Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

POSITION SUMMARY

The Advanced Psychiatric Nurse (APN) specializes in the care of patients with mental disorders while maintaining professional nursing standards. APN works with health professionals and security staff in a correctional environment to ensure effective patient care and desired outcomes.

Correctional Nurses provide care to inmate patients to promote and improve their overall health utilizing the nursing process in triage, professional training, and various resources in accordance with regulatory agencies and established guidelines. Inmate patients often lack consistent access to health care prior to incarceration, providing nurses the opportunity to treat a variety of health concerns from minor ailments to major and atypical conditions.

• Must possess a Master’s Degree.
• Current, unrestricted license to practice as RN/APN in the state of practice.
• Specialize in Psychiatry or Mental Health.
• Must have prescriptive authority with current and valid DEA and CDS.

• Excellent critical thinking and assessment skills.
• Ability to make decisions independently.
• Assertive, empathetic and able to provide care objectively.
• Strong interpersonal communication and customer‑service skills.
• Basic computer skills.
• Ability to function independently and as part of a team.
• Ability to command respect and confidence of inmates and staff; philosophically committed to the facility objectives.
• Maintains an active Basic Life Support (BLS) certification.

• Ability to pass all required health and other screening tests.
• On‑call duty may be required and available on short notice as per site requirement.

• Provides a positive and professional representation of CFG Health.
• Keeps patient information confidential and respects patient rights to privacy.
• Promotes a culture of safety for patients and employees through proper identification, reporting, documentation, and prevention.
• Maintains competency and knowledge of current standards of practice, trends, and developments in related scope.
• Adheres to infection control policies and protocols, medication administration and storage procedures, and controlled substance regulations.
• Participates in ongoing quality improvement activities.
• Completes required orientation and training as directed by the facility.
• Follows facility and OSHA safety rules and procedures while on assignment.
• Follows facility and CFG Health occurrence protocol.
• Adheres to PREA regulations.
• Punctual and dependable for assigned/confirmed shifts.
• Maintains security clearance for the assigned facility.

• Performs and documents psychiatric evaluations on inmate patients consistent with NCCHC standards of care, NJ 10‑A, ACA and PBNDS as appropriate.
• Assesses patients’ mental and physical status based on presenting symptoms and complaints.
• Conducts individual and/or group psychotherapy for acute or chronic mental disorders.
• Constructs treatment plans incorporating relapse‑prevention risk‑management strategies.
• Writes prescriptions for psychotropic medications as allowed by state regulations and CFG formulary.
• Monitors patients’ medication.
• Collaborates with interdisciplinary team members to develop, implement, or evaluate treatment plans.
• Documents medical and psychological histories, physical assessments, discharge summaries, and transfer orders.
• Maintains effective working relationships with health care professionals and others.

The following physical demands are representative of those needed for essential functions. Reasonable accommodations may be made on written request.

• May regularly be required to stand, sit, walk, reach, bend, kneel, crouch, or stretch for prolonged periods.
• Must be able to communicate and understand written and verbal communication.
• Must lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.

Entry level

Part‑time

Health Care Provider

Hospitals and Health Care