Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner - PMHNP
Listed compensation
$110k-$164k
The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed
Ask the employer about the work setting, weekend coverage, nights and shift pattern and time off.
Job Description
Bearden of TN, part of the Optum family of businesses, is seeking a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) to join our team in Knoxville, TN. As a member of the Optum Behavioral Care team, you’ll be an integral part of our vision to make healthcare better for everyone.
As a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, you will treat a wide variety of mental health conditions that reflect the needs of our diverse patient population. We offer a variety of solutions that meet the unique needs of our workforce and the patients they serve. From clinical operations such as credentialing to business operations such as contracting, we provide organizational support that allows our providers to focus on what matters - providing care.
Primary Responsibilities
Provide psychiatric services, consisting primarily of outpatient psychiatric evaluations and medication management, in a variety of clinical settings during scheduled hours
Prescribe, recommend, or discontinue drugs and treatments to treat mental, emotional, or behavioral disorders in accordance with the Collaborative Practice Agreement and the state’s Nurse Practice Act
Collaborate with counselors, social workers, or other treatment team members to coordinate client care
Maintain accurate and up-to-date electronic medical records and clinical documentation, ensuring compliance with all regulatory requirements
Participate in our patient growth strategy by providing a profile for online directories and other marketing efforts
We are committed to your well-being and growth, offering a comprehensive package of perks and benefits with varying eligibility based on role, including:
- Competitive salary & eligibility for quarterly incentive bonuses
- Flexible work models & paid time off when you need it
- Health and well-being benefits like health insurance, 401k matching, and other family support and wellness resources
- Professional development with CME reimbursement and dedicated learning time to advance your career
You’ll be rewarded and recognized for your performance in an environment that will challenge you and give you clear direction on what it takes to succeed in your role as well as provide development for other roles you may be interested in.
Required Qualifications
Clear, active and unrestricted Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) license in the state of practice
- Board certified as a PMHNP-BC by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)
- Active DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration) registration
- 2+ years of clinical experience in psychiatric/mental health nursing in an outpatient setting
- Experience providing psychotherapy to children and adolescents
Preferred Qualifications
Experience working with patients in different age groups
Experience working with computers for professional communication and medical documentation - Excel, Outlook, Athena RMS (or other EHRs)
Explore opportunities at Optum Behavioral Care. We’re revolutionizing behavioral health care delivery for individuals, clinicians and the entire health care system. Together, we are bringing high-end medical service, compassionate care and industry leading solutions to our most vulnerable patient populations.
Our holistic approach addresses the physical, mental and social needs of our patients wherever they may be - helping patients access and navigate care anytime and anywhere. We’re connecting care to create a seamless health journey for patients across care settings.
Join our team, it’s your chance to improve the lives of millions while Caring. Connecting. Growing together.
Compensation for this specialty generally ranges from $109,500 - $164,000. Total cash compensation includes base pay and bonus and is based on several factors including but not limited to local labor markets, education, work experience and may increase over time based on productivity and performance in the role.
We comply with all minimum wage laws as applicable. In addition to your salary, we offer benefits such as, a comprehensive benefits package, incentive and recognition programs, equity stock purchase and 401k contribution (all benefits are subject to eligibility requirements).
No matter where or when you begin a career with us, you’ll find a far-reaching choice of benefits and incentives.
At UnitedHealth Group, our mission is to help people live healthier lives and make the health system work better for everyone. We believe everyone–of every race, gender, sexuality, age, location and income–deserves the opportunity to live their healthiest life.
Today, however, there are still far too many barriers to good health which are disproportionately experienced by people of color, historically marginalized groups and those with lower incomes.
We are committed to mitigating our impact on the environment and enabling and delivering equitable care that addresses health disparities and improves health outcomes — an enterprise priority reflected in our mission.
UnitedHealth Group is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer under applicable law and qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, national origin, religion, age, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by local, state, or federal laws, rules, or regulations.
UnitedHealth Group is a drug-free workplace. Candidates are required to pass a drug test before beginning employment.
Key Responsibilities
The Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner will conduct outpatient psychiatric evaluations and manage medications for a diverse patient population. They will also collaborate with a multidisciplinary team to coordinate care and maintain accurate clinical documentation.
Requirements
Candidates must hold an active, unrestricted PMHNP license and be board certified by the ANCC. A minimum of 2 years of clinical experience in an outpatient psychiatric setting is required.
Qualifications
- Experience
- 2+ years of experience
Certifications
Key Skills
Work-Life Balance Analysis
WeekdayDoc's proprietary algorithm rates Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner - PMHNP at UnitedHealth Group a 6.9 out of 10 for work-life balance — classified as good. This places the position in the Above average in Psychiatry (NP) — ranked against 2,105 active Psychiatry (NP) listings on WeekdayDoc. Contributing factors include no on-call duties.
Psychiatry — Nurse Practitioner Career Context
UnitedHealth Group holds silver-tier status on WeekdayDoc's Top Employers work-life index, composite score 76/100, 1,189 active listings.
Of the 50 active Psychiatry listings this role was benchmarked against, 32% are remote, 64% have no call, 48% require no weekends.
Psychiatry pay on WeekdayDoc is up 3.5% vs. the prior quarter (through Sep 2026).
The cost-of-living index for Tennessee is 91.9 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$137k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $149k in an average-cost state. 58.6% of Tennessee clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).
Location & Logistics
Tennessee has no state income tax, which can significantly increase take-home pay compared to high-tax states. At the posted ~$137k midpoint, that is roughly $5k–$10k a year versus a typical 4–7% state rate.
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