Forensic Mental health Nurse Practitioner NIABH

Join a Team That Changes Lives

For more than 170 years, Elwyn has been leading the way in supporting children, teens, and adults with autism, intellectual and developmental disabilities, and behavioral health challenges. As a mission-driven nonprofit, we’re here to create real change – helping people lead meaningful, fulfilling lives.

Now, we’re looking for passionate team members to join us. Here, your work will change lives – including your own. You’ll make an impact every day, find purpose in what you do, and grow in a career that truly matters.

• At Elwyn, we take care of you while you care for others. We offer:
• Generous Paid Time Off
• Comprehensive Medical/Dental/Vision Benefit Packages
• Earned Wage Access/On-Demand Pay
• Paid On-the-Job Training
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Career Advancement Opportunities and Growth
• Flexible Schedules

Retirement Savings Plan

Join us and be a part of something bigger. Apply today.

Job Description

The Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) is responsible for providing comprehensive psychiatric evaluation, diagnosis, treatment, and medication management services to individuals housed within the County Detention Center. The PMHNP delivers evidence-based psychiatric care in collaboration with correctional staff, medical providers, nursing personnel, behavioral health clinicians, and community partners to promote safety, stabilization, and continuity of care.

The PMHNP ensures that psychiatric services are delivered in accordance with applicable federal and state laws, correctional healthcare standards (NCCHC and ACA where applicable), organizational policies, and accepted standards of psychiatric practice.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Clinical Care

Conduct comprehensive psychiatric evaluations, mental status examinations, and diagnostic assessments for incarcerated individuals.

Diagnose and treat psychiatric disorders, including serious mental illness, co-occurring substance use disorders, trauma-related disorders, mood disorders, psychotic disorders, personality disorders, and neurocognitive conditions.

• Develop, implement, and monitor individualized psychiatric treatment plans.
• Prescribe, adjust, and monitor psychotropic medications utilizing evidence-based practices.
• Evaluate medication effectiveness, adverse reactions, medication adherence, and potential drug interactions.

Order and interpret laboratory testing and diagnostic studies necessary for medication monitoring and treatment.

Monitor individuals receiving medications requiring specialized laboratory surveillance (e. g., lithium valproic acid, carbamazepine, clozapine where applicable).

Assess individuals for psychiatric emergencies, including suicide risk, self-injurious behavior, acute psychosis, severe withdrawal syndromes, and behavioral decompensation.

Provide timely intervention and treatment recommendations during psychiatric crises.

Participate in suicide prevention, suicide watch, and special management housing reviews consistent with facility policies.

Evaluate individuals placed in restrictive housing when behavioral health concerns are identified. Medication Management

• Initiate, continue, modify, and discontinue psychiatric medications as clinically indicated.
• Ensure appropriate monitoring of controlled substances and medications with abuse potential.
• Review medication administration records and collaborate with nursing staff regarding medication compliance and side effects.
• Complete medication renewals and prescription refills in a timely manner.

Collaboration

• Collaborate with physicians, nurses, psychologists, licensed clinicians, substance use counselors, correctional officers, and detention administration to coordinate patient care.
• Participate in interdisciplinary treatment team meetings.
• Consult with medical providers regarding medical conditions that impact psychiatric treatment.
• Provide clinical consultation to behavioral health and nursing staff regarding psychiatric care.
• Communicate treatment recommendations to appropriate correctional staff while maintaining confidentiality consistent with HIPAA and applicable correctional regulations.

Intake and Ongoing Care

Complete psychiatric evaluations for newly admitted detainees referred through intake screening or medical triage.

Evaluate individuals identified as high-risk due to suicide risk, acute mental illness, intoxication, withdrawal, or cognitive impairment.

• Conduct scheduled psychiatric follow-up appointments based upon clinical need.
• Participate in chronic mental health clinics for individuals requiring ongoing psychiatric treatment.

Documentation

Complete all psychiatric evaluations, progress notes, treatment plans, medication documentation, and clinical records within established timeframes.

Maintain accurate and timely documentation in the electronic health record in accordance with organizational policies and correctional healthcare standards.

Document informed consent for medications when applicable.

Continuity of Care

• Coordinate psychiatric care during admission, housing transfers, hospitalization, and release planning.
• Assist in discharge planning by collaborating with community behavioral health providers when appropriate.
• Support continuity of psychiatric medications upon release in accordance with facility policies.

Quality Improvement and Compliance

• Maintain current licensure, DEA registration, controlled substance registration, and required certifications.
• Participate in peer review, quality improvement initiatives, utilization review, and clinical audits.
• Maintain compliance with NCCHC, ACA, state regulations, and organizational policies.
• Participate in morbidity and mortality reviews, incident reviews, and root cause analyses as assigned.
• Participate in continuing education to maintain competency in correctional psychiatry.

Professional Responsibilities

• Demonstrate professional, ethical, and culturally competent practice.
• Maintain therapeutic boundaries while working within a secure correctional environment.
• Respond appropriately to behavioral emergencies and facility emergency procedures.
• Testify in court or administrative proceedings regarding psychiatric care when required.
• Participate in on-call coverage as assigned.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Graduate of an accredited nursing program. Must be ANCC credentialed as a psychiatric CNS or NP.

Demonstrated knowledge and current competence in providing psychotherapy as evidenced by recent experience and documented training in the requested specialized psychotherapeutic treatment and participation in continuing education.

Meet the membership requirements of their respective licensing boards to practice independently, and have provided evidence of appropriate clinical training, supervision, and work experience.

Professional/Technical Expertise: The ability to demonstrate depth of knowledge and skill in a specific discipline

Analytical Thinking: The ability to tackle a problem by using a logical, systematic, sequential approach

Building Collaborative Relationships: The ability to develop, maintain, and strengthen partnerships with others inside or outside the organization who can provide information, assistance, and support.

Developing Others: The ability to delegate responsibility and to work with others and coach them to develop their capabilities

Diagnostic Information Gathering: The ability to identify the information needed to clarify a situation, seek that information from appropriate sources, and use skillful questioning to draw out the information, when others are reluctant to disclose it

Oral/ Written Communication: The ability to express oneself clearly in conversations and interactions with others. The ability to ensure that information is passed on to others who should be kept informed. The ability to express oneself clearly in business/clinical writing.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Elwyn is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Elwyn does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, ancestry, pregnancy status, medical condition, gender, gender identity or expression, genetic information, sexual orientation or identity, age, national origin, citizenship, handicap status, marital or family status, mental or physical disability, perceived disability, military or veteran status, political activities or affiliations, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state or local law, ordinance, or regulation.

If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please contact us by email at ADArequest@elwyn.org and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information.

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