What are the responsibilities and job description for the Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner position at Kewa Pueblo Health Corporation kphc?
Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner - CONTRACTOR
Department: Behavioral Health
Reports to: Director of Behavioral Health
Status: CONTRACTOR
Type of Position: Part-Time
Revised Date: 04/07/2025
MISSION & VISION STATEMENT:
The Kewa Pueblo Health Corporation (KPHC) is established for the purposes of carrying out the vision and mission of the Santo Domingo Health Center (SDHC). The MISSION of KPHC is: “ENSURING HEALTH & WELLNESS THROUGH EXCELLENCE IN HEALTHCARE WITH RESPECT FOR CULTURE” and the VISION OF KPHC is: “HEALTHY PEOPLE, HEALTHY COMMUNITY, and HEALTHY LIFESTYLE”.
POSITION PURPOSE:
This is a contract, part-time position. This is not a remote position. The purpose of this position is to provide psychiatric medication management to Native American adolescents and adults experiencing a range of behavioral health issues. In addition, this position emphasizes community and interagency liaison efforts on behalf of patients, with an overarching aim of providing culturally responsive and integrated care.
PERFORMANCE EXPECTATIONS:
In the performance of their respective tasks and duties all employees of the Kewa Pueblo Health Center are expected to conform to the following:
- Uphold all principles of confidentiality and patient care to the fullest extent.
- Adhere to all professional and ethical behavior standards of the healthcare industry.
- Interact in an honest, trustworthy, and dependable manner with patients, employees, and vendors.
- Possess cultural awareness and sensitivity.
- Maintain a current insurable driver’s license.
- Comply with all Kewa Pueblo Health Corporation and Santo Domingo Health Center policies and procedures, as well.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES, FUNCTIONS & RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Provides diagnostic, treatment, and referral services for adolescent and adult psychiatric patients. Coordinates services to patients with pediatrician/primary care physician, case manager (if applicable), and other clinical providers, as appropriate.
- Provides consultation to personnel, public and private resource agencies to assist clients and patients in resolving medical, social, and emotional problems.
- Provides crisis intervention services to individuals and families in specialized situations such as sexual assault, family violence, environmental catastrophes, suicide attempts, abortion counseling, alcohol and drug abuse, etc.
- Leads, directs, and extracts information from individual and group discussions. This may include members hesitant to reveal or discuss personal problems due to cultural and educational barriers.
- Maintains all appropriate client records according to KPHC Policies and Medical Staff Bylaws.
- Adheres to all Performance Improvement and Quality Management standards of KPHC
- Works closely with the Santo Domingo Pueblo Division of Social Service, Law Enforcement, Educational, and other agencies to coordinate services for mental health patients who have serious family and other social problems.
- Provides consultation to health professionals, physicians, nurses, substance abuse workers, social workers, psychologists, and other community agency staff regarding the causes, diagnosis, and treatment of mental health and substance abuse problems on a case-by-case basis either through discussions about patients and families jointly assisted or by clarifying mental health aspects of clients of those agencies.
- Strives for the highest possible participation and cooperation, in all the contacts, i.e. patients, patients’ families, police, social workers, and other Santo Domingo Pueblo and Santo Domingo Health Center staff, through effective mental health methods and techniques. This requires skill in gaining the confidence of patients and families, many of whom are uncooperative, hostile, and tend toward destructive attitudes and actions.
- Solicits the understanding and cooperation of families, most of who have severe socio-economic problems, while recognizing and considering these factors.
- Assists with chronic cases. He/she/they assess the situation, prepare reports of findings with recommendations as to appropriate action within the framework of mental health resources available. He/she/they must at all times be sensitive to cultural customs and standards in evaluating alternative solutions.
- Takes leadership role in assessing and responding to adolescent/adult Mental Health needs.
- Develops social work/mental health services delivery systems, which are family-centered and reduce bureaucratic and administrative intrusions to the minimum necessary. This may involve assessment of needs, strategic planning and developing of networks with community members and human service providers, identification of resources, re-design of current service delivery systems and development of new services and development of new services and activities for manage care.
- Performs other duties as assigned by the Director of Behavioral Health.
