Reporting to the Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner, the Psychiatry Nurse Care Manager provides direct patient care appropriate to scope of practice, and care management and care coordination services to psychiatry patients.

Representative Duties:

1. Provides direct patient care to psychiatry patients

• Assesses the mental health status and psychosocial needs of established psychiatry patients.
• Develops patient care plans aimed at preventing disease exacerbation, decreasing risk status, improving health outcomes, increasing patient engagement in self-care, minimizing preventable hospital, emergency room, and other health care facility utilization.
• Assists MD/APRN in determining the effectiveness and side effects of psychotropic medications by reviewing relevant lab, refill and other monitoring data as needed.
• Takes accurate medication history, assures medication lists are up to date, and assures compliance with medication prescriptions.
• Evaluates patient adherence to established care plans.
• Works with patients to improve adherence to medical recommendations and medication compliance.
• Assists patients and families (as appropriate) to understand and manage maladaptive behaviors, and establishes self-directed care plans to promote patient’s well-being.
• Assists in the detection of “at risk” patients and the development of treatment plans to prevent further psychological or physical deterioration.
• Assists with patient care under the direction of appropriate medical provider and/or under nursing scope of practice.
• Administers medications as determined by scope of practice.

2. Oversees and provides the care management of psychiatry patients

• Performs telephone triage and schedules patients accordingly.
• Provides triage to appropriate internal and external referral sources as determined by patient need.
• Provides care management and care coordination by interfacing with internal and external care providers, services, agencies.
• Assists patients in problem solving any health care system, financial, or psychosocial issues that pose a barrier to care.
• Enhances and supports patient engagement by conducting patient outreach as needed.
• Coordinates established patient registries for the psychiatry service.
• Acts as a liaison with community mental health agencies and consulting psychiatric services.

3. Provides appropriate and timely documentation of clinical work

• Maintains patient records in a timely manner in the electronic medical record
• Completes forms and reports for insurance companies and other agencies, as needed

4. Continues professional development activities

• Completes minimum CEU requirements
• Participates in educational conferences with other clinic staff
• Participates in outreach programs

5. Meets Agency Participatory Expectations

• Suggests and participates in continuing quality improvement efforts
• Adheres to all agency and departmental policies and procedures
• Participates in quality assessment and improvement activities as requested
• Adheres to the highest principles of patient and client confidentiality
• Adheres to established safety policies, procedures and precautions; identifies potential or actual unsafe situations in the environment and takes measures to rectify the situation
• Attends all required meetings, in-services and professional trainings
• Attends all regularly scheduled research meetings, trainings, forums and pertinent FCH staff meetings
• Maintains professional competence necessary to perform job responsibilities; maintains and provides agency with records of continuing education activities
• Serves on agency committees and in professional organizations when requested

• ASN/BSN/MSN and current licensure as Registered Nurse (RN) in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
• Three years of work experience within a behavioral health setting, and /or specialized training in the field of behavioral health.
• Excellent working knowledge of psychiatric medications, and non-medication-related treatment modalities for mental health conditions.
• Comprehensive understanding of psychiatric diagnoses.
• Experience in case management, disease management, patient education.
• Comprehensive nursing assessment, problem identification, and care plan development skills.
• Experience with behavioral strategies including motivational interviewing and providing self-management support.
• Experience and demonstrated competence working with the following populations: LGBTQ, people of color, immigrants, people living with or at risk for HIV/AIDS and/or medical issues, trauma, substance use, homelessness, and mental illness.
• Ability to exercise balanced judgment in evaluating situations, making decisions, and responding to difficult or confrontational situations.
• Organized, creative, flexible, open-minded and able to multi-task.
• Capacity to work independently and as part of interdisciplinary team.
• Ability to work harmoniously and effectively with colleagues, patients, clients and vendors across the spectrum of diversity, including but not limited to race, ethnicity, color, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, socio-economic status, national origin and immigrant status, religious or spiritual identity, disability (physical, mental, emotional and developmental), veteran status, and/or limited English proficiency.
• Willingness to contribute towards Fenway’s efforts in becoming an anti-racist organization and promoting a culture dedicated to ongoing development in service of humility, equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging, where differences are acknowledged and valued.

Working Conditions and Physical Requirements:

• OSHA Category 1: involves exposure to blood, body fluids, or tissues
• Regularly required: sitting; using hands to manipulate objects/tools/controls; reaching with hands and arms; talking; hearing
• Frequently required: lifting and/or moving up to 10 lbs
• Occasional required: lifting and/or moving up to 25 lbs
• Vision abilities required: close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision depth perception, ability to adjust focus