Psych Nurse Practitioner - Non-Crisis - Phoenix, Mesa, Avondale

Community Bridges, Inc. (CBI) is an integrated behavioral healthcare agency offering a variety of programs throughout Arizona. CBI provides residential, outpatient, inpatient, patient-centered medical homes, medication-assisted treatment, and crisis services to individuals experiencing crisis, opioid use disorder, homelessness, and mental illness.

At Community Bridges, Inc. (CBI), a psychiatric practitioner is an integral specialty for our whole-person approach in our integrated system of physical, psychiatric, and addiction services. The scope of practice of psychiatric practitioner in the inpatient setting will see adults 18 and older, all genders, all socio-economic backgrounds, complex medical history, and co-occurring psychiatric disorders. Psychiatric practitioners at CBI will be expected to provide patient-centered, evidence-based care for patients as well as serve as patient advocates in all health-related matters, including the appropriate use of specialists, health services, and community resources.

Available Positions & Schedules

• PMHNP/FNP – Crisis Sobriety Center – AM/PM shifts (Sunday – Tuesday, rotating Wednesday; or Wednesday – Saturday)
• PMHNP – (SMI Caseload) – Full time on site, Mesa location; 8AM-4PM Monday – Friday
• PMHNP – ACT/FACT – Full time on site, Central Phoenix; 8AM-5PM Monday – Friday

Responsibilities

• Complete urgent psychiatric and/or addiction medicine evaluations for patients referred to the 23-hour observation unit from hospitals, urgent care centers, law enforcement, and other medical practitioners for assessment, diagnosis, and treatment recommendations.
• Perform urgent psychiatric assessments, addiction medicine assessments, ambulatory detox, or physical health assessments for patients identified by CBI screening staff.
• Coordinate patient admissions, transfers, or discharges to different CBI programs or levels of care, documenting transitions in the medical record.
• Initiate and document doctor-to-doctor communication and care coordination.
• Evaluate all patients on the unit at least daily to adjust treatment and discharge planning as needed.
• Assess and document the appropriate use of seclusion and restraint, including:
  • Current behaviors, known medical/psychiatric conditions, and current medications.
  • Writing or signing orders for seclusion/restraint within three hours if given verbally, including:
    • Date and time of the order.
    • Specific type of restraint/seclusion.
    • For chemical restraints: drug names, strength, dosage, route of administration, and symptoms being treated.
    • Maximum duration not to exceed three continuous hours.
  • Complete an assessment within one hour after the order, documenting current behavior, reaction to intervention, medical condition, and whether to continue or terminate restraint/seclusion.
  • Write a release order or document a second order if restraint/seclusion needs to continue beyond three hours.
• Review cases and discharge plans during rounds with assigned CBI medical staff, documenting and signing full discharge orders and follow-up recommendations within 24 hours of discharge.
• Remain on the unit for the entirety of the scheduled shift; deviations require prior approval from the CMO or designee.
• Complete and review Applications for Involuntary Evaluation and Emergency Admission, with decisions made within two hours of receipt. Unacceptable applications must be staffed with the CBI Medical Director prior to rejection.
• Complete admission orders (in person or verbally to a nurse) and sign within 24 hours of admission.
• Conduct daily staffing and rounds, including:
  • Psychiatric evaluations at least once every 24 hours for all patients in the 23-Hour Observation Unit.
  • Reviewing cases with RN and Crisis Specialist during rounds as part of discharge planning.
  • Documenting rounds in progress notes.
  • Reviewing cases with the oncoming practitioner at the end of each shift.
• Maintain treatment of physical health and coordinate with PCPs and other prescribers while the patient is in treatment.
• Coordinate internal consults and care transitions, ensuring smooth transitions between CBI programs or levels of care.
• Complete psychiatric evaluations and document them in the patient file for all admissions to the inpatient behavioral health facility.
• Write or sign orders for pain management evaluations if clinically indicated and outside the scope of the attending practitioner.
• Provide necessary documentation and treatment for patients under petition or court-ordered treatment.
• Evaluate each patient for ongoing mental health/psychiatric and physical health care prior to discharge, documenting in the electronic health record.
• Complete orientation as directed by CBI, including shadowing another practitioner prior to working with patients.
• Obtain and maintain a Suboxone waiver to treat the maximum number of eligible patients, maintaining necessary patient data logs for buprenorphine treatment.
• Provide evidence of CPR/First Aid certification prior to working with patients and renew every two years.
• Participate in quality management initiatives and correct identified deficiencies within 72 hours, unless approved otherwise by the Director of Medical Practice.
• Maintain a minimum 85% compliance with documentation requirements and patient satisfaction scores. If performance falls below 85%, submit a plan of correction to the Medical Director. If performance remains below 85% for two consecutive months, the practitioner will be removed from the schedule without compensation.
• Maintain a minimum 75% follow-up rate.
• Complete and document all medication assessments and informed consents by the end of the assigned shift or within 24 hours of seeing the patient.
• Review the Controlled Substance Prescription Monitoring Program prior to treatment and coordinate care with other prescribing practitioners.
• Utilize e-Prescribing for all patient prescriptions as established in the CBI electronic medical record.
• Attend regular staffing and rounds, participate in treatment plan development, and provide clinical expertise for the treatment team.
• Support utilization review activities by documenting admission medical necessity and continued stay necessity, including completion of certification of need for Level I admissions.
• Provide reviews when requested by payors for utilization management activities.
• Promote collaborative patient care by communicating with referring and receiving professionals.
• Attend and actively participate in practitioner meetings, regulatory/accreditation surveys, peer review activities, and performance improvement projects.
• Comply with agreed-upon work schedules to meet clinical and business needs. CBI may schedule practitioners at any facility and will attempt to establish routine schedules.
• Provide a minimum of 60 days’ notice for time off and coordinate coverage for scheduled shifts. Submit time-off requests to medicaltimeoff@cbridges.com.
• Notify the Director of Medical Practice and Medical Director in case of an emergency or inability to cover a scheduled shift.
• Adhere to all CBI policies and procedures.
• Complete documentation within 24 hours of a visit; notify the Director of Medical Practice if documentation is incomplete.
• Participate in training new clinical staff of the same specialty or experience, with schedule adjustments made if training impacts patient care.
• Attend educational meetings and quarterly practitioner meetings (minimum of 3 per year). Provide 24-hour notice if unable to attend; contact the Director of Medical Practice as soon as possible for unexpected absences.
• Recognize practice limitations and seek consultation with other healthcare professionals as needed.
• Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Complete a TB skin test prior to working with CBI patients and annually thereafter. Submit results to the Credentialing department.
• Obtain and maintain a Suboxone waiver to treat the maximum number of patients for which the practitioner is eligible.
• Maintain necessary patient data logs for buprenorphine treatment.
• Provide evidence of CPR/First Aid certification prior to working with patients and renew every two years.