Job Description
Join the dedicated behavioral health team at Lemuel Shattuck Hospital, a key facility within the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health, as a Psychiatric Clinical Nurse Specialist. In this essential role, you will deliver comprehensive psychiatric care to adults with complex mental health needs, performing assessments, developing individualized treatment plans, prescribing medications, and supporting recovery through evidence-based practices. As a leader on the treatment team, you will influence the patient care experience while working collaboratively with psychiatrists, primary care providers, legal teams, and family members to ensure holistic and person-centered care.
This role offers the opportunity to engage in meaningful clinical work within a multidisciplinary setting that values therapeutic relationships, recovery-focused treatment, and clinical excellence. With access to ongoing professional development, a strong support network, and the ability to directly impact the lives of vulnerable populations, this position is ideal for a licensed Psychiatric Mental Health Clinical Nurse Specialist or Nurse Practitioner who seeks to practice at the top of their license within a public service environment.
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Duties and Responsibilities (these duties are a general summary and not all inclusive):
- Conduct comprehensive psychiatric assessments, formulate diagnoses, develop treatment plans, and provide ongoing clinical management, including follow-up care for adult patients, in collaboration with the supervising psychiatrist.
- Prescribe and monitor psychiatric and medical medications (Schedules II-VI) in accordance with state and federal regulations, facility protocols, and clinical guidelines, including administration of AIMS testing to monitor side effects.
- Lead and facilitate therapeutic patient groups, and offer consultation and education to nursing staff on evidence-based practices in psychiatric nursing, person-centered care, and recovery-oriented treatment.
- Perform and interpret physical examinations, obtain patient histories, and order or conduct diagnostic and laboratory procedures to support clinical decision-making.
- Assess patient decision-making capacity, prepare legal documentation for substituted judgment and commitment hearings, and provide court testimony as required.
- Collaborate with primary care providers, social workers, and community partners to ensure integrated care and facilitate patient discharge planning and transition to community-based services.
- Act as clinical leader of the multidisciplinary treatment team, documenting treatment team meetings and providing coordinated, team-based care.
- Evaluate and implement appropriate safety measures, including visitor and communication restrictions, and consult with forensic services regarding patients with legal commitments.
- Engage with family members to gather collateral information, provide psychoeducation, and support processes related to guardianship and discharge planning.
- Maintain compliance with licensure, scope of practice agreements, continuing education, and documentation standards; serve as a clinical resource to nursing and non-clinical staff.
Required Qualifications:
- Board certification as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP-BC) or Psychiatric Clinical Nurse Specialist (PMHCNS-BC).
- Proficiency with electronic health record (EHR) systems and clinical documentation workflows.
- Strong knowledge of psychopharmacology and ability to manage complex medication regimens.
- Knowledge of the principles, theories, practices and standards of professional psychiatric and mental health nursing within the scope of practice of the expanded role of the clinical specialist in psychiatric and mental health nursing.
Preferred Qualifications
- Minimum of two years of experience providing psychiatric care in inpatient, forensic, or acute care settings.
- Demonstrated proficiency in conducting psychiatric evaluations, risk assessments, and treatment planning for adults with severe and persistent mental illness.
- Experience working within a multidisciplinary treatment team and leading collaborative care efforts.
- Familiarity with legal and ethical issues in psychiatric care, including substituted judgment, involuntary commitment, and patient capacity evaluations.
- Effective communication and documentation skills, including the ability to present clinical information in legal and administrative settings.
- Experience in recovery-oriented, trauma-informed, and person-centered care models.
- Bilingual or multilingual abilities to support culturally and linguistically diverse populations.
License and/or Certification Requirement:
- Current and valid registration as a professional nurse under the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing.
- Current and valid certification as a Clinical Specialist in Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing by a national professional accrediting body.
- Current and valid authorization by the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing to practice in the Expanded Role as a Clinical Specialist in Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing.
- Current and Valid Massachusetts motor vehicle license.
- Must hold a current Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner or Psychiatric Mental Health Clinical Nurse
- Specialist license in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
- Must have or be able to obtain Federal DEA Registration
- Must have or be able to obtain Mass. Controlled Substance Certificate
Hospital Mission:
At the Lemuel Shattuck Hospital, we take pride in helping people recover from illnesses and conditions that are often underserved or difficult to manage in other health care settings. The DMH units within the Hospital provide inpatient psychiatric services to adults with serious mental illness with the goal of enhancing autonomy, safety and return to the community.
Patients are treated by a multidisciplinary team, led by attending psychiatrists which also includes psychologists, clinical social workers, psychiatric nurses, mental health workers, peer specialists, occupational therapists and rehabilitative staff specializing in vocational, recreational and expressive therapies. A variety of treatment modalities are used, including psychopharmacologic, psychotherapeutic (individual, group and family), psycho-educational, behavioral, cognitive and
milieu therapies.
Pre-Offer Process:
A criminal background check will be completed on the recommended candidate as required by the regulations set forth by the Executive Office of Health and Human Services prior to the candidate being hired. For more information, please visit http://www.mass.gov/hhs/cori
Education, licensure and certifications will be verified in accordance with the Human Resources Division's Hiring Guidelines.
Education and license/certification information provided by the selected candidate(s) is subject to the Massachusetts Public Records Law and may be published on the Commonwealth's website, http://www.mass.gov
If you require assistance with the application/interview process and would like to request an ADA accommodation, please click on the link and complete the ADA Reasonable Accommodation Request Form
For questions regarding this requisition, please contact Executive Office of Health and Human Services Human Resources at 1-800- 510-4122 Ext. #4
Qualifications
First consideration will be given to those applicants that apply within the first 14 days.
Minimum Entrance Requirements:
None except for Special Requirements.
Special Requirements:
1. Current and valid registration as a professional nurse under the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing.
2. Current and valid certification as a Clinical Specialist in Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing by a national professional accrediting body.
3. Current and valid authorization by the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing to practice in the Expanded Role as a Clinical Specialist in Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing.
4. Current and Valid Massachusetts motor vehicle license.
Salary placement is determined by a combination of factors, including the candidate's years of directly related experience and education, and alignment with our internal compensation structure as set forth by the Human Resources Division's Hiring Guidelines. For all bargaining unit positions (non-management), compensation is subject to the salary provisions outlined in the applicable collective bargaining agreement and will apply to placement within the appropriate salary range .
Comprehensive Benefits
When you embark on a career with the Commonwealth, you are offered an outstanding suite of employee benefits that add to the overall value of your compensation package. We take pride in providing a work experience that supports you, your loved ones, and your future.
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Title 101 CMR 23.00 ("Regulation") requires certain agency staff to have received the COVID-19 vaccination and Influenza vaccination, or have taken required mitigation measures, to prevent viral infection and transmission in State Hospitals and State Congregate Care Facilities. The Regulation applies to this position. Successful candidates will be required to acknowledge and attest to your vaccination status for both COVID-19 and Influenza.
An Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer. Females, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.
The Commonwealth is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, national origin, veteran status, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. Research suggests that qualified women, Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color (BIPOC) may self-select out of opportunities if they don't meet 100% of the job requirements. We encourage individuals who believe they have the skills necessary to thrive to apply for this role.