UC San Diego Health is a Magnet designated organization, which is a prestigious recognition that applies to only 10% of all U.S. hospitals. Magnet is the "gold standard" for nursing excellence and is based on strengths in five key areas, which include transformational leadership, structural empowerment, exemplary professional practice, new knowledge, innovation and improvements and empirical outcomes. UC San Diego Health has held its Magnet status since 2011.

Under the supervision of the Advanced Practice Provider Supervisor at the UCSD Department of Psychiatry, and in consultation with the Psychiatrist Staff at UCSD Department of Psychiatry, the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (NP) will provide specialized psychiatric services in a few different roles: 1) NP will provide psychiatric care to psychiatric patients who may also be medically ill at UCSD Hillcrest, Jacobs, and East Campus Medical Center Emergency Departments; 2) NP will consult on patients on all medical services throughout the hospitals, liaison with the hospitalist team and other physicians involved in the patient's care, and provide Psychiatric education when pertinent to the patient's case; 3) NP may provide general adult outpatient psychiatric services; 4) and NP may provide support for training of psychiatric NP students and NP fellows.

Candidate must be comfortable with the interface between medical and psychiatric illness and be able to prescribe treatment accordingly. Assess psychiatric illness in the Emergency Department, medical, and post-surgical patients in the hospital. Conduct in-depth interviews with patients, construct comprehensive medical histories, perform initial and periodic physical examinations. Coordinate appropriate follow- up care, referrals, and case management. Consult and coordinate care with other medical and psychiatric staff, and outside agencies.Psychiatric NP must be able to provide independent clinical service to complicated patients with both medical and mental health issues, deal with emergent psychiatric issues in the emergency room and provide full spectrum of care to adult outpatient psychiatric patients. Psychiatric NP must be able to conduct clinical care within LPC designated service lines and be able to provide independent safety evaluation of psychiatric patients.

• Must be a graduate from an accredited nurse practitioner program.

• California Registered Nurse (RN) license, California Nurse Practitioner (NP) license, and Furnishing License Certification.

• Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Certification (PMHNP).

• Valid DEA license, and/or ability to furnish upon hire.

• Certified by the County to place patients on legal holds (e.g. 5150, 5250). Must pass 5150 examination and be certified by the county as a 5150 designee.

• Current BART certification, or BLS/CPR certification at time of hire with commitment to get BART within six (6) months of hire date.

• Minimum six (6) months of licensed Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner work experience.

• Knowledge of psychiatric principles, practices, and process gained through extended clinical study and experience.

• Demonstrated experience in Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry; including treating patients in the hospital who are medically compromised in the last 6 months.

• Demonstrated experience working in acute settings (urgent care, emergency department, and/or hospital) in San Diego County, demonstrating familiarity with local resources, referral procedures, and County specific mental health laws within the last 6 months.

• Knowledge and experience in managing psychiatric medications; knowledge of psychiatric illness, demonstrated knowledge of medical illness that cause psychiatric symptoms.

• Demonstrated ability to assess medical and psychiatric issues, prescribe appropriate psychiatric treatment including medications, perform crisis intervention and make dispositions if needed from the ED.

• Demonstrated experience working as liaison with the hospitalists as well as the other physicians who manage these medical patients and providing Psych education pertinent to the case.

• Demonstrated knowledge of psychiatric models of care with emphasis on interdisciplinary team approach.

• Demonstrated abilities and experience in providing crisis counseling to patients and families regarding any aspect of diagnosis and management of psychiatric disorders; demonstrated experience in providing education to the patient and family related to the ongoing primary care of the patient such as health maintenance, prevention, anticipatory guidance, and management of psychiatric disorders.

• Proven ability to work effectively with diverse groups of people. Demonstrated experience with or interest in providing individualized care to vulnerable populations.

• Excellent oral and written communication skills with ability to discuss difficult issues with sensitivity and tact.

• Skill in interviewing and counseling. Proven ability to maintain confidentiality.

• Knowledge in federal, state and local regulatory requirements: Health Insurance Portability, Accountability ACT-HIPAA, etc.

• Knowledge of all types of treatment and modalities necessary for the patient's care and well-being and skill in recording nursing/medical assessment findings accurately and completely.

• Proven ability to assess the daily status and progress of patients and report this effectively to the physician in-charge and other medical care personnel associated with the patient.

• Demonstrated experience in using an electronic medical records program and overseeing all entries to ensure timely updates and check for completeness.

• Demonstrated success in managing patient phone calls; answering clinical questions and concerns or triaging to Physician as appropriate; proven ability to convey test results, refill prescription requests as appropriate and to coordinate follow-up care.

• Demonstrated experience in assisting patient in scheduling appointments for same-day appointments, special studies and/or outside physicians, including necessary instructions and forms.

• Demonstrated experience in scheduling patient appointments via computerized scheduling system.

• Proven ability to provide training to new NP students regarding current Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practice Curriculum and Standards

• Advanced post-graduate PMHNP fellowship program completion.

• Must be able to work for Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry.
• Must be available to work four, 10-hour shifts weekly. This work schedule (days and hours) may change in the future based on Departmental needs.
• Must be flexible and willing to work at multiple locations - Hillcrest Medical Center, Jacobs Medical Center, East Campus Medical Center and/or outpatient sites - potentially moving between locations on a daily or weekly basis to meet NP cross coverage and Departmental needs.
• Must be available to work holidays and weekends to ensure holiday/weekend coverage at East Campus Medical Center.
• Must have available transportation and able to commute between Hillcrest Medical Center, Jacobs Medical Center, East Campus Medical Center, and other Psychiatry clinical sites as needed.
• Employment is subject to a criminal background check and pre-employment physical.
• Must be able to obtain UCSD Medical Staff privileges and maintain during employment.
• Current UCSD NPIII employees may be hired at the NPIII level pending review and approval by Health Human Resources and the UCSD Advanced Practice Council.