MINIMUM MANDATORY QUALIFICATIONS:
Education:
- Successful completion of all requirements associated with an ANCC Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) degree, recognized by the New Mexico Board or a different state with reciprocity, and willingness to obtain New Mexico licensure within one year of employment.
Experience:
- A minimum of four years of experience providing psychiatric medication management to diverse patient populations. Candidates with fewer than four years of post-licensed experience will not be considered for the position.
Mandatory Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, and Other Qualifications:
Knowledge of a number of established psychotherapies including cognitive-behavioral, psychodynamic, functional family, and dialectical behavioral. The applicant must have demonstrated skills in at least three of these therapies and is open to accepting training in others.
Comprehensive knowledge of or willingness to learn about Indian Health Service (IHS) Clinical/Medical staff by-laws, rules and regulations and comply with all requirements for appointment to and must be credentialed and privileged in accordance with Kewa Pueblo Health Corporation medical staff by-laws.
Knowledge of policies and regulations on Tort Claims and Third Party Claims.
Knowledge of the interaction of physical, emotional, social, intellectual and cultural factors in creating adjustment and behavior disorders and mental and emotional illness.
Thorough knowledge of the psychological disorders as defined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V-TR). Must understand current theories of the causes and treatment of mental disorders.
Knowledge of the socio-cultural factors that both enhance and adversely affect the mental health of American Indian populations. Skills in the design of activities that can ameliorate these problems (i.e. community consultation, education, primary, and secondary prevention).
Communicative and innovative skills in effectively organizing and utilizing available community resources and in motivating the patients to use these.
Knowledge of usual side effects and overdose concerns for common mediations used to treat psychiatric disorders in adolescent and adult patients. Knowledge of and ability to perform the AIMS assessment for anti-psychotics are highly desirable.
Knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age of the patients served on the assigned work unit.
Knowledge of the principles of growth and development over the life span and ability to assess individual signs and symptoms and assess milieu elements affecting a patient's functional status.
The ability to interpret information and identify each patient's treatment requirements relative to age specific needs and provide the care needed as prescribed in the department's policies and procedures.
Keeps abreast of new concepts and techniques in specialty areas and apply them as appropriate in direct services work. Continues pursuit and development of job-related individual interests and specialty areas for both personal growth and program and services enhancement.
Must be particularly sensitive to and appreciate the implications of cross-cultural problems.
Familiarity with the mandatory reporting requirements under the Indian Child Protection Act, with regards to suspected incidence of child abuse or child neglect.
A record of satisfactory performance in all prior and current employment as evidenced by positive employment references from previous and current employers.
Ability to perform other duties as assigned.
Incumbent may be required to work day, evening or holiday shifts.
- Must have CPR and/or ACLS certification.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
Knowledge of or willingness to learn about Native American culture and a general knowledge of the historical, cultural and social factors impacting Native Americans in the psychological and emotional realms.
- Prior experience working with Indian Health Services (IHS), a Tribe or Tribal organization.
WORK ENVIRONMENT:
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the primary functions of this job. Normal office conditions exist, and the noise level in the work environment can vary from low to moderate. Travel during the daytime, as well as limited overnight travel may be required from time to time. This position may expose the incumbent to certain health risks that are inherent when working within a health center facility.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the primary functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee may be required to frequently stand, walk, sit, bend, twist, talk and hear. There may be prolonged periods of sitting, keyboarding, and reading. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include reading, distance, computer, and color vision. Talking and hearing are essential to communicate with patients, vendors and staff.
MENTAL DEMANDS:
There are several deadlines associated with this position. The employee must also multi-task and interact with a wider variety of people on various and, at times, complicated issues. The ability to communicate effectively, meet deadlines, and multi-task is essential to this position.
OTHER:
All employees must fully uphold all principles of confidentiality and patient care. This position has access to sensitive information and a breach of these principles will be grounds for immediate termination.
Disclaimer: The information on this position description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performance by employees in this position. It is not designed to contain, or be interpreted as, a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications required of employees assigned to this position. Employees will be asked to perform other duties as needed.
Applicants will be considered on the basis of whether they meet the minimum mandatory qualifications identified on the position description for the position applied for, including requisite experience, relevant education and possession of required licenses and certifications. Among applicants who meet all minimum mandatory qualification for a position, preference will, to the maximum extent feasible, be granted to qualified Native American applicants.
