Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner

Pappas Rehabilitation Hospital for Children (PRHC), under the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH), is seeking a dynamic Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner to deliver essential psychiatric care within a highly specialized pediatric rehabilitation setting, serving children and adolescents under age 21 with complex medical, developmental, and behavioral health needs. The position centers on psychopharmacology and consultation, supporting medically fragile patients with co-occurring mental illness, addiction disorders, developmental disabilities, and other special needs.

The work is deeply collaborative, partnering closely with physicians, interdisciplinary treatment teams, and community agencies to shape thoughtful, evidence-based treatment plans that promote stability, functioning, and quality of life. Clinical judgment, compassion, and adaptability are key, as care often extends to urgent evaluations, crisis response, and nuanced capacity assessments.

This is a mission-driven opportunity for a clinician who values intellectual rigor, integrated care, and meaningful impact on underserved and medically complex populations, all within a setting that emphasizes teamwork, professional growth, and clinically sound, current psychopharmacology practice. Beyond direct patient care, this position plays an influential role in leadership, education, and systems-level collaboration within the hospital. You will contribute to interdisciplinary decision-making, mentor staff, and share expertise through lectures and case conferences, while also engaging with legal and court systems around guardianship and disability matters.

The schedule for this position is Monday through Friday, 8:30-5:00, weekends off.

Duties and Responsibilities (these duties are a general summary and not all inclusive):

• Conduct comprehensive psychiatric evaluations, including urgent diagnostic assessments, and develop psychopharmacologic treatment plans in collaboration with requesting physicians.

• Prescribe and manage medications to treat mental illness and support patients' psychosocial, functional, and community integration goals.

• Provide ongoing psychopharmacologic consultation and management for medically complex patients with co-occurring psychiatric, developmental, and substance use disorders.

• Assess patients' capacity to provide informed consent for treatment and initiate appropriate legal actions when capacity is in question.

• Respond to psychiatric emergencies and support the safe management of patients exhibiting assaultive or high-risk behaviors.

• Collaborate with interdisciplinary treatment teams, providing clinical leadership to coordinate integrated behavioral health and medical care.

• Consult with DPH psychiatrists and other specialists on challenging or complex clinical cases.

• Prepare timely psychiatric evaluations, affidavits, and documentation for guardianship, disability, and court-related proceedings.

• Maintain accurate, complete, and compliant clinical documentation in accordance with PRHC and regulatory standards.

• Supervise milieu therapists and contribute to staff education, professional development, and interdisciplinary learning initiatives.

• Deliver lectures, case conferences, and educational presentations to promote best practices in consultation and psychopharmacology.

• Engage with community agencies, legal personnel, and healthcare partners while participating in required administrative, compliance, and medical staff activities.

Required Qualifications:

• Thorough knowledge of psychiatric theories, principles, and clinical practices, including diagnostic evaluation and evidence-based treatment approaches.

• Advanced understanding of psychopharmacology, including medication classes, indications, and management strategies used in behavioral health care.

• Proficiency in a broad range of clinical interviewing techniques to assess complex psychiatric and psychosocial presentations.

• Strong awareness of the clinical, social, and systemic factors affecting behavioral health care delivery for urban, underserved, medically complex, and culturally diverse populations.

• Demonstrated ability to establish…