Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner Job Description Template

Psychiatric nurse practitioners are advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) who assess, diagnose, and treat patients with mental health conditions. They work in both inpatient and outpatient care settings, often alongside an interdisciplinary team of professionals. This specialty requires careful decision-making, high levels of responsibility, and strong interpersonal skills. Thus, it’s important to create a targeted psychiatric nurse practitioner job description that will attract the right people for this role.

To help you with the hiring process, we’ve provided a sample psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner job description that outlines key information for applicants. Tailor and couple this template with targeted interview questions to find the right person for your facility. Seeking other helpful insights? Learn how to make your job description stand out from others by browsing current psychiatric nurse practitioner job openings being advertised at other facilities.

Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner

Tips: When introducing a job description of psychiatric nurse practitioner roles, you’ll want to provide a brief overview of the types of applicants you’re looking for and your facility. This is also your chance to differentiate your organization from others, so be sure to highlight any notable awards, distinctions, or benefits that could help catch the attention of more people.

Template:

[Facility name] is looking for an experienced nurse practitioner to join the inpatient psychiatry department at our conveniently located, downtown campus. Nationally ranked for a range of adult and pediatric mental health services, our expert caregivers deliver high quality care. Working under a collaborative agreement with our lead psychiatrist, you’ll have the opportunity to optimize behavioral health care for patients of all ages. We also offer a generous benefits package designed to help you thrive both inside and outside of work.

Benefits

Tips: Now that you’ve gotten the attention of prospective applicants, it’s time to dive into more detail about all the great perks of working at your facility. This section of your psychiatric nurse practitioner job description should highlight the key components of your employee benefits package. If your team offers any unique career opportunities, such as community mental health outreach programs or continuing education credits, you can list them here as well.

Template:

• 401k matching
• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• Generous PTO
• Employee assistance program (EAP)
• Funding to attend mental health conferences
• Recognition for community mental health outreach

Duties and Responsibilities

Tips: This section of your job description should outline the most relevant duties and responsibilities that applicants should expect to carry out on the job. As you draft this section, also consider how the nurse practitioner scope of practice in your state might impact the level of autonomy and independence needed for the job.

Template:

• Conduct assessments and evaluations to diagnose mental health conditions
• Implement and monitor the effectiveness of prescribed medications and treatments
• Collaborate with head psychiatrist and other members of the team to develop care plans
• Offer therapeutic support, psychoeducation, and crisis intervention when appropriate
• Provide consultation services to new patients or families seeking services
• Actively participate in community outreach to promote mental health awareness
• Document and maintain accurate patient records, adhering to all HIPAA guidelines

Compensation and Schedule

Tips: Now that your prospective applicants have an idea of what the job entails, they’ll be looking for information on the expected pay, scheduling requirements, and work location. If your facility requires unconventional hours, such as nights and weekends, be as specific as possible about how often applicants should expect to work these hours or be on call.

Template:

• Starting salary of $130,000 with adjustments based on education and experience
• Full-time, Mon-Fri (weekend and holiday coverage rotated with other professionals)
• Location: [insert city, state]

Skills and Qualifications

Tips: In this section of your job description, you should highlight the specific psychiatric nurse practitioner education, experience, and skills that you’re looking for. Make sure that you differentiate between required and preferred skills so that you’re not deterring any qualified candidates from applying.

Template:

• Graduate from an accredited psychiatric nurse practitioner program
• Nurse practitioner license in [insert state]; PMHNP required
• Controlled substance/DEA certification required
• 2+ years working in a mental health setting required
• 1+ year working within an inpatient psychiatric hospital preferred

Call to Action

Tips: At the very end of your psychiatric nurse practitioner job description, you should plug a call to action that invites interested candidates to take the next step. This should include a link to your application portal or any other additional information on how candidates should submit their resumes and cover letters.

Template: Ready to take your career as a psychiatric nurse practitioner to the next level? Click here to submit your application today. We look forward to hearing from you!

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