Psychiatric Clinical Nurse Specialist

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.

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