Backpack Healthcare·Chicago, Illinois
Provide comprehensive psychiatric care to children, teens, and young adults via telehealth. Responsibilities include conducting evaluations, managing psychotropic medications, and collaborating with an integrated team of therapists and psychiatrists.
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) Remote · Active Illinois PMHNP License Required · Part-Time or Full-Time We're looking for a PMHNP who wants to do psychiatric care differently — with kids, via telehealth, on a team that actually collaborates.
Backpack Healthcare provides mental health care for children, teens, and young adults — all online, covered by most insurance.
We're clinician-led and minority-owned, and our psychiatric care doesn't live in a silo.
Our PMHNPs work alongside therapists, psychiatrists, and care coordinators as one integrated team.
If you're a nurse practitioner who wants to prescribe, assess, and treat within a model built around whole-person, coordinated care — this is worth your time.
What this role looks like You'll provide comprehensive psychiatric care to children, teens, and young adults via telehealth, part-time or full-time depending on what works for you.
Afternoon, evening, and weekend availability is required — that's when kids and families can actually show up.
Day-to-day you'll: Conduct comprehensive psychiatric evaluations and formulate evidence-based diagnoses Develop individualized treatment plans in partnership with patients and their families Prescribe and manage psychotropic medications, monitor effectiveness, and adjust as needed Provide brief interventions and psychoeducation alongside medication management Collaborate with therapists, psychiatrists, and care coordinators in regular case reviews Maintain accurate, timely documentation in our EHR Educate families about diagnoses, treatment options, and what to expect
Competitive fee-for-service per-session pay structure Medical, dental, and vision insurance 401(k) with company match Paid time off CEU reimbursement Clinical supervision and mentorship — new graduates are welcome A collaborative team that treats integrated care as the standard, not the exception What we're looking for Active, unrestricted Illinois PMHNP license (multi-state or compact licensure preferred) PMHNP-BC board certification Active DEA license Master's or doctoral degree from an accredited PMHNP program Experience with or strong interest in working with youth and families Comfortable working independently in a telehealth environment Strong clinical judgment, clear communication, and genuine empathy
We've served 12,000+ kids and families since 2020. 78% of families report their child is doing better after three months. We built Backpack because the old model — long waits, disconnected providers, care that doesn't feel made for anyone — wasn't working for kids or the clinicians trying to help them. When clinicians thrive, kids thrive. That's not a tagline. It's how we build. Backpack Healthcare is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity in age, background, identity, and experience — and we mean it.
Requires an active, unrestricted Illinois PMHNP license, PMHNP-BC board certification, and an active DEA license. A Master's or doctoral degree from an accredited PMHNP program is required.
Market context
Behavioral health positions in Illinois often draw steady interest because employers look for licensed or graduate-prepared candidates who can work in clinical, community, or care-coordination settings. This role is competitive because the required background is specific—either a master’s degree in a human services field or an active Illinois RN license, with behavioral health experience preferred. Review the AI-summarized requirements and benefits here to save research time, then confirm your licensure, degree, and setting experience before applying.
