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Nurse Practitioner - Psychiatry, Full-time, Days

Northwestern Medicine · Woodstock, IL · Full time · Health Care Provider

Posted Oct 2, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Tell me about a time you worked closely with a collaborating physician on a hard case.

What they are checking: Collaboration and knowing when to seek input.

There are overnight call and weekend rounding options in the Behavioral Health Unit and PES. What experience do you have with acute psychiatry?

What they are checking: Readiness for acute settings beyond outpatient clinic work.

How do you handle a heavy caseload of 36 clinic hours a week without burning out?

What they are checking: Sustainable work habits in a demanding outpatient role.

Tell me about a time you mentored a student or new clinician.

What they are checking: Teaching ability, since the posting asks the NP to mentor graduate students.

What would you do

How do you handle a 30-minute follow-up when the patient raises a new crisis?

What they are checking: Managing time while making sure safety concerns are addressed.

A patient is asking for a benzodiazepine you do not think is appropriate. How do you handle it?

What they are checking: Holding a clinical boundary while keeping the relationship.

About the work

Walk me through a 60-minute new patient psychiatric evaluation.

What they are checking: A thorough, efficient structure that covers history, risk, diagnosis and a plan in the time allowed.

How do you assess suicide risk, and what do you do when it is high in an outpatient visit?

What they are checking: Structured risk assessment and safe next steps such as safety planning or a higher level of care.

How do you choose between an SSRI and another medication for a patient with depression and anxiety?

What they are checking: Prescribing judgment based on symptoms, history and side effects.

You may cover the PHP, IOP and Behavioral Health Unit. How does your approach change at each level?

What they are checking: Understanding the different goals and intensity across levels of psychiatric care.

How do you monitor for side effects of antipsychotics, like metabolic changes?

What they are checking: Safe long-term medication management, including labs and screening.

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The full job description

As published by Northwestern Medicine.

Northwestern Medicine has an exciting opportunity for a motivated Nurse Practitioner to work with our Psychiatry team. This APP will provide primarily ambulatory/outpatient psychiatric care in an independent practice setting, managing a broad-spectrum patient population through new patient evaluations and follow-up visits. The role includes approximately 36 patient-facing clinic hours per week, with 60-minute new patient appointments and 30-minute follow-up visits. In addition to outpatient responsibilities, the APP will be expected to support PHP/IOP and Behavioral Health Unit coverage as needed. Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm • Opportunities are available to participate in overnight APP call coverage (7:00 PM - 7:00 AM) for the Behavioral Health Unit. • Weekend and holiday rounding coverage for the Behavioral Health Unit (BHU) and Psychiatric Emergency Services (PES) may be required as needed. Essential Functions: • Demonstrates clinical expertise and expanded knowledge through patient care activities which may include diagnosis and management of a wide range of health problems. • Responsible for health outcome of an assigned patient population. • Confers with collaborating physician and other health professionals in area of clinical expertise. • Develops appropriate educational systems for patients, families and staff in areas of expertise. • Mentors graduate students in aspects of advanced practice and patient care. • Actively participates in quality improvement and/or research pertinent to area of expertise. Responsibilities : • Conducts comprehensive appraisals of patients' health status by taking health histories and performing physical examinations in clinical area. • Provides direct clinical care to patients. • Prescribes/orders medications, therapies; orders/interprets laboratory tests, x-rays and procedures according to clinical privileges. • Evaluates patients to determine their need for further health care. • Provides comprehensive teaching to patients and families. • Documents in the medical record all care and education provided and/or procedures performed for which the Licensed Advanced Practice Provider is responsible. • Refers to other disciplines as appropriate. • Consultant to other disciplines in areas of expertise. • Integrates research based knowledge and clinical expertise in decision making. • Exemplifies a professional image in appearance, manner and presentation. • Advocate for patients, families, coworkers, and the community. • Maintains certifications and continuing education as required for licensure and privileging. • Serves as a patient advocate and role model for "Patients First". • Participates in unit/departmental/divisional or hospital committees/task forces as appropriate. • Provides comprehensive teaching strategies for patients and their families. • Develops and participates in programs to meet continuing education needs of staff. • Serves as a role model and preceptor to students. • Provides formal education to both internal and external groups pertinent to area of specialty. • Participates in quality improvement and/or research initiatives for specific patient population as appropriate. AA/EOE Minorities/Women/Disabled/Veterans. VEVRAA Federal Contractor. Required : • Master’s degree from an accredited school/college of nursing OR master's degree from an accredited Physician Assistant Program • PMHNP • Current license as a Registered Nurse in the State of Illinois. Current license as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse in the State of Illinois. Certification as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse by a national certifying body as approved by the Illinois Department of Regulation APRN Board. Once licensed may apply for a controlled substance license and DEA number OR Master’s degree from an accredited Physician Assistant Program/Current license as a Physician Assistant in the State of Illinois. Once licensed may apply for a controlled substance license and DEA number • Privileged and credentialed through the Northwestern Medicine Medical Staff Office (MSO) • Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation – BLS, issued by the American Heart Association Preferred: • 3-5 years of APP experience Northwestern Medicine is an equal opportunity employer (disability, VETS) and does not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of age, sex, race, color, religion, national origin, gender identity, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation or any other protected status. Background Check Northwestern Medicine conducts a background check that includes criminal history on newly hired team members and, at times, internal transfers. If you are offered a position with us, you will be required to complete an authorization and disclosure form that gives Northwestern Medicine permission to run the background check. Results are evaluated on a case-by-case basis, and we follow all local, state, and federal laws, including the Illinois Health Care Worker Background Check Act. Artificial Intelligence Disclosure Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools may be used in some portions of the candidate review process for this position, however, all employment decisions will be made by a person. Benefits We offer a wide range of benefits that provide employees with tools and resources to improve their physical, emotional, and financial well-being while providing protection for unexpected life events. Click on or copy and paste URL to your browser to view detailed benefits information NorthwesternMedicine Career Page https://jobs.nm.org/benefits Please refer to the Benefits Eligibility by Employment Classification to determine benefits eligibility for job postings. If sign-on bonus is included in a job posting eligibility is as followed: Internal employees and rehires who left Northwestern Medicine within 1 year are not eligible for the sign-on bonus. Exception : New graduate internal employees seeking their first licensed clinical position as a Registered Nurse at NM may be eligible.

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