Job Description
Job Description
About the Role:
The Nurse Practitioner - Psychiatry at Unity at DC Jail- 400, 40 plays a critical role in delivering comprehensive mental health care to incarcerated individuals. This position involves conducting psychiatric assessments, diagnosing mental health conditions, and developing individualized treatment plans to improve patient outcomes. The role requires collaboration with multidisciplinary teams to ensure continuity of care and address the unique challenges of the correctional environment. The Nurse Practitioner will also provide medication management, crisis intervention, and patient education to support recovery and rehabilitation. Ultimately, this position aims to enhance the mental well-being of patients while maintaining safety and compliance within the facility.
Minimum Qualifications:
- Current and unrestricted Nurse Practitioner license in the applicable state.
- Certification as a Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) from an accredited certifying body.
- Master’s or Doctoral degree in Nursing from an accredited program.
- Experience in psychiatric or mental health nursing, preferably in a correctional or forensic setting.
- Basic Life Support (BLS) certification.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience working within correctional health care or forensic psychiatry environments.
- Advanced training or certification in trauma-informed care or substance use disorders.
- Familiarity with electronic health record (EHR) systems used in correctional facilities.
- Strong background in crisis intervention and de-escalation techniques.
- Additional certifications such as Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) or Certified Correctional Health Professional (CCHP).
Responsibilities:
- Perform thorough psychiatric evaluations and mental health assessments of patients within the correctional facility.
- Develop, implement, and monitor individualized treatment plans including pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions.
- Prescribe and manage psychiatric medications in accordance with state laws and facility protocols.
- Collaborate with psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, and correctional staff to coordinate patient care and ensure safety.
- Provide crisis intervention and support for patients experiencing acute psychiatric episodes or behavioral health emergencies.
- Document patient encounters, treatment plans, and progress notes accurately and timely in electronic health records.
- Educate patients and their families on mental health conditions, treatment options, and coping strategies.
- Participate in quality improvement initiatives and staff training related to psychiatric care within the correctional setting.
Skills:
The Nurse Practitioner will utilize clinical assessment and diagnostic skills daily to identify and treat psychiatric conditions effectively. Strong communication and interpersonal skills are essential for collaborating with multidisciplinary teams and engaging patients in their care plans. Medication management skills ensure safe and appropriate pharmacological treatment tailored to individual patient needs. Crisis intervention and de-escalation skills are critical in managing acute psychiatric episodes within the correctional environment. Additionally, proficiency with electronic health records and documentation supports accurate record-keeping and compliance with regulatory standards.