Mental Health ED Nurse Practitioner

Location: Wellington / Hutt Emergency Department Contract: Permanent, Full Time (1.0 FTE) About the Company Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is committed to the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and strives to serve all New Zealanders. We are focused on building a health system that is based on partnership, equity, sustainability, and excellence, while ensuring that our care is centered around families and communities. About the Role We are excited to announce an opportunity within our Emergency Department (ED) team at Wellington and Hutt Hospitals for an innovative Matanga Tapuhi Nurse Practitioner (NP) or an NP Candidacy position. This senior and autonomous role will allow you to lead the delivery of urgent mental health care in a dynamic and fast-paced acute setting. As a Nurse Practitioner, you will be responsible for conducting mental health assessments, making diagnoses, developing treatment plans, and prescribing medications for individuals presenting to the ED with mental health concerns, including those already known to Mental Health, Addictions and Intellectual Disability Services (MHAIDS). You will collaborate closely with ED clinicians, MHAIDS teams, and community providers to ensure that responses are rapid, culturally appropriate, and centered around the individual and their family. This position emphasizes equity, quality improvement, and advanced nursing leadership at the interface of physical and mental health. The salary for this role will align with the Senior Nursing Grade 6 as a Nurse Practitioner (NP) with registration or Grade 3 if appointed to the NP Candidate role. Key Responsibilities - Conduct comprehensive mental health assessments, establish diagnoses, and develop integrated care plans. - Prescribe medications and therapeutic interventions within the Nurse Practitioner scope, adhering to best practices and clinical governance standards. - Respond swiftly to cases involving acute distress, suicide risk, or behavioral health crises. - Develop and implement crisis response plans, ensuring the safe transfer of care to MHAIDS or relevant community services as necessary. - Provide advanced clinical consultation to ED and MHAIDS staff on complex mental health presentations. - Involve whanau and support people in assessment and care planning to facilitate recovery. - Mentor and enhance the skills of ED and MHAIDS clinicians in managing mental health emergencies. - Contribute to quality improvement initiatives, service development, and workforce capability at the ED-MHAIDS interface. About the Team/Service Location Our ED-based mental health team plays a vital role in assisting individuals with mental health needs during crises. By joining us, you will become part of a compassionate and collaborative group of clinicians dedicated to delivering timely and effective care that honors the voices of those we serve and their families. This role presents a unique opportunity to influence service delivery, enhance access, and promote integration between acute and mental health services. Te Whatu Ora - Capital, Coast & Hutt Valley is proud to be a pro-equity health organization that values diversity, inclusion, and the principles of cultural safety in all our endeavors. About You We are seeking a registered Mental Health Nurse Practitioner with extensive experience in acute mental health settings and the capacity to operate autonomously in complex environments. You should possess the following qualifications and attributes: - Nurse Practitioner registration with the Nursing Council of New Zealand (NCNZ) and a prescribing endorsement in the mental health scope. - Expertise in mental state assessments, differential diagnoses, psychopharmacology, and brief intervention methods. - A commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and equitable care, demonstrating cultural safety and responsiveness. - Strong leadership, coaching, and collaborative skills across disciplines and services. - A personal dedication to clinical excellence, ongoing professional development, and innovation. For those applying for the Nurse Practitioner Candidacy opportunity, we are looking for an advanced practice nurse passionate about continuous learning and the ability to adapt to various learning experiences. You will need: - A minimum of three years of experience in mental health nursing. - A current practicing certificate with no restrictions from the NCNZ as a Registered Nurse (RN). - Expert level on the Professional Development and Recognition Programme (PDRP) or Senior Expert pathway, with three to four years of relevant expertise at an advanced RN practice level. - A Clinical Masters or postgraduate courses that meet the requirements to undertake the NP postgraduate practicum aligned with the national Nurse Practitioner Training Programme (NPTP). We offer a comprehensive Nurse Practitioner Candidacy Programme, providing professional and clinical support for NP Candidates, including peer support and professional supervision.