Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner - Jail Health Services, Career Service

Salary : $131,268.80 - $184,766.40 Annually

Location : King County Correctional Facility - Downtown Seattle and Maleng Regional Justice Center - Kent, WA

Job Type : Career Service, Hours Vary

Job Number : 2024AMC22044

Department : DPH - Public Health

Division : Jail Health Services

Opening Date : 07 / 17 / 2024

FLSA : Non-Exempt

Bargaining Unit : R2 : WSNA-Staff Nurses-DPH, DAJD

Full- or Part-Time : Full Time

Summary

In this setting, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners (PMHNP) are responsible for integrating knowledge and data from many scientific frameworks to provide holistic psychiatric care to individuals as part of a health care team for Jail Health Services at King County Correctional Facility Downtown as well as Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent.

This position provides psychiatric health care to clients on an independent basis. This classification is distinguished from other nursing classifications in that the incumbent is responsible for medical management of psychiatric health conditions including prescribing and dispensing medications.

This posting will be used to fill all needs.

Commitment To Equity and Social Justice :

Named after Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., one of the most influential civil rights leaders in our nation's history, King County is a vibrant international community with residents that represent countries from around the world.

It is a region with increasing diversity that cherishes the traditions of many cultures.

The county government has a deep commitment to equity and social justice and advancing practices, strategies, and policies that promote fairness, justice, and opportunity for all - in our workplaces and our communities.

With this commitment, King County has adopted a pro-equity agenda to advance regional change and ensure that residents from all communities are incorporated into our emergency planning and public outreach efforts.

We recognize that structural racism consists of principles and practices that cause and justify an inequitable distribution of rights, opportunities, and experiences across racial groups.

Since declaring Racism is a Public Health Crisis in June 2020, King County and Public Health committed to being intentionally anti-racist and accountable to Black, Indigenous and People of Color communities.

To learn more, please visit

Job Duties

Examples of Duties :

• Performance of a comprehensive psychiatric evaluation, that includes the patient's current psychiatric problem(s), history psychiatric care, psychiatric review of systems, a mental status exam, diagnosis, prescription of medications and other treatments, client education and referrals for other services.
• Obtain health history through client / caregiver interview and chart review. Assess presenting illness and risk factors, family health history, review of systems, psychosocial / developmental histories, and cultural information.
• Recognize common medical conditions and complaints to identify and separate from psychiatric diagnoses.
• Perform appropriate physical examination and assessment.
• Order or perform appropriate diagnostic and screening tests and collect additional data for evaluation of illness / wellness.
• Develop differential diagnosis and risk identification through assessment and interpretation of data.
• Complete documentation in the electronic health record in a timely manner.
• Respond to medical or psychiatric emergencies as part of the Jail healthcare team.
• Participate in after hours on call coverage.
• Perform assessment and treatment of psychiatric emergencies, such as acute alcohol withdrawal, delirium, and catatonia.
• Participate in the preparation of documents necessary for the transfer of a client to outside agencies, such as Designated County Responders, or a transfer to an outside medical facility.
• Participate in the involuntary the antipsychotic hearing process, including report preparation, presentation to the hearing committee, prescribing involuntary antipsychotics, and / or the appeal review role.
• Participate in Continuing Education, guidelines development, staff development, committee meetings.
• Develop and implement individualized mental health treatment plans, ensure coordination of services, oversight of referrals.
• Communicate care through electronic charting and verbal interactions with your client and health care team (interdisciplinary health team, students and interagency services) providing them with leadership and direction;

consult, educate, orient and train as needed. Act as consultant to health care team, other staff and the community.

Ensure quality of professional practice by practicing within professional, legal and ethical standards. Participate in;

Quality Improvement (QI) / Quality Assurance (QA) activities as requested. Provide psychiatric services as an independent psychiatric health care provider based on Public Health-Seattle & King County clinical practice guidelines, CDC guidelines, mental health standards as well as the current community standards.

Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills

Requirements :

• Washington State license as an Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner (in good standing) with prescriptive authority.
• Completion of advanced practitioner training and board certification as a nurse practitioner within the specialty practice.
• National Provider Identification (NPI) number required prior to credentialing.
• Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) registration required prior to credentialing.
• Documentation of current BLS CPR certification with AED training required prior to credentialing.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a care team and with a diverse and multi-cultural patient panel.
• Valid Washington State driver's license or have the ability to travel throughout King County in a timely manner.
• Minimum of 2 years prescribing experience.

Supplemental Information

Forbes named King County as one of Washington State's best employers.

Together, with leadership and our employees, we're changing the way government delivers service and winning national recognition as a model of excellence.

Are you ready to make a difference? Come join the team dedicated to serving one of the nation's best places to live, work and play.

Guided by our , we are making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. We value diversity, inclusion and belonging in our workplace and workforce.

• To reach this goal we are committed to workforce equity. Equitable recruiting, support, and retention is how we will obtain the highest quality workforce in our region;
• a workforce that shares and will help advance our guiding principles - we are one team; we solve problems; we focus on the customer;

we drive for results; we are racially just; we respect all people; we lead the way; and we are responsible stewards. We encourage people of all backgrounds and identities to apply, including Native American and people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ+, people living with disabilities, and veterans.

King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer

No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class.

Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.

To Apply

If you are interested in pursuing this position, please follow the application instructions carefully. If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process or if you have questions, please contact the recruiter listed on this job announcement.

Application Process

The following items are required to be considered for this vacancy :

• An electronic application through www.kingcounty.gov / jobs or www.governmentjobs.com (use the "Apply" link) including work history and position duties.
• Candidates must submit a cover letter speaking to why you have interest in working with vulnerable and marginalized populations related to this body of work.
• Responses to supplemental questions.

Your application may be rejected as incomplete if you do not include the relevant information in the application. Cover letters and / or resumes are not accepted in lieu of a completed application.

Applications and / or Supplemental Questionnaires that state "see my resume" or "see my personnel file" are considered incomplete and will not be accepted.

The selection process may include but is not limited to : evaluation of application materials and supplemental questions, interviewing, and testing.

For more information on our selection process, please refer to

Regular and reliable attendance, effective communication skills, and development of effective working relationships are requirements of all Public Health positions.

JHS Employees are Mission Critical Employees

A Jail Nurse Practitioner may be required to report to the jails or alternative sites in the event of an emergency situation (including Public Health emergencies).

Staff may be required to play an active role in the event of a public health emergency, which may include changes in responsibilities, work location, and working hours.

Legal Requirements for JHS Employees

Jail Health Services follows and maintains federal and state requirements standards including, but not limited to, Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) standards, which apply to all public and private institutions that house adult or juvenile offenders.

PREA standards preclude the department from hiring or promoting anyone who has engaged in, or been convicted of any conduct which would violate PREA standards related to sexual assault including :

• Sexual abuse in a prison, jail, lockup, community confinement facility, juvenile facility, or other institution.
• Engaging or attempting to engage in sexual activity in the community facilitated by force, overt or implied threats of force, or coercion, or if the victim did not consent or was unable to consent or refuse; or,
• Civil or administrative adjudication that the candidate has engaged in the activity described above.
• PREA standards require that the department consider any incidents of sexual harassment involving an inmate or detainee in determining whether to hire or promote anyone.

This is in compliance with PREA and its implementing regulations, 28 C.F.R. Part 115, Subpart A, Section 115.17, Hiring and Promotion Decisions.

Necessary Special Requirements

The selection process may include evaluation of application materials and supplemental questions, interviewing, and testing.

You must completely fill out the application with your relevant education and work experience.

