Contracted Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

Benefits

• 401(k)
• Flexible schedule
• Opportunity for advancement
• Training & development
• Wellness resources
• Position Information
• Department: Clinical Services
• Employment Classification: Independent Contractor (1099)

Reports To: Clinical Director (or Designee)

Program Assignment

• Outpatient Behavioral Health Services (OP)
• Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)
• Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP)

Primary Practice Location

Delaware

Work Arrangement

The Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) provides services primarily from approved CRHE clinical locations.

Services May Be Provided Through

• In-Person
• Hybrid

Tele-behavioral Health

Tele-behavioral health services may be provided only following authorization under CRHE Telehealth Policies and Procedures, Delaware law, applicable payer requirements, HIPAA, and other applicable federal and state regulations.

Compensation

$61.00 per clinical hour

Compensation is based upon completed billable clinical services in accordance with the Independent Contractor Agreement, CRHE policies and procedures, and applicable payer requirements.

Schedule: This is a variable-hour independent contractor position.

• Clinical schedules are established collaboratively between CRHE and the contractor based upon:
• Contractor availability
• Client demand
• Program assignment
• Referral volume

Organizational Priorities

Evening and occasional weekend availability may be requested to improve client access to psychiatric services.

About CRHE

The Center for Research & Health Equity (CRHE) is an integrated behavioral healthcare organization dedicated to expanding equitable access to comprehensive mental health, substance use disorder, and co-occurring disorder treatment. Through culturally responsive care, evidence-based practice, interdisciplinary collaboration, and community partnerships, CRHE seeks to improve behavioral health outcomes while addressing the social and structural factors influencing health and recovery.

CRHE provides outpatient behavioral health services, intensive outpatient programming (IOP), partial hospitalization programming (PHP), psychiatric medication management, integrated care coordination, and recovery-oriented services designed to promote long-term wellness.

Position Summary

The Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) serves as CRHE's Qualified Psychiatric Practitioner and provides comprehensive psychiatric evaluation, diagnosis, psychopharmacologic treatment, medication management, and integrated behavioral healthcare services for adults experiencing mental health disorders, substance use disorders, and co-occurring conditions.

The PMHNP collaborates closely with Licensed Clinicians, Counselor I staff, Counselor II staff, Clinical Supervisors, case management personnel, and community healthcare providers to develop individualized, evidence-based treatment plans that promote recovery, psychiatric stabilization, improved functioning, and continuity of care.

The PMHNP practices independently within the scope of Delaware law while supporting CRHE's interdisciplinary model of integrated behavioral healthcare.

Regulatory Classification

In accordance with the Delaware Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health (DSAMH), this position functions as a Qualified Psychiatric Practitioner (QPP).

For purposes of CRHE operations, the Qualified Psychiatric Practitioner shall be a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner licensed to practice independently in the State of Delaware.

The PMHNP shall maintain all professional licenses, registrations, certifications, continuing education, and clinical competencies required by Delaware law, DSAMH regulations, applicable payer requirements, and CRHE policies and procedures.

Essential Functions

The PMHNP is responsible for providing evidence-based psychiatric assessment, medication management, consultation, and integrated behavioral healthcare services.

Primary Responsibilities Include, But Are Not Limited To

• Psychiatric Assessment
• Conduct comprehensive psychiatric evaluations.
• Obtain psychiatric, medical, substance use, family, developmental, trauma, and psychosocial histories.
• Complete comprehensive Mental Status Examinations.
• Evaluate suicide risk, homicide risk, self-injurious behaviors, abuse, neglect, and other safety concerns.
• Establish DSM-5-TR psychiatric diagnoses and differential diagnoses.
• Assess functional impairment and psychiatric symptom severity.
• Identify social and environmental factors influencing treatment and recovery.

• Medication Management
• Provide comprehensive psychopharmacologic services including:
• Initial medication evaluations.
• Medication initiation.
• Medication adjustment.
• Ongoing medication monitoring.
• Medication reconciliation.
• Evaluation of medication effectiveness.
• Monitoring adverse reactions.
• Medication adherence counseling.
• Client and family education regarding prescribed medications.

Substance Use Disorder Treatment

Provide psychiatric services for individuals experiencing substance use disorders and co-occurring behavioral health conditions.

