Psychiatric Advanced Practice Nurse

Quick Facts

• Role: Psychiatric Advanced Practice Nurse (Psychiatric Mid-Level Practitioner)
• Focus: Mental/behavioral health care for an assigned caseload in a correctional setting

Description

Provide mental/behavioral health services for inmates on an assigned caseload, including psychiatric assessment, diagnosis, and treatment initiation. Develop and review mental health components of ambulatory treatment plans and coordinate inpatient and outpatient psychiatric care while balancing clinical needs with institutional security and staff safety.

Responsibilities

• Meet the mental/behavioral health needs of patients in your caseload
• Perform thorough mental health evaluations, provide initial diagnosis, initiate treatment, and coordinate programs for patients suspected of psychiatric disorders
• Develop and/or update the mental health component of ambulatory treatment plans and complete subsequent reviews
• Balance patient medical and mental health needs with institution security and staff safety
• Provide inpatient and outpatient psychiatric services and consult for medical/surgical patients requiring psychiatric intervention
• Participate in routine correctional institution security responsibilities alongside other staff

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship
• Graduate or higher nursing degree (relevant specialty) from an accredited educational program
• Passed the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX)
• Advance practice nurse licensure/registration in the required clinical specialty by a U.S. state, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, or a U.S. territory
• Upload proof of an active, full, unrestricted professional nurse license/registration at application
• Meet GS-11/GS-12 education/experience requirements for clinical psychiatric evaluation and management
• Selective placement factor: mental health setting experience as a medical professional (6 months for GS-11; 1 year for GS-12)
• Successfully complete the required “Introduction to Correctional Techniques” training course (three weeks at Glynco, Georgia)
• Pass pre-employment/panel interview, urinalysis, physical, and background investigation; meet NCIC and credit screening requirements; additional firearm-authorization screening as applicable

Benefits

• Comprehensive federal employee benefits package (eligibility depends on position type)