Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner/Physician Assistant - Detention Center
About this role
Job Title: Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) – Full-Time
Location: Gaston County Jail (Gastonia, NC)
Reporting To: Health Services Administrator (HSA)
Schedule: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday | 7:00 AM – 6:00 PM (1-hour lunch) | Thursdays & Weekends Off
On-Call: Remote call rotation (approx. 7 days/month)
Position Overview
Reserve Health is seeking a dedicated Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) to lead psychiatric care at the Gaston County Jail, an
NCCHC-accredited facility. Reporting directly to the Health Services Administrator (HSA), this full-time role focuses on providing compassionate, evidence-based mental health care and medication management within a secure correctional setting. Enjoy a predictable 4-day workweek schedule with every Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday off.
Key Responsibilities
- Psychiatric Evaluations & Care: Conduct comprehensive psychiatric evaluations, diagnose mental health conditions, and establish individualized treatment plans for incarcerated individuals.
- Medication Management: Prescribe, monitor, and adjust psychotropic medications as clinically indicated, adhering to state regulations and
NCCHC health standards. - Crisis Intervention: Provide immediate crisis assessment, stabilization, and intervention in collaboration with medical, nursing, and correctional staff.
- Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Work closely with the HSA, facility physicians, DON, nursing staff, and jail administration to ensure integrated patient care and safety.
- On-Call Support: Participate in a remote on-call rotation to support facility staff with urgent psychiatric consultations outside clinic hours.
Qualifications
- Education: Master’s or Doctoral degree in Nursing with a PMHNP concentration.
- Licensure & Certifications:
- Active, unrestricted PMHNP license in North Carolina (or active board certification ready to license).
- Active DEA registration with prescriptive authority.
- Experience: Prior experience in correctional healthcare, emergency psychiatry, or outpatient behavioral health preferred; familiarity with NCCHC guidelines is a plus.
- Skills: Exceptional diagnostic capabilities, crisis resolution skills, cultural competence, and the ability to work collaboratively in a secure environment.
Benefits & Compensation
- Competitive salary commensurate with experience
- Comprehensive Health, Dental, and Vision insurance
- Generous Paid Time Off (PTO) allowance + Vacation Stipend
- Malpractice Insurance coverage
- Full Licensure support & fee reimbursement
- Continuing Medical Education (CME) financial allowance & time off
- Retirement savings plan options
Company at a glance
Reserve Health has been serving patients in the Charlotte area since 2016. Our Medical Group is made up of highly skilled medical professionals who deeply value your health and wellbeing. We take great pride in providing our community with high quality, patient-centered care and health education. Proactive and preventative measures help keep our community healthier, and we work with that goal in mind. We offer many different service lines to our community, read more about each one below!
Our Primary Care providers offer the wellness services you’d like when you’re feeling fine, and the urgent services you need when illness or injury strikes.
Public Safety is our unique service line in partnership with Marathon Health which is designed to provide medical assessments specific to first responders. This includes medics, police officers, sheriff staff, firefighters, 911 telecommunicators and similar.
We are able to provide medical and mental health provider resources for the correctional environment. Our providers embrace the unique challenges of providing cost-effective, quality care in the detention environment. We understand the unique challenges of managing patients during their incarceration. At Reserve Health, we’re committed to providing excellent medical care. We believe that our patients deserve the best care, despite those challenges.
Reserve Health offers convenient access to comprehensive mental health services. This includes psychiatric evaluation and care including medication management. Our team includes psychiatrists, psychiatric physician assistants and nurse practitioners, licensed clinical social workers, counselors and nurse case managers.
Our state of the art physical therapy department can help you overcome injuries, recover from surgery, or reach your conditioning and fitness goals with the help of our physical therapists, exercise physiologists, and health coaches.
Top Benefits
- Health insurance
- Dental insurance
- Vision insurance
- Paid time off
- Vacation stipend
- Malpractice insurance
- Licensure support
- Continuing medical education allowance
- Retirement savings plan
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