Responsibilities Include

• Psychiatric consultation regarding co-occurring disorders.
• Evaluation for medication-assisted treatment (MAT).
• Prescribing and management of buprenorphine, when appropriately credentialed and clinically indicated.
• Management of opioid antagonist medications.
• Psychotropic medication management for individuals with co-occurring disorders.
• Collaboration regarding withdrawal management and recovery planning.
• Participation in ASAM-informed level-of-care recommendations.

Integrated Behavioral Healthcare

Collaborate Effectively With

• Licensed Clinicians.
• Counselor I staff.
• Counselor II staff.
• Clinical Supervisors.
• Case Management.
• Peer Recovery Specialists.
• Primary Care Providers.
• Hospitals.
• Pharmacies.
• Community Behavioral Health Providers.
• Referral Partners.
• Participate in interdisciplinary treatment planning, case consultation, and coordinated care meetings.

• Crisis Intervention
• Conduct psychiatric crisis evaluations.
• Assess psychiatric emergencies.
• Participate in emergency psychiatric consultations.
• Develop psychiatric safety plans.
• Coordinate referrals to higher levels of care when clinically indicated.
• Provide consultation to clinical staff regarding psychiatric emergencies.

Clinical Consultation

Provide Consultation Regarding

• Diagnostic clarification.
• Complex psychiatric presentations.
• Psychopharmacology.
• Treatment-resistant conditions.
• Co-occurring disorders.
• Medication management.
• Integrated treatment planning.

Support the interdisciplinary treatment team through clinical consultation and education within the scope of practice.

Documentation Responsibilities

The PMHNP is responsible for maintaining accurate, timely, and clinically appropriate documentation in accordance with CRHE policies and procedures, DSAMH regulations, Delaware Board of Nursing requirements, HIPAA, 42 CFR Part 2, and applicable payer standards.

Documentation Responsibilities Include

• Comprehensive psychiatric evaluations.
• Medication management notes.
• Psychiatric progress notes.
• Medication reconciliation.
• Treatment recommendations.
• Psychiatric consultation notes.
• Controlled substance documentation.
• Crisis intervention documentation.
• Safety plans.
• Clinical correspondence.
• Care coordination documentation.
• Discharge recommendations.
• Other documentation required by CRHE and applicable regulatory agencies.

Clinical documentation shall be completed within established organizational timeframes and support medical necessity, continuity of care, and quality clinical practice.

Caseload Expectations

The PMHNP Maintains a Psychiatric Caseload Appropriate To

• Contractor availability.
• Clinical complexity.
• Referral volume.
• Program assignment.
• Organizational priorities.

The PMHNP is expected to provide timely psychiatric consultation and medication management while collaborating with the interdisciplinary treatment team to promote continuity of care across outpatient, intensive outpatient, and partial hospitalization services.

Quality Improvement & Compliance

The PMHNP Is Expected To

• Participate in interdisciplinary treatment team meetings.
• Participate in psychiatric case consultation.
• Support organizational quality improvement initiatives.
• Participate in peer review and documentation audits.
• Complete required organizational education and training.
• Maintain compliance with CRHE policies and procedures.
• Report critical incidents and client safety concerns in accordance with organizational policy.

Practice in accordance with Delaware law, professional nursing standards, DSAMH regulations, and applicable ethical codes.

Minimum Qualifications

CRHE Required Qualifications

Applicants Must Possess

• Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) from an accredited institution.
• Current unrestricted Delaware Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) license.
• Eligibility to practice independently within the State of Delaware.
• Current DEA registration, when required.
• Delaware Controlled Substance Registration (CSR), when applicable.

Demonstrated clinical experience providing psychiatric care for adults with mental health disorders and substance use disorders.

Specific Education and Clinical Training In

• Psychopharmacology.
• Buprenorphine treatment.
• Opioid antagonist medications.
• Medication management for individuals with co-occurring disorders.
• Experience utilizing electronic health record systems.

Preferred Qualifications

Preference Will Be Given to Applicants Who Possess

• Board Certification as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP-BC).
• Two (2) or more years of experience providing psychiatric services in outpatient behavioral healthcare.
• Experience treating adults with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders.
• Experience within outpatient, intensive outpatient, or partial hospitalization programs.
• Experience providing integrated behavioral healthca