Are you looking for a purpose-driven career? At Metrocare, we serve our neighbors with developmental or mental health challenges by helping them find lives that are meaningful and satisfying.

Metrocare is the largest provider of mental health services in North Texas, serving over 55,000 adults and children annually. For over 50 years, Metrocare has provided a broad array of services to people with mental health challenges and developmental disabilities. In addition to behavioral health care, Metrocare provides primary care centers for adults and children, services for veterans and their families, accessible pharmacies, housing, and supportive social services. Alongside clinical care, researchers and teachers from Metrocare’s Altshuler Center for Education & Research are advancing mental health beyond Dallas County while providing critical workforce to the state.

The mission of Metrocare Services is to serve our neighbors with developmental or mental health challenges by helping them find lives that are meaningful and satisfying. We are an agency committed to quality gender-responsive, trauma-informed care to individuals experiencing serious mental illness, development disabilities, and co-occurring disorders. Metrocare programs focus on the issues that matter most in the lives of the children, families, and adults we serve.

The Advanced Practice Nurse (APN) is a registered professional nurse currently licensed in the State of Texas, who is prepared for advanced nursing practice by virtue of knowledge and skills obtained through a post-basic or advanced educational program of study acceptable to the Board of Nurse Examiners (BNE) and the Texas State Board of Medical Examiners. The advanced practice nurse is prepared to practice in an expanded role to provide health care to individuals, families, and/or groups in a variety of settings. The advanced practice nurse acts independently and/or in collaboration with other health care professionals in the delivery of health care services. The APN is a primary health care provider who provides nursing and medical services to individuals, families, and groups, across the life span, emphasizing health promotion and disease prevention as well as the diagnosis and management of acute and chronic diseases. The APN’s services include but are not limited to ordering, conducting, and interpreting appropriate diagnostic and lab tests, prescription of pharmacological agents and treatments and non-pharmacological therapies.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

The essential functions listed here are representative of those that must be met to successfully perform the job.

• Responds to questions from patients receiving service and/or their families directly and proactively. Provides information (in language appropriate to their level of functioning) to assist in understanding and managing symptoms of mental illness.

• Conducts and documents psychiatric evaluations under physicians’ supervision, in accord with Metrocare Services procedures.
• Responds flexibly to handle unscheduled evaluations of individuals who walk in and whose level of functioning appears to indicate an imminent crisis or immediate need.

• Takes an active role in interdisciplinary team meetings to discuss evaluations and diagnostic formulations and to assist the team and the patient to develop an appropriate plan of service which:

clearly states problems; indicates goals, measurable objectives, and intervention strategies to address each identified problem; and identifies staff responsible for each planned intervention within a specified time frame.

• Participates in the development and updating of the individual service plans.
• Demonstrates good professional judgment in implementing interventions as defined in the individual service plan, in reviewing the case with the team as needed, and in modifying the individual service plan as appropriate, based on changing needs of the individual receiving services.
• Documents that the rationale for all interventions, including any changes, has been explained to the individual and that informed consent has been obtained according to procedures.
• Demonstrates good professional judgment in prescribing and monitoring psychoactive medications for each assigned patient.

• Implements and documents medication-related practices in accord with administrative procedures.
• Documents that laboratory studies and/or physical examinations have been ordered, completed, and reviewed per procedure, including prior to beginning psychoactive medications and within recommended frequencies for each medication during the course of treatment. Also documents that appropriate and timely adjustments in medications are made based on laboratory/examination findings.
• Documents provision of medication education to each individual according to procedures.
• Assures that provided care is coordinated with the care of other community medical providers who may also be treating the individual.
• Assures that other providers in 24-hour residential services and/or home caregivers assisting with medications monitoring are informed on a timely basis regarding medication changes, behavioral signs which need to be observed and reported, and of how and to whom to report.
• Prescribes only medications on the formulary, at doses within acceptable ranges as identified in the PDR, with exceptions to be approved by the Center Medical Director.
• Is responsive to psychiatric and/or medical emergency care needs of individuals receiving services.
• Maintains current knowledge of Texas Mental Illness Code and necessary procedures for involuntary hospitalization.
• Works closely with other staff in determining when admission to a more restrictive setting is indicated.
• Accurately completes necessary documentation for obtaining an Order of Protective Custody, when applicable.:

