Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)

Job Description

Job Description

Contractor – 1099

Summary:
FirstClass Healthcare is seeking a dedicated Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) to provide high‐quality mental health care to individuals in a correctional setting. This role offers strong clinical autonomy, a supportive multidisciplinary team, and the opportunity to make a profound difference for a population with significant behavioral health needs.

Scope of Work: Essential Duties

• Provides comprehensive psychiatric evaluations, assessments and treatment plans in accordance with statutes, regulations and protocols.
• Provides required documentation of services to the Site Medical Director or designee to monitor provision of clinical services.
• Conducts on-site chronic care clinics and sick calls as established by the Site Medical Director, Health Services Administrator or designee.
• Conducts infirmary rounds as established by the Site Medical Director, Health Services Administrator or designee and records encounters in the patient's progress notes.
• Adheres to the established formulary for therapeutic regimens before using non-formulary procedures.
• Responds to a code or health emergency within standard guidelines.
• Conducts pertinent observations and draws logical conclusions, which validate need for non-formulary drug, and submit to the Medical Director for approval.
• Utilizes available in-house resource personnel for treatment or resolution of identified problems before using off-site referral, if possible.
• Provides emergency on-site treatment and responds appropriately in urgent or emergency situations.
• Supports standards of medical care through adherence to existing policies and procedures for: admission to the infirmary, transfer to emergency room; utilization review process for specialty consultant referrals.
• Prescribes a planned regimen of  care, appropriate to the needs of the patient.
• Ensures proper documentation and appropriate care as well as provide emergency treatment on-site and respond appropriately in urgent or emergency situations.
• Consults with other medical providers and recommends treatment protocols to align with FCH’s healthcare standards and policies.
• Educates patients about mental health conditions and treatment options.
• Communicates information to nursing staff, physicians, supervisory personnel or other staff as necessary.
• Participates in onsite trainings, evaluations and monthly staff meetings.
• Ensures compliance with all federal, state and local regulations.
• Performs other duties as assigned to support FCH’s goals, objectives and values.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Competencies

• Knowledge of legal and ethical standards in correctional mental health care.
• Knowledge and expertise in public health, and the diagnosis and treatment of individuals.
• Ability to provide proper patient care and adhere to protocols.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced correctional healthcare environment.
• Maintain positive, collaborative working relationships with leadership, staff, patients, the public and external partners.
• Strong clinical assessment, diagnosis, treatment and evidence-based practices.
• Possess strong judgment, discretion, high level of confidentiality, flexibility and integrity.
• Ability to quickly assess medical emergencies and implement appropriate interventions effectively and calmly.
• Strong decision-making skills in high-pressure situations, balancing medical care with security concerns. 
• Strong attention to detail, follow-up and timely completion of assigned tasks.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.

Minimum Education and/or Experience Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Nursing with a Psychiatric/Mental Health emphasis from an accredited college or university
• Two (2) or more years of psychiatric nursing experience in a clinical/medical setting

Required Certifications and Licenses  

• Must have and maintain current Nurse Practitioner (NP) licensure within the State of Georgia
• Board-certified as a Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) within the State of Georgia
• Must have and maintain a current DEA registration
• Must have or attain a BLS Certification prior to the first day of employment

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in correctional, forensic, or community mental health settings
• Certification in Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) or Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner (AGNP) 
• Certification in Addiction Psychiatry (Certified Addictions Registered Nurse - Advanced Practice (CARN-AP)
• Completion of the Trauma-Informed Care (TIC) Training
• Competency in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) & Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
• Completion of the Advanced Crisis Intervention Training (CIT)
• Certifications in QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) or ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training)

Special Requirements: This position will be subject to a background check. 

Physical Requirements: The position requires the ability to lift and/or carry up to 50 pounds with prolonged periods of standing, walking, sitting at a desk, viewing a computer and reading a variety of materials. Must be able to seize, hold, grasp, turn or otherwise work with your hands. Must be able to perform repetitive tasks, such as typing for extended periods of time.

ADA Statement
In accordance with the American Disabilities Act (ADA), FirstClass Healthcare provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position, unless doing so would cause undue hardship on the company.

Physical and Mental Demands
This position requires the physical and mental ability to perform essential job functions, including frequent standing, walking, sitting, lifting, bending, pushing, pushing, twisting, kneeling, crouching, grasping, and repetitive motion. Must be able to seize, hold, grasp, turn or otherwise work with your hands. Must be able to perform repetitive tasks, such as typing for extended periods of time, viewing a computer and reading a variety of materials. This role also occasionally requires exerting up to 50 pounds of force to lift, carry, push, or pull objects, with or without reasonable accommodation.

In this position, you must be able to effectively communicate, possess clinical judgment, and respond to emergency or high-stress situations, with or without reasonable accommodation. 

This position requires sustained concentration, sound clinical judgment, situational awareness, cognitive flexibility and adaptability, and the ability to remain calm and focused while working in a correctional environment.

Work Environment
Work is performed in a correctional healthcare environment with exposure to noise, communicable diseases, controlled access areas, and unpredictable conditions. Employees must comply with all safety, security, infection control and emergency response protocols. Reasonable accommodation may be provided in accordance with the ADA, provided that it does not present an undue hardship on the company’s operations.