Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Jobs in Kentucky
Mental Health Nurse Practitioner jobs in Kentucky are concentrated in behavioral health systems, community mental health centers, and integrated care settings, with demand at every level from newly licensed practitioners to seasoned psychiatric specialists. Louisville, Lexington, and Bowling Green are the primary hiring metros, where employers such as Baptist Health, University of Kentucky HealthCare, and Centerstone maintain consistent openings. Telepsychiatry, child and adolescent psychiatry, and substance use disorder treatment are the most in-demand specialties statewide. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.
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Showing 5 of 12+ Mental Health Nurse Practitioner jobs
Job Description:
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS
Provides psychiatric clinical services to children, including evaluation, follow-up, medication, emergency/crisis intervention, telephone consultation, etc. Provides clinical consultation and collaboration with SCS mental health, CD, and/or DD staff. Oversees the quality of psychiatric care administered to children through direct observation of clinicians, case review, interdepartmental communication, consultation with health care professionals outside the organization, etc. Attends and participates in staff meetings, treatment planning sessions, case conferences, supervisory meetings, including weekly formal clinical supervision with the collaborating psychiatrist, and clinical seminars, providing information relating to program development and administration. Provides consultation services for families, network agencies, and community practitioners. Assists Chief Advanced Nurse Practice Administrator in developing system-wide policies and procedures. Develops and implements clinical programs and policies to improve the facility’s quality of services. Facilitates efforts to obtain and maintain Joint Commission accreditation by ensuring accurate documentation is recorded and maintained. Provides staff training on relevant medical topics. Engages in consultation with the collaborating psychiatrist on the medical/pharmacologic management of clients. Completes and maintains accurate documentation, according to prescribed standards, relating to treatment services, case management services, and advocacy including staff notes, case reviews, staff transfers, letters, reports, time cards, etc. Conducts case reviews and determines current and future treatment and treatment planning, including after-care plans for clients completing treatment, based on quantitative results and professional opinion of client progress.
The intent of this job description is to provide a representative summary of the major duties and responsibilities performed by incumbents of this job. Incumbents may be requested to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically presented in this description.
EDUCATION
- Master’s degree in nursing or related field with advanced national certification in Family Psychiatric and Mental Health Nurse Practitioner licensure from the American Nurse Credentialing Center (ANCC).
- Kentucky Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner (ARNP) license or permit. Federal narcotics license.
EXPERIENCE
- At least two (2) years of experience as a Nurse Practitioner in behavioral health.
- Thorough knowledge of assigned population (e.g., mental and physical characteristics, growth and development, and range of treatment needed), and applicable regulations and standards.
- Excellent interpersonal and written and oral communication skills.
- Knowledge of available community sources and SCS services.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS/REQUIREMENTS
- Position has some unusual physical demands, including occasional exposure to threat of bodily harm from clients and their families.
- Normal tasks involve frequent exposure to blood, body fluids or tissue.
- Scheduling demands may require employee to be on “24-hour call” on a rotating basis.
Within the bounds of their respective job descriptions, all staff are expected to exercise principle-centered leadership, focused on customer service responsiveness, with a continuous quality improvement orientation. Additionally, all staff are expected to develop a working knowledge of and follow all policies and procedures related to safety management and other Joint Commission standards.
Time Type:
Part timeJob Description:
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS
Provides psychiatric clinical services to children, including evaluation, follow-up, medication, emergency/crisis intervention, telephone consultation, etc. Provides clinical consultation and collaboration with SCS mental health, CD, and/or DD staff. Oversees the quality of psychiatric care administered to children through direct observation of clinicians, case review, interdepartmental communication, consultation with health care professionals outside the organization, etc. Attends and participates in staff meetings, treatment planning sessions, case conferences, supervisory meetings, including weekly formal clinical supervision with the collaborating psychiatrist, and clinical seminars, providing information relating to program development and administration. Provides consultation services for families, network agencies, and community practitioners. Assists Chief Advanced Nurse Practice Administrator in developing system-wide policies and procedures. Develops and implements clinical programs and policies to improve the facility’s quality of services. Facilitates efforts to obtain and maintain Joint Commission accreditation by ensuring accurate documentation is recorded and maintained. Provides staff training on relevant medical topics. Engages in consultation with the collaborating psychiatrist on the medical/pharmacologic management of clients. Completes and maintains accurate documentation, according to prescribed standards, relating to treatment services, case management services, and advocacy including staff notes, case reviews, staff transfers, letters, reports, time cards, etc. Conducts case reviews and determines current and future treatment and treatment planning, including after-care plans for clients completing treatment, based on quantitative results and professional opinion of client progress.
