Correctional Registered Nurse

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Arlington County requires all applicants to thoroughly complete each section of the application, including prior job responsibilities, duties, and supplemental questions. While you may attach a resume, it will not replace a completed application. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

The Arlington County Sheriff’s Office is seeking a dedicated and compassionate Correctional Registered Nurse (RN) to join our healthcare team within the Arlington County Detention Facility (ACDF). This position plays a critical role in delivering comprehensive, safe, and timely medical and behavioral health care to incarcerated individuals, supporting wellness, stabilizing acute and chronic conditions, and contributing to a secure therapeutic environment.

Correctional healthcare offers a fast-paced, highly collaborative clinical setting where RNs work closely with medical providers, mental health clinicians, and sworn staff to address diverse physical and behavioral health needs. The RN performs assessments, plans and implements nursing care, responds to emergencies, and ensures compliance with professional standards, correctional regulations, and legal documentation requirements. 

Major Job Duties:

• Performing medical, psychiatric, and withdrawal assessments; prioritizing care based on risk; conducting intake screenings; and determining whether suicide watch or observation protocols are necessary;
• Identifying urgent medical issues and determining whether patients can be managed in-house or require referral to the provider or EMS; providing follow-up care and monitoring chronic conditions such as asthma, diabetes, and hypertension;
• Coordinating labs, vitals, medication refills, and ongoing clinical needs; maintaining thorough and compliant documentation of all assessments, interventions, refusals, and emergencies;
• Administering daily medications, including controlled substances and psychotropics; monitoring for side effects, diversion risks, and the effectiveness of treatment plans;
• Monitoring individuals on suicide watch or mental health observation; providing crisis support; and communicating behavior and safety concerns to mental health staff;
• Responding to medical and psychiatric emergencies within housing units; initiating emergency protocols, performing CPR/first aid, and coordinating with EMS and custody staff;
• Assessing and managing withdrawal symptoms using established clinical protocols (e.g., CIWA, COWS); determining when to initiate withdrawal protocols or escalate for provider review;
• Ensuring adherence to safety procedures, infection control practices, HIPAA regulations, and facility guidelines; participating in audits, quality assurance reviews, and documentation improvement efforts;
• Coordinating discharge planning and continuity of care when applicable; completing patient handoffs and collaborating with the nursing team to ensure consistency of care; 
• Assisting as the charge RN, providing guidance, oversight and clinical accountability for LPN staff during assigned shifts; and
• Performing other duties as assigned, including incident reporting, managing competing priorities, and adjusting workflow to meet clinical and legal deadlines.

Minimum Qualifications:  

• Graduation from an accredited nursing program with an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or higher;
• Considerable experience providing nursing care in a psychiatric setting serving clients with mental health, substance abuse or developmental disabilities;
• Active Licensed Registered Nurse (RN) License in the state of Virginia; and
• Basic Life Support (BLS) certification.

Substitution(s): Additional education can be substituted for the experience requirement.

Desirable Qualifications: Preference may be given to applicants with a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing, Health Care Administration, Public Health, Business Administration, or a related field as well as experience in one or more of the following:

• Nursing experience in a correctional, forensic, emergency, behavioral health, or detox environment;
• Conducting intake screenings, suicide risk assessments, and acute triage;
• Documenting within electronic health record systems;
• Working in fast-paced clinical settin