Title: Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner

State Role Title: 49114

Hiring Range: $121,146 - $167,182

Pay Band: 6

Agency: Dept Behavioral Health/Develop

Location: Central State Hospital

Agency Website: https://dbhds.virginia.gov/facilities/csh/

Recruitment Type: General Public - G

Job Duties

Central State Hospital (CSH) is a 277 bed Joint Commission accredited psychiatric inpatient facility located in Petersburg, Virginia. CSH has proudly been serving citizens of the Commonwealth since 1870, when we opened our doors as the first psychiatric hospital in the country dedicated to the treatment of African Americans. A new and modern CSH is currently under construction on the same property, with a scheduled completion date of 2027.
CSH maintains the only maximum-security treatment facility in the state (111 beds). We also have 166 beds available for individuals in the community who need inpatient care, as well as individuals in the criminal justice system. We believe that treatment should be holistic and focused on the person’s individual needs, recognizing that recovery is not linear or the same for every person. Treatment modalities may include medication, evidence-based group and individual therapy, peer support, psychosocial rehabilitation, vocational training, preparation for court, and treatment for substance use.
Central State Hospital is actively recruiting a Full-Time Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner to join our progressive team within the Medical Department. The Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner purpose is to provide psychiatric and medical care to individuals admitted to the hospital.
Departmental Mission Objective:
To provide high quality inpatient care to the most seriously mentally ill patients in a safe, secure and therapeutic hospital setting. To provide for and improve the quality of the total range of services for patients admitted to CSH. Services include comprehensive assessments and treatments, forensic evaluations, and education of patients and families. The ultimate goal is to improve the quality of life of each of our patients, and to promote changes which enable patients’ return to the community.
Job Duties:
- Ensures that medications prescribed conform to the standard of care for the diagnoses given and expectations are cleared with the Hospital Medical Director prior to implementation.
- Secures and documents informed consent for treatment from the patient or AR, or obtains judicial authorization for treatment in a timely manner.
- Regularly assesses and addresses medication side effects and reports adverse drug reactions.
- Monitors patients’ progress and revises treatment plan accordingly.
- Encourages involvement of the CSB and the family in the patient’s discharge planning, whenever possible.
- Ensures that the patient progresses to discharge status as quickly as is reasonably possible.
- Arranges coverage for patients when taking time off and completes required documentation prior to time off.
- Participates in the MOD on-call coverage when required, providing timely examination, treatment and documentation
- Ensures that documentation regarding all job elements, especially seclusion/restraint and suicidal precaution orders, is timely, legible and complete.
- Ensures that the medical and psychiatric history, physical examination and mental status examination are complete, legible and timely.
- Ensures that treatment plans are completed in a timely and relevant manner as required by hospital policies, procedures and in accordance with federal and state regulations and guidelines.
- As Head of the Treatment Team, provides effective leadership in developing and maintaining the therapeutic process through collaborative efforts between physicians, nursing staff, psychologists, social workers, rehab staff and patients.
- Monitors the use of seclusion/restraint in your building on a daily basis and participates in the S/R reduction efforts and adheres to S/R threshold requirements for action per hospital policy.
- Participates in the Performance Improvement projects of the hospital when requested, Med Staff OPPE and FPPE, and at least 1 Hospital/Med Staff Committee.
- Maintains current VA Medical license and DEA registration and obtains required CME credits.
- Ensures at least 50% attendance at assigned Med Staff meetings, committee meetings, and other Med Staff activities including but not limited to Clinical Case Presentations and Grand Rounds.
- Completes required annual mandatory training in a timely manner.
- Adheres to the Medical Staff Bylaws of Central State Hospital.
- Supports hospital/departmental philosophy, goals and objectives by reviewing and adhering
to policies and procedures, including National Patient Safety Goals.
- Meets regularly and as needed with supervising psychiatrist to discuss cases and any clinical issues.
KSA’s required to successfully perform the work:
Must possess good evaluation/examination, documentation and diagnostic skills for the treatment and management of mental and medical illnesses. Must have basic knowledge of current psychiatric or medical treatment modalities. Must possess effective communication skills, both oral and written, in order to succinctly document in the medical record and for articulating and interacting with patients and others. Must possess excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to collaborate with interdisciplinary teams.

Minimum Qualifications

- Completion of an accredited/approved NP program
- Current license to practice as a Certified Nurse Practitioner in the Commonwealth of Virginia
- Current DEA registration

Additional Considerations

- Proficiency in management of psychiatric patients

Special Instructions

You will be provided a confirmation of receipt when your application and/or résumé is submitted successfully. Please refer to “Your Application” in your account to check the status of your application for this position.

Central State Hospital only accepts online applications via RMS. Resumes and other documents may accompany the application but will not serve as a substitute for an application. Faxed, e-mailed or mailed applications will not be accepted. Please refer to your RMS account for the status of your application and this position. This posting will remain open for a minimum of five (5) business days.
An extensive criminal history background investigation, not limited to employment references, drug testing and E-Verify will be conducted.
Central State Hospital offers a comprehensive benefit package to include your choice of four health insurance plans, paid life insurance and retirement plans, 12 paid holidays, annual and sick leave.
Applicants must list all relevant experience that you wish to be considered for this position. Applicants will be provided confirmation of receipt when your application and/or resume is submitted. Please refer to “Your Application” in your account to check the status of your application for this position. A fingerprint-based criminal history check and reference checks are required for the selected candidate for this position. Under Virginia Code §37.2-314 and 37.2-408.1, the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services is prohibited from employing or using as volunteers, persons who have been convicted of specific “barrier” crimes or persons who may be the subject of pending “barrier” charges.
DBHDS facilities are no longer required to ensure that all staff members are vaccinated against COVID-19. However, facilities encourage and educate staff on the benefits, and continue to offer COVID-19 vaccination programs to staff, residents/clients. Employees may be required to disclose immunization status for purposes of infection prevention and/or management of outbreaks. Upon acceptance of a job offer, new recruits will be asked to disclose their vaccination status (and for those fully vaccinated, proof of vaccination) during the pre-employment process. If you have any questions, contact the Office of Human Resources.
Commonwealth’s Alternate Hiring Process: In support of the Commonwealth’s commitment to inclusion, individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity, applicants will need to provide their Certificate of Disability (COD) provided by a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor with the Department of Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS). Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation, if applicable, to DARS, to get their Certificate of Disability. To obtain a Certificate of Disability go to: https://www.vadars.org/drs/cpid/PWContact.aspx, or call DARS at 800-552-5019.
Reasonable accommodations are available to persons with disabilities during the application and/or interview process per the Americans with Disabilities Act. Contact Human Resources at (804) 524-7111 for assistance.
DBHDS is an equal Opportunity Employer. Employment opportunities are open to all regardless of race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, veteran status, political affiliation, genetics, or disability. Minorities, Individuals with Disabilities, Veterans, and people with National Service experience are encouraged to apply. EEO/AA/TTY

Contact Information

Name: Human Resources Department

Phone: 804-524-7111

Email: CSHRecruitment@dbhds.virginia.gov

In support of the Commonwealth’s commitment to inclusion, we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity, applicants will need to provide their AHP Letter (formerly COD) provided by the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS), or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI). Service-Connected Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation, if applicable, to DARS/DBVI to get their AHP Letter. Requesting an AHP Letter can be found at AHP Letter or by calling DARS at 800-552-5019.

Note: Applicants who received a Certificate of Disability from DARS or DBVI dated between April 1, 2022- February 29, 2024, can still use that COD as applicable documentation for the Alternative Hiring Process.