Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner/Psychiatric Physician Assistant

The Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board (CSB) invites applications for a job share part-time merit positions for Psychiatric Advanced Practice Providers (applicant can be a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner or a Psychiatric Physician Assistant).

This is a job share (20 hours per week) part-time merit position for a Psychiatric Advanced Practice Provider in our Emergency Services (ES) or Intensive Case Management (ICM) programs. This position requires one to be able to stand, stoop, bend, stretch, walk, climb, sit, type on a keyboard, and lift up to 20 pounds; and read, write, type/use a computer. It also requires some evening and/or overnight, holiday and/or weekend shifts.

Fairfax County is home to a highly diverse population, with a significant number of residents speaking languages other than English at home - including Spanish, Asian/Pacific Islander, Indo-European, and many others. We encourage candidates who are bilingual in English and Spanish or another language to apply for this opportunity. A foreign language skills stipend of up to $1560/year (full-time) may be given for qualified bi-lingual employees.

Note: To learn more about careers that make a difference, watch our video "CSB Celebrates 50th Anniversary of Providing Care."

(The illustrative duties listed in this specification are representative of the class but are not an all-inclusive list. A complete list of position duties and unique physical requirements can be found in the position job description.)

• Diagnoses, prescribes medications, provides long-term treatment, and offers psychotherapy for individuals with serious mental illness and substance use disorders;
• Conducts thorough psychiatric evaluations to assess clinical needs of patients;
• Designs and participates in the development of individualized treatment plans, incorporating best and leading practices into treatment interventions;
• Counsels clients during appointments, as necessary;
• Orders laboratory or diagnostic tests for clients to provides information on general physical condition and mental disorders;
• Manages patient's medication regimens and adjusts medication and dosages as needed;
• Manages medications in a safe and effective manner;
• Clearly communicates instructions to be given to pharmacists, patients/caregivers;
• Collaborates with other providers involved in patient's care, pharmacists, family, or residential staff to ensure safe management of patient's clinical needs;
• Collaborate with therapists, social workers, or other treatment team members to coordinate client care;
• Completes medical records, including assessment, treatment plan, progress notes, outcome measures in a timely and accurate manner;
• Refers clients to other health care providers;
• Develops and presents various training and orientation programs for nursing personnel, health care providers and other agency staff members;
• Performs other duties as assigned.

(The knowledge, skills and abilities listed in this specification are representative of the class but are not an all-inclusive list.)

• Thorough professional knowledge of the practice of behavioral health nursing;
• Considerable knowledge of current behavioral health treatment and trends;
• Knowledge of medical science, the neurobiology of behavioral health disorders, treatment methods, and management of behavioral health conditions and medications;
• Knowledge of various laboratory tests and diagnostic procedures;
• Ability to exercise sound judgment in evaluating patient conditions and making decisions on an appropriate course of treatment;
• Ability to assess medical records and results of tests;
• Ability to obtain histories and perform physical examinations, laboratory tests, and diagnostic procedures;
• Ability to collaborate and form effective relationships with colleagues, physicians, staff, and patients;
• Ability to prescribe, oversee and monitor psychotropic medications;
• Ability to work in an environment with a high degree of sensitivity and confidentiality to appropriately manage delicate and urgent patient situations;
• Ability to relate well to a diverse population;
• Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a master's or doctorate degree in nursing and graduation from a state-certified, advanced practice program; plus, one year providing direct client care to persons receiving treatment for psychiatric disorders utilizing assessments, evaluations, and medication management skills.
OR
Graduation from an accredited four-year university with a master's degree from an accredited Physician Assistant Program; plus, one year of experience as a certified Physician Assistant providing direct client care to persons receiving treatment for psychiatric disorders utilizing assessments, evaluations, and medication management skills.

CERTIFICATION AND LICENSES REQUIRED:

• Certification from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) in Psychiatric Mental Health (PMH) as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) required;
• Possess an unrestricted license to practice as a Licensed Nurse Practitioner (LNP). LNP licensure must be in the Commonwealth of Virginia (upon application);
• Possess a valid DEA number and unrestricted DEA license in Virginia by date of hire.

• Certification as a Physician Assistant (PA-C) and Certification as a Psychiatric Physician Assistant (CAQ) by passing the PANCE administered by National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) and passing the Psychiatric Physician Assistant CAQ exam administered by the NCCPA.
• Possess an unrestricted license from the Virginia State Board of Medicine to practice as a Physician Assistant (upon application).
• Possess a valid DEA number and unrestricted DEA license in Virginia by date of hire.

This position is emergency/essential services personnel. (Required to report for duty during inclement weather and/or other emergencies.)

Licensed providers may not "opt out" of being a Medicare provider.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Experience with treatment of serious mental illness and substance use disorders in a community setting.
• Computer literate.
• Experience with effectively communicating with diverse bilingual/multi-lingual populations.
  
  

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
Work is located in general office, and in the community as needed. Must be able to independently transport self and fulfill duties at other sites. Ability to access/input/retrieve computer data; use medical equip/administer injections. Ability to observe, process and document clinical information/make clinical interventions appropriate to client needs. All duties performed with or without reasonable accommodations.

SELECTION PROCEDURE:
Panel Interview and may include a practical exercise.

Fairfax County Government prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, age, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetics, political affiliation, or military status in the recruitment, selection, and hiring of its workforce.

Reasonable accommodations are available to persons with disabilities during application and/or interview processes per the Americans with Disabilities Act. TTY 703-222-7314. DHREmployment@fairfaxcounty.gov EEO/AA/TTY.

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