• The selected candidate must be able to pass a thorough background investigation and Pre-Employment Physical, but findings may not necessarily disqualify an applicant for employment.
• For more information on our selection process, please refer to For tips on interviewing, please visit
• Employees are required to protect the privacy and security of protected health information as defined in State and Federal Law.
• Public Health relies on office automation (Microsoft Office) and web-based enabled tools; therefore, candidates must be proficient and comfortable with computer use to perform functions associated with on-going work.
• Employees are required to adhere to OSHA / WISHA guidelines including but not limited to completing their mandatory trainings on time and obtaining required immunizations.
• Regular and reliable attendance, effective communication skills, and development of effective working relationships are requirements of all Public Health positions.
• When Public Health responds to an emergency, and in accordance with relevant CBA language and / or KC policy and procedures, we may assign duties outside your regular job description.

This may involve responding at any time, including nights and weekends, with possible deployment to locations other than the department.

If you need a disability accommodation in the application or testing process, please email the contact listed on the job announcement.

King County offers a highly-competitive compensation and benefits package designed to meet the diverse needs of our employees and support our employees' health and well-being.

Eligible positions receive the following benefits and have access to the following programs :

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage : King County pays 100% of the premiums for eligible employees and family members
• Life and disability insurance : employees are provided basic coverage and given the opportunity to purchase additional insurance for both the employee and eligible dependents
• Retirement : King County employees are eligible to participate in a pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems and a 457(b) deferred-compensation plan
• Transportation program and ORCA transit pass
• 12 paid holidays each year plus two personal holidays
• Generous vacation and paid sick leave
• Paid parental, family and medical, and volunteer leaves
• Flexible Spending Account
• Wellness programs
• Onsite activity centers
• Employee Giving Program
• Employee assistance programs
• Flexible schedules and telecommuting options, depending on position
• Training and career development programs

For additional information about employee benefits, visit our

This is a general description of the benefits offered to eligible King County employees, and every effort has been made to ensure its accuracy.

If any information on this document conflicts with the provisions of a collective bargaining agreement (CBA), the CBA prevails.

NOTE : Benefits for Term Limited Temporary (TLT) or Short Term Temporary (STT) positions, including leave eligibility and / or participation in the pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems, will vary based upon the terms and details of the position.

Short Term Temporary positions are not eligible for an ORCA transit pass.

For inquiries about the specifics of this position, please contact the recruiter identified on this job posting.

Have you ever been subject to review, challenges, and / or disciplinary action, formal or informal, by an ethics committee, licensing board, medical disciplinary board or related professional association which would also include those that are pending?

If yes, please explain in full detail that includes state.

Are you willing to provide pregnancy options counseling to women, including referrals for termination?

Do you possess BLS CPR for Healthcare Providers? If so, please attach documentation of your current BLS / CPR certification.

If you do not, please describe how you would obtain certification by time of job offer. Failure to obtain this BLS / CPR certification will result in job offer being delayed or rescinded.

Are you multilingual? If so, what language(s) are you proficient in reading, writing and speaking?

Are you applying to this position as an eligible current or previous King County Employee Priority Placement Program Participant?

ANDIs this position the same or lower percentage of full-time when compared to the position held at the point of the notification of layoff?

ANDDo you possess the skills and abilities to qualify for this position?

Yes, I was given a layoff notice from my Career Service role at King County and I am within two years of the effective date of my layoff.

Additionally, the position I was laid off from was the same or a higher percentage of FT status when compared to this one.

If you answered yes to the question above and you are applying for this position as a Priority Placement Participant, to be considered, you must provide the following three pieces of information in the space provided : 1.

The title you held when you received your layoff notice2. The department you worked in3. The effective date of your layoff

What is your nurse practice specialty (e.g., FNP, gerontology, etc.)?

Please provide your Nurse Practitioner credential number and issuing state. Both pieces of information must be provided, or your application will be rejected as incomplete.

Do you possess a National Provider Identification (NPI) number?

Do you possess a DEA number?

Do you have at least 2 years of prescribing experience?

Required Question