State of Maryland

A Nurse Practitioner Psychiatric MDH is the full performance level of work providing primary health care and psychiatric care to patients in community settings, local health department clinics and MDH State facilities. Employees in this classification may supervise clinical and support staff.

Employees in this classification receive general supervision from a higher-level administrator. Employees may be subject to call-in and overtime based on staffing needs. The work may be performed at patients’ homes, schools and other community settings where travel is required. Employees are required to observe infection control precautions in order to prevent contamination and spread of disease. The work may require the lifting and positioning of nonambulatory patients, and the lifting of wheelchairs and other heavy equipment. The work may require long periods of standing, walking, bending and reaching. Employees may be required to apply physical restraints.

Positions in this classification are evaluated by using the classification job evaluation methodology. The use of this method involves comparing the assigned duties and responsibilities of a position to the job criteria found in the Nature of Work and Examples of Work sections of the class specification.

The Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatric MDH and Nurse Practitioners are differentiated in that the Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatric MDH are able to provide psychiatric counseling sessions with patients/clients and, together with a physician, authorized to sign application to admit an individual on an involuntary basis to a facility for treatment of a mental disorder while Nurse Practitioners provide primary health care to patients in community settings, local health department clinics and State health facilities.

Establishes medical/psychiatric diagnosis and prescribes drugs for common short-term or chronic stable health and mental health problems for a patient population;

Prescribes psychotropic medications and other medications;

Orders and plans therapy according to established protocol;

Conducts individual, group, and family counseling;

Orders seclusions and restraints;

Assesses and manages minor physical and psychological problems;

Orders, performs and interprets laboratory tests;

Provides guidance and instruction in health maintenance and disease prevention in conjunction with physicians, pharmacists, and supporting nursing personnel;

Plans and conducts clinics for continuing care of patients;

Coordinates community and facility services, determines appropriate community referrals and assists in making appointments and referrals needed by patients and family;

Refers patients to other health care providers;

Encourages and assists patients to understand present health status, to develop self-care measures, to improve deficiencies and to maintain maximum health care status;

May provide advice, training and guidance to lower-level staff;

Performs other related duties.

Knowledge of the principles and practices of registered nursing;

Knowledge of theory of registered nursing practices;

Knowledge of the nursing process;

Knowledge of mental health disorders;

Knowledge of emergency petition process;

Skill in diagnosing common illnesses and recommending appropriate treatment;

Skill in diagnosing mental health disorders and recommending appropriate treatment;

Skill in the application of the nursing process;

Skill in prescribing medicine and recommending medical procedures;

Skill in measuring the effects of nursing intervention;

Skill in providing accurate documentation and record keeping;

Skill in assessing physical, emotional and social needs of patients;

Skill in developing a plan of care for the patient;

Skill in observing the effects of nursing measures;

Skill in working effectively with patients, professional and nonprofessional workers and the general public;

Skill in providing accurate nursing documentation;

Skill in conducting patient education programs;

Skill in providing case management;

Ability to assess and intervene in mental health crisis;

Ability to interpret laboratory and diagnostic tests.

Education: Determined by the Maryland State Board of Examiners of Nurses under the certification requirements for Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatric.

Experience: Determined by the Maryland State Board of Examiners of Nurses under the certification requirements for Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatric.

Note: Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience as a commissioned officer in Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatric classification or Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatric specialty codes in the Nursing field of work on a year-for-year basis for the required experience.

1. Candidates for positions in this classification must possess a current certificate as a Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatric from the Maryland State Board of Nursing, 4140 Patterson Avenue, Baltimore, Maryland 21215.

2. Employees in this classification may be assigned duties which require the operation of a motor vehicle. Employees assigned such duties will be required to possess a motor vehicle operator’s license valid in the State of Maryland.

Employees in this classification may be subject to call and, therefore, may be required to provide the agency with a telephone number at which they can be reached.

Class specifications are broad descriptions covering groups of positions used by various State departments and agencies. Position descriptions maintained by the using department or agency specifically address the essential job functions of each position.

This is a Professional Service classification in the State Personnel Management System.  All positions in this classification are Professional Service positions.  Some positions in Professional Service classifications may be designated as Special Appointment in accordance with the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 6-405, Annotated Code of Maryland.

This classification is assigned to Bargaining Unit E- Health Professionals classes.  As provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 3-102, special appointment, temporary, contractual, supervisory, managerial, and confidential employees are excluded from collective bargaining. Additionally, certain executive branch agencies are exempt from collective bargaining and all positions in those agencies are excluded from collective bargaining.

Director, Division of Classification and Salary