Director: Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Master's Degree Program

The University of New England (UNE) School of Nursing (SoN) seeks an Inaugural Program Director to establish and launch a Master's of Science Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) degree program. As one of the fastest growing private universities in the Northeast, UNE has established itself as an innovative health sciences university grounded in the liberal arts. The institution offers onsite and online programming to just over 11,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students. UNE's undergraduate, graduate, professional, and online degree programs are administered through six colleges - College of Arts and Sciences, College of Business, College of Dental Medicine, Westbrook College of Health Professions, College of Osteopathic Medicine, and College of Professional Studies/ UNE Online.

The SoN, situated within the Westbrook College of Health Professions, is home to Maine's largest BSN and accelerated BSN programs with full accreditation by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN). The School additionally includes UNE's Doctorate in Nursing Practice (DNP) Nurse Anesthesia program. Over the past decade, the School has a history of significant extramural grant funding ($7.9M awarded) with a focus on training and intervention programs surrounding the care of Maine's most vulnerable populations. The School is supported by a strong institution-wide, cross-college philosophy which embraces interprofessional education and collaborative practice. This orientation is realized as faculty and students are well-engaged with UNE's Interprofessional Simulation and Innovation Center (ISIC) and the Center to Advance Interprofessional Education (CAIPE).

Maine faces a critical shortage of mental health providers especially in its most rural areas. The UNE PMHNP program will be philosophically guided by socioecological principles and social determinants of health which underscore Maine and Northern New England. This region is characterized by a complex rural demography which includes the most aged population in the United States, coupled with growing immigrant/refugee communities. The proposed degree is a two-year (28 month), 54-credit hybrid offering which includes focused immersion in campus-based laboratories such as simulation, virtual reality simulation, standardized patient encounters, and other state-of-the-art experiential learning innovations. The program launch is supported by a generous gift from the Glickman Lauder Foundation.

The ideal candidate will hold a doctoral degree (Ph.D., DNP, Ed.D.) in nursing or education and hold advanced nursing practice certification as a PMHNP. The ideal candidate must be eligible for nursing licensure/credentialing in Maine and should possess a minimum of 3 years of experience in nursing education at the graduate level.

UNE offers a generous comprehensive benefits package to eligible employees. The package includes varied health and dental plans; a retirement plan that includes up to an 8% match; extensive paid leave including holidays, vacation, sick and personal time; and educational benefits. Please visit the Human Resources Benefits site (https://www.une.edu/hr/benefits) for additional information regarding UNE's fantastic benefits package.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership and assume the primary responsibility for guiding the development and implementation of the Masters of Science Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program.

• Design and lead educational effectiveness processes which ensure continuous program quality and favorable learner outcomes as required by disciplinary accreditation and advanced nursing practice certification bodies.

• Collaborate with the SoN Executive Director and appropriate personnel within the College of Professional Studies (UNE online) addressing best practices in online instructional design in creating the PMHNP didactic courses.

• Engage in the hiring of faculty and professional staff to support the PMHNP program.

• Exercise budgetary/financial monitoring and planning for the PMHNP program.

• Engage and collaborate with the potential clinical partners and the community in developing relationships and clinical rotations for PMHNP students.

• Collaborate with other UNE health profession programs to identify and implement interprofessional education and collaborative practice learning opportunities.

• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Doctoral preparation (Ph.D., DNP, Ed.D.) in nursing or education with 3-5 years of graduate nursing education experience

• Current certification as an advanced practice PMHNP

• Eligibility for nursing licensure in the State of Maine

• 3 or more years of experience in nursing education at the graduate level.

EEO Statement Summary

Consistent with federal and state law and University policy, the University of New England is committed to the fundamental concept of equal opportunity for all of the members of the University community. The University prohibits, and will not tolerate, discrimination in employment, the provision of academic services or in any other area of University life based on race, color, sex, physical or mental disability, religion, age, ancestry, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, ethnicity, genetic information, HIV status, or status as a veteran. Prohibited bias factors should not motivate decisions regarding students, employees, applicants for admission, applicants for employment, contractors, volunteers or participants in and/or users of institutional programs, services, and activities.

COVID Vaccination Statement (PLEASE NOTE)

Employees in clinical settings must meet the State of Maine's immunization requirements for clinical activity.