Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner

State of Montana•Billings, MT

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner works within a secure correctional environment at Montana Women’s Prison in Billings, Montana, addressing the complex medical and psychiatric needs of an incarcerated population. The role supports institutional safety and rehabilitation by stabilizing acute conditions, improving mental health outcomes, and helping residents develop healthier behaviors. The position is part of the Montana Department of Corrections’ Rehabilitation and Enterprise Division, which supports inmate physical and mental well-being and educational, vocational, and reintegration opportunities. The practitioner provides psychiatric care, promotes self-management of chronic conditions, and connects individuals with appropriate internal and external resources to support successful reentry and public safety. The role requires collaboration with security, medical, and behavioral health staff, compliance with facility security protocols, and maintenance of professional boundaries in a correctional setting.

Requirements

Master’s degree from an accredited APRN program as an Advanced Practice Nurse-Psych.
Two years of job-related experience.
Alternative combinations of education and experience may be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Responsibilities

Conduct comprehensive psychiatric assessments using patient histories, symptoms, physical findings, and diagnostic information to develop clinical diagnoses.
Diagnose and treat acute medical and behavioral health conditions, including illnesses, infections, injuries, and psychiatric disorders.
Develop and implement individualized treatment plans using evidence-based practices and clinically appropriate interventions.
Prescribe medications in accordance with legal and regulatory guidelines, considering safety, efficacy, cost, and patient response.
Recommend diagnostic and therapeutic interventions while considering risk, invasiveness, patient acceptability, adherence, and effectiveness.
Educate patients about managing acute and chronic conditions, tailoring instructions to individual learning needs and circumstances.
Coordinate care through timely referrals to physicians, psychologists, chemical dependency counselors, mental health centers, social services, and other professionals or agencies.
Assist with emergency psychiatric interventions, potentially including emergency commitments and crisis stabilization procedures.
Maintain accurate, timely, and compliant clinical documentation in accordance with DOC standards, medical regulations, and facility protocols.
Collaborate with security, medical, and behavioral health staff to support institutional safety, continuity of care, and rehabilitation goals.
Follow security protocols and maintain professional boundaries while providing patient-centered psychiatric care.
Promote self-management of chronic conditions and refer individuals to appropriate resources to support successful reentry.