Job Description

Psychiatric Physician Assistant

IL-Chicago Erie; IL-Chicago Huron

Who We Are

At ERC Pathlight, we're on a mission to change lives—and we're looking for people who feel called to do the same.

As one of the nation's leading treatment providers for eating disorders and mood, anxiety, and trauma-related conditions, we bring innovative, evidence-based, and deeply compassionate care to patients across the country. With multiple locations nationwide and extensive virtual programming, we meet patients exactly where they are and help them move toward lasting recovery.

Founded in 2008 by renowned psychiatrists and psychologists, ERC Pathlight now supports more than 6,000 patients each year. And as the need for world-class mental health care continues to rise, our commitment is stronger than ever: to expand access, elevate the standard of care, and empower every patient to rebuild their life with dignity and hope.

Why Join Us

When you join ERC Pathlight, you become part of a team that shows up every day to make a real difference. You'll work alongside passionate clinicians, dedicated support staff, and mission-driven leaders who believe in collaboration, growth, and doing the right thing—always.

Here, your work matters. Your ideas matter. You matter.

If you're energized by purpose, motivated by impact, and ready to help transform the future of mental health treatment, you belong here.

Come build hope. Come save lives. Come grow with us.

What You'll Be Doing:

Under the supervision of a credentialed physician, the Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner is responsible for delivering psychiatric healthcare to patients. Operates with latitude and collaborates with other health professionals to provide high quality, cost effective psychiatric health care to patients, manage health care systems, and influence health care decision-making through expert clinical reasoning research and theory-based practice.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Evaluates and monitors the psychiatric condition of patients in collaboration with physicians and other care providers. Adhering to established standards of care or applying appropriate protocols, makes decisions regarding treatment.
• Determines and assesses the health status of new or existing patients by reviewing records, taking comprehensive psychiatric and medical histories, and performing patient examinations.
• Analyzes present patient care and the responses to the present care, and helps to develop the patient care plan and treatment.
• Completes required documentation thoroughly and in a timely manner. Prepares and maintains complete and accurate charts, case files and records.
• Orders appropriate medications within the limits of the appropriate statutory limitations. Initiates, performs or directs other nurses to perform screenings and orders psychological assessments when appropriate.
• Collaborates on care delivery by 1) including staff, physicians, other providers and management in both service and patient care improvements; 2) treating all teammates with respect; 3) demonstrating the highest levels of ethical and professional conduct; and 4) behaving in a manner consistent with company mission and values 5) establishing and maintaining contact with referring providers both within that outside of the system 6) establishing and maintaining contact with family members and patient's support persons when appropriate.
• Advocates for patients including providing consistent and timely documentation regarding the patient's need for level of care and participating in insurance peer reviews to optimize optimal length of stay for treatment.

Administrative Duties:

• May be assigned to perform leadwork and/or involvement in clinical coordination, responsibility for special projects which may encompass protocol development, management planning, scheduling and other tasks as necessary to support practice environment in the different levels of care
• Functions as a member of a multi-disciplinary treatment team. Attends staff meetings to present and discuss clinical concerns. Utilizes the principles and practices of effective and persuasive communication to elicit information, contribute psychiatric expertise, problem resolution, and/or garner support for various programs or policies.
• Achieves quality metrics by 1) focusing on clinically relevant outcome measures; 2) adapting company innovations to continuously improve patient care, program, and organizational efficiency.
• Maintains established departmental policies and procedures, quality improvement, safety, environmental and infection control standards.
• Promotes positive interpersonal relationships with fellow employees, physicians, patients and visitors. Treats these individuals with courtesy, dignity, empathy and respect; consistently displays courteous and respectful verbal and non-verbal communications.
• Enhances professional growth and development through participation in educational programs, receiving current literature, and attending in-service meetings, staff meetings and workshops. Attends, participates in, and contributes to in-services, education, and staff training sessions to maintain/increase skills and teach others.
• Ensures all duties, responsibilities and competencies are conducted in a manner that is effective and appropriate to patients to whom care, service and treatment is being provided.
• Receives individual and group supervision from physician and non-physician leaders.
• Evaluates own performance and recognize opportunities for growth.
• Provides community education and engages in marketing efforts when requested

Education Requirements:

• Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Nursing (BSN and MSN)
• Certification as a Nurse Practitioner
• Specialization as a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner required

Licenses and Certifications:

• State licensure as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) with psychiatric specialization
• Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner or Nurse Practitioner with Post Masters Psych certification PMHNP
• Training in CPR, Handle With Care, and Basic Life Support (BLS)

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Minimum of 1 year of experience working as a Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant in a psychiatric setting.
• Minimum of 1 year of experience treating patients with eating disorders.
• Knowledge of nursing principles and skill in their implementation
• Knowledge of community resources for appropriate procedures
• Skill in applying clinical psychiatric service practices
• Skill in utilizing the principles and practices of effective and persuasive communication to elicit information, negotiate problem resolution, and/or garner support for various programs or policies. Skill in obtaining information from patients, calming and reassuring patients and motivating patients to accept treatments
• Ability to exercise initiative and judgment in selecting proper treatment
• Ability to respond appropriately in emergency situations
• Ability to prepare accurate reports and documentation
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees, other departments and the public
• Willingness to travel up to 25% of the time.

This position is a 1.0 FTE role with a standard Monday–Friday schedule and the on-call requirements of approximately 5 weekends per year.

The compensation range for this position is based upon candidate experience and market expectations.

Illinois Pay Range

$116,000 - $132,000 USD

What We Offer:

At ERC Pathlight, caring for people is our mission and that begins with caring for our own team. Your well-being matters, and our benefit program is designed to support every part of your life.

We offer competitive compensation; comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage; generous Paid Time Off; Parental Leave benefits; Retirement benefits; and tuition reimbursement to help you continue growing in your career.

We also recognize that mental health is part of every person's experience. That's why we strive to create a workplace where you feel supported, seen, and encouraged—personally, professionally, and at home.

When you thrive, you can do your best work. And your best work changes lives.

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