Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner - Hybrid Durham, NC

Optum Behavioral Care part of the Optum family of businesses, is seeking a Nurse Practitioner to join our team in Durham, North Carolina. Optum is a clinician-led care organization that is changing the way clinicians work and live.

As a member of the Optum Behavioral Care Team, you’ll be an integral part of our vision to make healthcare better for everyone.

Explore opportunities at Optum Behavioral Care. We’re revolutionizing behavioral health care delivery for individuals, clinicians and the entire health care system. Together, we are bringing high-end medical service, compassionate care and industry leading solutions to our most vulnerable patient populations. Our holistic approach addresses the physical, mental and social needs of our patients wherever they may be - helping patients access and navigate care anytime and anywhere. We’re connecting care to create a seamless health journey for patients across care settings. Join our team, it’s your chance to improve the lives of millions while Caring. Connecting. Growing together.

General Role Description:

As a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP), you will treat a wide variety of mental health conditions that reflect the needs of our diverse patient population. You will interact directly with patients in an outpatient clinical setting and work as part of a collaborative team to provide exceptional behavioral health care.

If you reside in Durham, NC, you will have the flexibility to work from home and the office in this hybrid role* as you take on some tough challenges.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Conduct thorough psychiatric evaluations and assessments of patients presenting with various mental health concerns
• Utilize evidence-based screening tools and diagnostic criteria to formulate comprehensive treatment plans
• Deliver individual and group psychotherapy sessions, employing various therapeutic modalities tailored to each patient's needs
• Prescribe and manage psychotropic medications per established protocols and clinical guidelines; monitor medication efficacy and side effects, adjusting treatment plans to optimize patient outcomes
• Provide patient education regarding medication regimens, potential side effects, and adherence strategies
• Collaborate closely with psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, and other treatment team members to ensure coordinated and integrated care
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date clinical documentation in electronic medical records (EMR) systems, including assessment findings, treatment plans, progress notes, and medication management records

You’ll be rewarded and recognized for your performance in an environment that will challenge you and give you clear direction on what it takes to succeed in your role as well as provide development for other roles you may be interested in.

Required Qualifications:

• Active, clear certification as a Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) from a nationally recognized accrediting body/ license in state of practice
• Board Certification as a free-standing Mental Health NP with no collaboration needed
• Current and active DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration) registration for prescribing controlled substances
• Experience working with a wide range of clinical presentations
• Ability to provide psychiatric assessment and strong diagnostic & evaluation skills
• Ability to provide patient education, specifically regarding medication treatment adherence and aftercare services
• Ability to counsel patients using advanced psychotherapeutic techniques, including in group settings, if needed

Preferred Qualifications:

• 2+ years of clinical experience in psychiatric/mental health nursing in an outpatient setting
• Expertise in treatment of substance addiction and co-occurring disorders
• Experience working with patients in different age groups, including older adults
• Experience working with couples or family counseling
• Experience with health psychology
• Experience working with computers for professional communication and medical documentation - Excel, Outlook, Athena RMS (or other EHRs)

At UnitedHealth Group, our mission is to help people live healthier lives and make the health system work better for everyone. We believe everyone–of every race, gender, sexuality, age, location and income–deserves the opportunity to live their healthiest life. Today, however, there are still far too many barriers to good health which are disproportionately experienced by people of color, historically marginalized groups and those with lower incomes. We are committed to mitigating our impact on the environment and enabling and delivering equitable care that addresses health disparities and improves health outcomes — an enterprise priority reflected in our mission. 

Diversity creates a healthier atmosphere: OptumCare is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action employers and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law.

OptumCare is a drug-free workplace. Candidates are required to pass a drug test before beginning employment.