Head Nurse - Psychiatric Unit jobs in Columbia, SC

We are seeking Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners to join our teams across the US supporting the Department of Veterans Affairs. The Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner will be expected to provide evaluation and treatment for common diagnoses to include, but not limited to, anxiety disorders, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Major Depression and other mood disorders, Substance Use Disorders, Bipolar Disorder, Schizophrenia, other Serious Mental Illnesses, mental disorders related to Traumatic Brain Injuries and Dementia. The Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner will be expected to prescribe appropriate psychotropic medications when clinically indicated, as well as to assess risk factors and to develop a treatment plan, involving the Veteran and the family/significant other. The Nurse Practitioner will be expected to cooperate with, and participate in, medical duties or functions related to quality of care, peer review, and other performance improvement activities..

Key Responsibilities

• Performs an advanced comprehensive mental health history and mental status exam considering the psychosocial, emotion, ethnic and cultural aspects of health.
• Uses health assessment information and critical thinking to identify mental health concerns and risks, normal and abnormal states and formulate differential diagnoses.
• Uses scientific knowledge to deliver evidence-based care to the Veteran.
• Identifies and requests the mental health appropriate lab and imaging studies for Veterans and can interpret the requested tests using critical thinking.
• Communicates with Veterans and/or Veterans' designated surrogate, the diagnoses/options and likely response to care and common side effects of treatment.
• Documents mental health assessments, clinical data, diagnoses, management, and conclusions in a timely manner using the electronic medical record.
• Initiates timely referrals for subspecialty care as appropriate.
• Anticipates and recognizes changing urgent and emergent problems and intervenes appropriately.
• Actively provides counseling to promote mental health, reduce risk factors and prevent disease and disability.
• Recognizes environmental health problems affecting Veterans and provides health protection interventions.
• Selects, prescribes and analyzes correct dosages, routes and frequencies of medications to include psychotropic medications and utilizes non-pharmacologic evidence-based treatment modalities based on relevant individual needs, e.g., illness, age, gender, previous adverse drug reactions and medicines received from outside providers.
• Medicines are documented in the Medicine Reconciliation Note as per health system policy.
• Actively seeks out health promotion opportunities for Veterans. Works closely with the mental health team to provide coordinated care.
• Evaluates the Veteran's response to the mental health care provided and the effectiveness of the care.

Experience/Certification Required:

• Current, full, active, and unrestricted registration as a graduate professional nurse in a State, Territory or Commonwealth (i.e., Puerto Rico) of the United States, or the District of Columbia.
• Certification. (1) On and after May 4, 1993, certification by the Council on Certification of Nurse Anesthetists is a requirement for employment. This requirement does not apply to non-certified nurse anesthetists employed by VA as a nurse anesthetist prior to May 4, 1993 and continuously thereafter. Any nurse anesthetist who leaves VA employment or vacates the nurse anesthetist occupation for another VA position, must meet the current requirement of certification for re-appointment as a nurse anesthetist. The CCNA and the Council on Recertification of Nurse Anesthetists have designated the AANA's web site as a display agent for their information.(2) Nurse Anesthetists will maintain recertification by meeting the Council on Recertification of Nurse Anesthetist's requirements as a condition of employment.
• Current ACLS and BLS certification. Current American Heart Association Basic Life Support (BLS) is preferred.

Education Required:

• Graduate of a school of professional nursing approved by one of the following accrediting bodies at the time the program was completed by the applicant: The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) or The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). The approving official may authorize a waiver of the requirement for ACEN or CCNE accreditation of any degree in nursing provided the college or university has regional accreditation from an accrediting body recognized by the Department of Education at the time of the candidate's graduation and the composite qualifications of the applicant warrant such consideration. OR The completion of coursework equivalent to a nursing degree in a MSN Bridge Program that qualifies for professional nursing registration constitutes the completion of an approved course of study of professional nursing. Students should submit the certificate of professional nursing to sit for the NCLEX to the VA along with a copy of the MSN transcript. (Reference VA Handbook 5005, Appendix G6) OR In cases of graduates of foreign schools of professional nursing, possession of a current, full, active and unrestricted registration will meet the requirement for graduation from an approved school of professional nursing.
• Nurse Practitioners: A nurse practitioner must be licensed or otherwise recognized as a nurse practitioner in a State, possess a master's degree from a program accredited by the NLNAC or CCNE, and maintain full and current certification as a nurse practitioner from the American Nurses Association or another nationally recognized certifying body. The certification must be in the specialty to which the individual is being appointed or selected, in this case Mental Health.
• Current, full, active, and unrestricted registration as a graduate professional nurse in a State, Territory or Commonwealth (i.e., Puerto Rico) of the United States, or the District of Columbia.
• DEA License

Physical Requirements:

• Work is normally performed in a typical interior/office work environment.
• Work involves sitting and standing for prolonged periods of time.
• May require bending, stooping and lifting to 15 lbs.

Other Special Qualifications:

• US Citizen or Permanent Resident Card is required.
• Must relocate to project site for the duration of the contract.
• Pass/possess VA Public Trust Clearance

Hamdan Resources, LLC is committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce. We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer (EEO/AA), making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class. U.S. Citizenship and/or authorization to work within the U.S.is required for most positions.