross Program)
• Therapeutic Crisis Intervention training
• Periodic Physical and PPD testing as required
• DCF Background History Check (CPA)

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE:
Board eligible or board certified Pediatric or Lifespan Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, and a Connecticut license as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) with an active/maintained DEA # are required. At least one year’s experience working as an APRN in a children’s mental health setting is preferred.