• Documentation in individual service records will be sufficient for filing and justification of insurance/third-party claims for the service provided.
• Documentation of time will be in accord with procedures for every service event provided
• Adheres to procedures in maintaining security of confidential consumer information.
• Schedules sufficient percentage of time for the provision of face-to-face interactions with consumers to achieve productivity benchmarks assigned by DMS.
• Documents these face-to-face interactions in the medical record in a manner consonant with DMS standards for quality of documentation.
• Provides clinical care in a manner consonant with standards, and review of medical records demonstrates documentation of evaluation, treatment planning and medication prescription consonant with quality of care standards.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

COMPETENCIES:

The competencies listed here are representative of those that must be met to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

• Conducts job responsibilities in accordance with the ethical standards of conduct, state contract, appropriate professional standards, and applicable state/federal laws

• Analytical skills, professional acumen, business ethics, thorough understanding of continuous improvement processes, problem solving, respect for confidentiality, and excellent communication skills.

• Conducts job responsibilities in accordance with the ethical standards of conduct, state contract, appropriate professional standards, and applicable state/federal laws

• Analytical skills, professional acumen, business ethics, thorough understanding of continuous improvement processes, problem solving, respect for confidentiality, and excellent communication skills.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills.
• Excellent organizational skills with the ability to prioritize workflow and meet deadlines.
• Ability to handle multiple task and special projects simultaneously.
• Able to work autonomously with minimal or no supervision.
• Able to maintain a high level of professionalism and confidentiality.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

• Master’s Degree from an accredited university. At least 6 months experience as an APN in the clinical area.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS:

• Basic math skills required.
• Ability to work with reports and numbers.
• Ability to calculate moderately complex figures and amounts to accurately report activities and budgets.

REASONING ABILITY:

• Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out simple one or two-step instructions. Ability to deal with standardized situations with only occasional or no variables.
• To operate within the boundaries of the parameters set forth for APNs by the BNE for the State of Texas and the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners.

• To formulate appropriate differential diagnosis based on history, physical examination, and clinical findings.
• To identify the needs of the individual, family or community as a result of the evaluation of the collected data.
• To identify appropriate diagnostic tests, pharmacologic agents and non-pharmacologic interventions.
• To determine the effectiveness of a plan of care and to reassess and modify the plan as necessary.
• To properly use protocols, standing delegation orders, standing medical orders, practice guidelines or other physician orders for medical aspects of patient care including prescription drug orders that are mutually agreed upon and signed by the APN and physician.
• To work under physician supervision.

COMPUTER SKILLS:

• Use computer, printer, and software programs necessary to the position (i.e., Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint).
• Ability to utilize Internet for resources.

CERTIFICATIONS, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS:

• Current State of Texas Driver License or if you live in another state, must be currently licensed in that state. If licensed in another state, must obtain Texas Driver License within three (3) months of employment.
• Currently licensed as a Registered Nurse in the State of Texas
• Current State of Texas Driver License or if you live in another state, must be currently licensed in that state. If licensed in another state, must obtain Texas Driver License within three (3) months of employment.
• Liability insurance required if employee will operate personal vehicle on Center property or for Center business. Must be insurable by Center’s liability carrier if employee operates a Center vehicle or drives personal car on Center business. Must have an acceptable driving record.
• CPR
• PMAB

Metrocare couldn’t have a great employee-first culture without great benefits. That’s why we offer a competitive salary, exceptional training, and an outstanding benefits package:

• Medical/Dental/Vision
• Paid Leave
• Paid Holidays
• Employee Assistance Program
• Retirement Plan, including employer matching
• Health Savings Account, including employer matching
• Professional Development Allowance up to $1500 per year
• Bilingual Stipend – up to 6% of the base salary
• Many other benefits

Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer

Tobacco-Free Facilities - Metrocare is committed to promoting the health, well-being, and safety of Metrocare team members, guests, and individuals and families we serves while on the facility campuses. Therefore, Metrocare facilities and grounds are tobacco-free.

No Recruitment Agencies Please