Registered Nurse, Behavioral Health

Job Description

Position Summary
Administer nursing care to ill or injured persons by assisting in caring for patients by giving direct care. The RN will coordinate and deliver quality general and psychiatric nursing care to patients hospitalized for treatment of substance abuse, dual diagnosis, or psychiatric or emotional disorders. The RN will assume direct responsibility for observation, delegation, and leadership of the unit staff and patients. The RN will serve actively and constructively as a member of the multi-disciplinary team, supporting the organization, program, and unit philosophy of care. The RN will ensure the safety and well-being of each patient. The RN ensures all medical orders are followed, initiates and follows treatment planning, and acts as a patient advocate at all times.
Essential Functions

• Will assess the patient and plan care within set timeframes and document findings according to policies
• Will oversee and supervise the shift
• Demonstrates leadership through duties that may include delegating tasks such as groups, close observation, meal supervision, etc
• Will also oversee staff to ensure nursing policies and procedures are followed and exemplary patient care is consistently delivered by self and all members of the team
• Will monitor patient for change of condition and respond accordingly up to and including notification of the physician
• RN will follow hospital policy for medication administration
• RN will consistently use empathy, dignity, and respect when interacting with patients
• Delivery of quality nursing care to ensure that goals of the treatment plan are properly executed following hospital policies and procedures and demonstrated nursing competencies
• Assists/performs comprehensive nursing assessments on all patients

Additional Information

• Reports to: Nurse manager or Chief Nursing Officer FLSA- none exempt
• Previous experience in a psychiatric health care facility, with direct experience working with chemical dependency, dual diagnosis, psychiatric and geriatric patients preferred. Experience in patient assessments, family motivations, treatment planning and communication with external review organizations or comparable entities.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
Education: Graduate from an accredited program of professional nursing or relevant state licensure required.


Experience: Previous experience in a psychiatric health care facility, with direct experience working with chemical dependency, dual diagnosis, psychiatric and geriatric patients preferred. Experience in patient assessments, family motivations, treatment planning and communication with external review organizations or comparable entities.


License: Current unencumbered license to practice by the State Board of Nursing.


Certifications: CPR certification and Crisis Prevention Training (CPI) within 30 days of employment and prior to any patient contact. Must be at least 21 years of age.


May be required to work flexible hours and overtime.

About Us

Lifepoint Health is a leader in community-based care and driven by a mission of Making Communities Healthier. Our diversified healthcare delivery network spans 29 states and includes 63 community hospital campuses, 32 rehabilitation and behavioral health hospitals, and more than 170 additional sites of care across the healthcare continuum, such as acute rehabilitation units, outpatient centers and post-acute care facilities. We believe that success is achieved through talented people. We want to create places where employees want to work, with opportunities to pursue meaningful and satisfying careers that truly make a difference in communities across the country.

About the Team

We employ and provide care to people from all walks of life. We are committed to promoting healing, providing hope, preserving dignity and producing value with an inclusive workforce in which diversity is leveraged, respected, and reflective of the patients, family members, customers and team members we serve.