Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

About DCHD:

Mission: To protect and promote healthier lifestyles through prevention and education.

As a certified health department, the Douglas County Health Department is responsible for several programs as well as many other public health services. Programs are grouped into divisions relating to either nursing, environmental health or health education. All programs have an educational component.

The goal of this department is to increase the awareness and number of persons reached in this educational process.

Benefits:

• 15 Paid Holidays
• Vacation
• 3 days of Personal Time
• Accrual of 1 sick day per month (rollover)
• Employer paid employee health insurance premium
• Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF)
• Dental/Vision
• Life Insurance
• Tuition Assistance and Loan Repayment
• Flexible Schedules

Position Funding and Sustainability

Positions within Douglas County Health Department are often supported through grant funding, which plays an important role in allowing us to expand services and meet the evolving needs of our community. While funding sources may change over time, our goal is to build sustainable, long-term positions that provide continuity of care and lasting support to the individuals and families we serve.

We are committed to exploring opportunities that strengthen our programs and support the long-term success of both our employees and the community.

Compensation

The full salary range for this position is $100,000–$150,000 annually. The anticipated starting salary depends on the selected candidate’s directly related experience, education, licensure, certifications, and overall qualifications, as well as internal equity and available funding. An exceptionally qualified candidate may be considered above the anticipated starting range, but within the full approved salary range.

Position

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)

Status: Full-time, 35 hours per week

Working Hours: Monday–Thursday

FLSA Classification: Exempt

Work Location: On-site

Job Summary:

The Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) provides patient-centered psychiatric and behavioral health services within Douglas County Health Department's outpatient care setting.

The PMHNP evaluates and diagnoses mental health conditions, develops individualized treatment plans, provides medication management and supportive therapeutic interventions, and coordinates care with the interdisciplinary clinical team.

Services are delivered in accordance with applicable Illinois law, professional standards, and the practitioner's authorized scope of practice.

Duties/Responsibilities:

• Conduct comprehensive psychiatric assessments, including psychiatric and medical histories, mental status examinations, risk assessments, and review of relevant records.
• Diagnose and manage psychiatric and behavioral health conditions and establish individualized, evidence-based treatment plans with patients and, as appropriate, their families or legal representatives.
• Initiate, prescribe, monitor, and adjust psychiatric medications within applicable licensure, prescriptive authority, and organizational protocols. Assess treatment response, adverse effects, medication adherence, and potential interactions.
• Provide psychoeducation, supportive counseling, brief therapeutic interventions, and referrals to psychotherapy or other services consistent with clinical training and scope of practice.
• Evaluate patient safety concerns, including suicide risk, and coordinate timely crisis intervention, higher levels of care, or emergency referrals when clinically indicated.
• Order and interpret appropriate diagnostic tests and monitoring relevant to psychiatric treatment and coordinate medical follow-up when needed.
• Collaborate with primary care clinicians, behavioral health counselors, nursing staff, external providers, and community resources to support continuity of care.
• Engage patients and caregivers in shared decision-making, medication education, wellness promotion, and follow-up planning.
• Maintain complete, accurate, and timely electronic health records, including assessment findings, diagnoses, treatment plans, medication records, and required follow-up.
• Participate in weekly case conferences, monthly staff meetings, quarterly Quality Improvement Committee meetings, and other applicable clinical and interdisciplinary activities.
• Support program quality, patient access, and applicable grant documentation, data tracking, and reporting requirements.
• Maintain clinical competency through continuing education, professional development, and review of current psychiatric and advanced practice nursing research.
• Provide reasonable follow-up and case-related availability during scheduled business hours. Participate in an expanded clinical on-call program if adopted and communicated by DCHD.
• Perform other related duties as assigned, consistent with professional licensure, training, and scope of practice.

Required Qualifications:

• Current, unrestricted Illinois Registered Nurse and Advanced Practice Registered Nurse licensure, or eligibility to obtain required Illinois licensure before beginning clinical practice.
• Graduate degree in nursing and completion of an accredited psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner program or appropriate post-graduate PMHNP certificate.
• Current national board certification as a Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP-BC), or eligibility for certification with certification required before independent performance of PMHNP duties.
• Current DEA registration and applicable Illinois controlled substance authority when prescribing duties require them. Any required collaborative practice arrangement or full practice authority must be in place before practice.
• Knowledge of psychiatric assessment, diagnosis, psychopharmacology, patient safety, and evidence-based behavioral health treatment.
• Ability to collaborate across disciplines, maintain confidentiality, document accurately, and communicate effectively with patients of varied backgrounds.
• Regular, predictable attendance and ability to meet scheduled patient-care responsibilities.

Preferred Qualifications:

• At least one year of psychiatric medication management experience in an outpatient or comparable setting.
• Experience providing care to adults and/or children and adolescents, based on program needs and practitioner training.
• Experience in integrated behavioral health, community health, public health, or other interdisciplinary clinical settings.
• Illinois full practice authority, when applicable, and experience delivering care through approved telehealth services.

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disability to perform the essential functions.

• Work is primarily performed in an outpatient clinical setting with approved remote clinical or administrative work as applicable.
• Requires frequent communication and interaction with patients, healthcare professionals, and administrative personnel.
• Involves prolonged periods of sitting, standing, computer use, electronic documentation, and patient consultations.
• Requires the ability to use standard medical and office equipment.
• Must be able to respond appropriately to routine and urgent clinical situations.
• DCHD is a smoke-free and drug-free workplace in accordance with applicable requirements.

The Douglas County Health Department is committed to fostering, cultivating, and preserving a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

We embrace and encourage our employees' differences in age, color, disability, ethnicity, family or marital status, gender identity or expression, language, national origin, physical and mental ability, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, veteran status, and other characteristics that make our employees unique.

Our employment practices are rooted in our dedication to equal opportunity for all individuals. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate in employment based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

All employment decisions at the Douglas County Health Department are based on business needs, job requirements, and individual qualifications, without regard to the above-listed characteristics. We provide a work environment free of harassment and retaliation and ensure compliance with all applicable laws that protect the rights of applicants and employees.

Our policies reflect and affirm the department's commitment to the principles of fair employment and the elimination of all discriminatory practices.

If you require assistance or accommodation during the application process due to a disability, please contact the Human Resources Department at 217-253-4137 X 1207.

Pay: $100,000.00 - $150,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Flexible schedule
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance
• Tuition reimbursement
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person