The intent of this job description is to provide a representative summary of the major duties and responsibilities performed by incumbents of this job. Incumbents may be requested to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically presented in this description.
EDUCATION
- Master’s degree in nursing or related field with advanced national certification in Family Psychiatric and Mental Health Nurse Practitioner licensure from the American Nurse Credentialing Center (ANCC).
- Kentucky Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner (ARNP) license or permit. Federal narcotics license.
EXPERIENCE
- At least two (2) years of experience as a Nurse Practitioner in behavioral health.
- Thorough knowledge of assigned population (e.g., mental and physical characteristics, growth and development, and range of treatment needed), and applicable regulations and standards.
- Excellent interpersonal and written and oral communication skills.
- Knowledge of available community sources and SCS services.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS/REQUIREMENTS
- Position has some unusual physical demands, including occasional exposure to threat of bodily harm from clients and their families.
- Normal tasks involve frequent exposure to blood, body fluids or tissue.
- Scheduling demands may require employee to be on “24-hour call” on a rotating basis.
Within the bounds of their respective job descriptions, all staff are expected to exercise principle-centered leadership, focused on customer service responsiveness, with a continuous quality improvement orientation. Additionally, all staff are expected to develop a working knowledge of and follow all policies and procedures related to safety management and other Joint Commission standards.
Time Type:
Part timeSee All 12 Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Jobs in Kentucky
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Find JobsMental Health Nurse Practitioner Jobs by City in Kentucky
Where Kentucky roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Job Market in Kentucky
A snapshot from current Kentucky openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Healthcare & Medical Services
- Consulting & Professional Services
What Kentucky Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in mental health nurse practitioner jobs across Kentucky.
- Active Kentucky APRN license with psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner certification required
- Master of Science in Nursing or Doctor of Nursing Practice from an accredited program
- Board certification as a psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner through ANCC or AANP
- DEA registration and authority to prescribe controlled substances in Kentucky
- Experience conducting psychiatric evaluations and managing psychotropic medication regimens
- Familiarity with electronic health record systems used in outpatient and inpatient behavioral health settings
Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Jobs in Kentucky: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a mental health nurse practitioner in Kentucky?
You must earn a Master of Science in Nursing or Doctor of Nursing Practice with a psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner concentration, then pass the PMHNP-BC exam through the American Nurses Credentialing Center or the equivalent through AANP. After passing, you apply for an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse license through the Kentucky Board of Nursing. Kentucky also requires a separate prescriptive authority application if you intend to manage medications, which most positions expect.
How much do mental health nurse practitioners make in Kentucky?
Mental health nurse practitioners in Kentucky earn a median of about $122,870 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $95,710 for the lowest 10% to over $162,960 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire mental health nurse practitioners in Kentucky?
Kentucky mental health nurse practitioner roles are posted by Seven Counties Services, LifeStance Health, and RiverValley Behavioral Health and others right now, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of October 2026. Kentucky's mix of large regional hospital systems, federally qualified health centers, and community mental health centers means openings are distributed across both metropolitan areas and rural counties.
Which Kentucky cities have the most mental health nurse practitioner jobs?
Lagrange, Benton, and Bedford carry the largest share of mental health nurse practitioner openings in Kentucky. Louisville drives volume through its concentration of major health systems and behavioral health networks, while Lexington benefits from the University of Kentucky medical complex, and smaller cities like Bowling Green reflect the growing investment in rural and regional behavioral health access across the state.
Are there remote mental health nurse practitioner jobs in Kentucky?
Yes, and more than most clinical roles because telepsychiatry has become a standard care delivery model in Kentucky, particularly for underserved rural counties. About 50% of mental health nurse practitioner openings tied to Kentucky are remote or hybrid as of October 2026, and these positions most often involve medication management follow-ups and talk-therapy oversight rather than initial in-person psychiatric evaluations.
How can I get hired as a mental health nurse practitioner in Kentucky with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is a new-graduate PMHNP residency or fellowship, and Baptist Health and University of Kentucky HealthCare both run structured post-graduate programs that accept candidates immediately after licensure. Applying to community mental health centers through Kentucky's regional Community Mental Health Centers network is another strong option, as these organizations regularly hire new graduates for supervised outpatient roles. Holding an active Kentucky APRN license with prescriptive authority and completing any supervised clinical hours required by your program gives candidates a clear edge.
Where can I find and apply to mental health nurse practitioner jobs in Kentucky?
You can find and apply to mental health nurse practitioner jobs in Kentucky on Migrate Mate, which lists current Kentucky openings. Search the available roles, identify the ones that match your credentials and preferred setting, and apply directly to whichever positions fit.
See All 12 Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Jobs in Kentucky
Find roles in Kentucky that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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