Behavioral Health – Full-Time NP/PA

If it’s possible, you will find it at Atrium Health — the leading community-focused academic healthcare system serving North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. We invite Advanced Practice Providers (APPs) to discover all that we can do when we bring healing hearts, inquisitive minds, and visionaries together on our Behavioral Health team at Atrium Health in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Atrium Health is seeking an experienced, full-time Advanced Practice Provider specializing in Behavioral Health to provide comprehensive psychiatric and behavioral health services within our Emergency Department and Psychiatric Observation Unit.

This hybrid position is open to board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners (PMHNP-BC) and Physician Assistants (PA) who are trained and proficient in the delivery of psychiatric services. The provider will perform in-person and virtual psychiatric evaluations, medication management, and treatment services for patients experiencing acute and chronic mental health and substance use disorders.

Working collaboratively with psychiatrists and multidisciplinary healthcare teams, the APP will play a key role in ensuring timely psychiatric evaluations, patient stabilization, appropriate treatment interventions, and effective coordination of care. This position supports continuity of care and essential shift coverage within the psychiatric emergency department, helping facilitate timely patient dispositions and safe transitions across levels of care.

Position Details

Full-Time
Hybrid role incorporating in-person and virtual psychiatric services
Emergency Department / Psychiatric Observation Unit
Schedule: Variable days and evenings
Weekends and holidays required
No call responsibilities
Adult and child/adolescent psychiatric patient populations
Acute and chronic mental health and substance use disorders
Teaching opportunities with residents and/or APP Fellows
Eligible for excess shift, PTO, and performance incentive bonuses
$2,500 and 5 days of Continuing Medical Education (CME)
Collaborative, multidisciplinary care environment

Position Qualifications

Nurse Practitioner (NP) Requirements

Graduation from an accredited Nurse Practitioner program
Master’s Degree or Doctorate in Nursing Practice
Current license to practice as a Nurse Practitioner in North Carolina
Current board certification as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP-BC) through a nationally recognized certifying body
Current prescriptive privileges and DEA license
Current BLS certification for healthcare providers through the American Heart Association (AHA)

Physician Assistant (PA) Requirements

Graduation from an accredited Physician Assistant program
Current license to practice as a Physician Assistant in North Carolina
Current certification through the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) preferred
Current or pending Certificate of Added Qualifications (CAQ) in Psychiatry preferred
Current prescriptive privileges and DEA license
Current BLS certification for healthcare providers through the American Heart Association (AHA)

Additional Qualifications

One or more years of experience in psychiatry or behavioral health preferred
Experience providing psychiatric services in an emergency department, observation unit, or other high-acuity clinical setting preferred
Strong clinical judgment, critical thinking, and interpersonal communication skills
Ability to assess, diagnose, stabilize, and manage patients experiencing acute psychiatric conditions
Proficiency in conducting comprehensive psychiatric evaluations, medication management, and treatment planning
Ability to assess and monitor co-occurring medical conditions associated with mental illness
Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively within a fast-paced, multidisciplinary healthcare environment

Job Summary

The Behavioral Health Advanced Practice Provider provides specialized psychiatric evaluation, consultation, stabilization, and treatment services to patients experiencing acute and chronic behavioral health conditions within Atrium Health’s Emergency Department and Psychiatric Observation Unit.

The provider will conduct in-person and virtual psychiatric evaluations, assess and diagnose psychiatric conditions, manage medications, and develop individualized treatment recommendations to support patient safety, stabilization, and appropriate disposition. Patient populations may include individuals experiencing depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, substance use disorders, and withdrawal-related psychiatric symptoms.

Working in collaboration with psychiatrists, emergency medicine providers, nursing staff, social workers, case managers, and other healthcare professionals, the APP will facilitate timely access to psychiatric services, promote effective care coordination, and support safe transitions across levels of care.

This hybrid position provides essential behavioral health coverage during variable day and evening shifts, including weekends and holidays, contributing to continuity of care, improved patient access, and efficient clinical workflows within the psychiatric emergency department.

When you join Atrium Health, you become part of an inclusive culture that values collaboration, innovation, and compassion. Practice where your voice is valued, your expertise in behavioral health is supported, and you have the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on patients navigating acute and complex psychiatric conditions.

Join our Behavioral Health team and help expand access to timely, compassionate, and comprehensive psychiatric care for the patients and communities we serve.