Psychiatric Nurse Jobs in Kentucky
Psychiatric Nurse jobs in Kentucky see consistent demand across inpatient behavioral health, community mental health centers, and correctional facilities, with openings at every level from new graduates to advanced practice-eligible nurses. Louisville, Lexington, and Bowling Green are the primary hiring hubs, home to established employers such as Norton Healthcare, Baptist Health, and the Kentucky Department for Behavioral Health, Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities. Inpatient psychiatric care, substance use disorder treatment, and forensic nursing are the most active specialties. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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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 20 Psychiatric Nurse Jobs in Kentucky
Find roles in Kentucky that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Psychiatric Nurse JobsPsychiatric Nurse Jobs by City in Kentucky
Where Kentucky roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Psychiatric Nurse 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 psychiatric nurse jobs across Kentucky.
- Active Kentucky Registered Nurse license issued by the Kentucky Board of Nursing
- Associate or Bachelor of Science in Nursing from an accredited program
- Current BLS and preferably CPI or MANDT crisis intervention certification
- One or more years of clinical experience in a psychiatric or behavioral health setting
- Familiarity with electronic health records systems such as Epic or Cerner
- Strong de-escalation skills and experience with involuntary commitment documentation
Psychiatric Nurse Jobs in Kentucky: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a psychiatric nurse in Kentucky?
To work as a psychiatric nurse in Kentucky, you must hold an active Registered Nurse license issued by the Kentucky Board of Nursing, which requires completing an accredited nursing program and passing the NCLEX-RN exam. Most psychiatric nurse roles require at minimum an Associate Degree in Nursing, though many Kentucky employers prefer a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Gaining clinical hours in a behavioral health or inpatient psychiatric unit strengthens your candidacy significantly.
How much do psychiatric nurses make in Kentucky?
Psychiatric nurses in Kentucky earn a median of about $81,040 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $64,170 for the lowest 10% to over $111,750 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire psychiatric nurses in Kentucky?
Companies currently hiring psychiatric nurses in Kentucky include Seven Counties Services, LifeStance Health, and RiverValley Behavioral Health, per current listings on Migrate Mate as of October 2026. Kentucky's network of regional behavioral health nonprofit agencies and state-operated psychiatric facilities also maintains steady hiring throughout the year.
Which Kentucky cities have the most psychiatric nurse jobs?
The cities with the most psychiatric nurse openings in Kentucky are Lagrange, Richmond, and Owensboro. Louisville leads due to its concentration of large hospital systems and dedicated behavioral health campuses, while Lexington draws openings from University of Kentucky Health and regional community mental health centers, and smaller cities reflect demand from county-level behavioral health agencies and correctional health contractors.
Are there remote psychiatric nurse jobs in Kentucky?
Yes, but they're rare. About 60% of psychiatric nurse openings tied to Kentucky are remote or hybrid as of October 2026, which reflects how hands-on and facility-based most psychiatric nursing work is by nature. The roles most likely to include any remote component are telepsychiatry triage support, care coordination, and utilization review positions attached to larger health systems.
How can I get hired as a psychiatric nurse in Kentucky with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is applying to new-graduate nurse residency programs at large Kentucky health systems such as Norton Healthcare or Baptist Health, which structure rotations through behavioral health units. Entry-level roles in residential treatment facilities, crisis stabilization units, and detox centers frequently accept new graduates. A Kentucky RN license, a CPI crisis intervention certification, and clinical hours completed during nursing school in a psychiatric setting give candidates a clear edge over peers with none of these credentials.
Where can I find and apply to psychiatric nurse jobs in Kentucky?
You can find and apply to psychiatric nurse jobs in Kentucky on Migrate Mate, which lists current Kentucky openings across hospital systems, community mental health centers, correctional health providers, and residential facilities. Find the roles that fit your experience and location and apply directly from the listings below.
See All 20 Psychiatric Nurse Jobs in Kentucky
Find roles in Kentucky that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Psychiatric Nurse Jobs