Registered Nurse (RN) Mental Health

Job Description

Job Description

Overview

The Registered Nurse-Mental Health provides psychiatric nursing care through assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation of patient treatment plans in collaboration with the healthcare team. This role delivers mental health services within a correctional healthcare environment while ensuring compliance with applicable policies, standards, and regulations. The position is responsible for assessing mental health needs, responding to psychiatric emergencies, coordinating care with providers, and supporting patients through crisis intervention and ongoing treatment. The RN also supervises assigned clinical support staff and contributes to quality improvement and staff development efforts.

Responsibilities

• Conduct psychiatric nursing assessments, develop care plans, administer medications, and document patient care using established nursing standards and procedures.
• Assess and respond to psychiatric emergencies, suicide risk, mental health concerns, and crisis situations while providing appropriate interventions and referrals.
• Coordinate care with psychiatrists, medical providers, nursing staff, and custody personnel to support patient treatment and continuity of care.
• Evaluate patients for psychotropic medication needs, monitor treatment effectiveness, and manage mental health sick call activities.
• Participate in quality improvement activities, staff training, counseling services, employee development, and supervision of assigned direct reports.

Qualifications

Education

• Graduation from an accredited school of nursing

Experience

• 3-5 years’ working in a psychiatric nurse role
• Previous correctional/detention facility experience
• At least two years’ experience providing treatment to adults with various mental health disabilities

Licenses/Certifications

• Current (and must maintain) unrestricted RN license in state of practice
• Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing Certification, i.e. via ANCC, or has completed required hours and is in process of testing for certification
• Current (and must maintain) lifesaving BLS certification through AHA