RN - Psych

Registered Nurse

Job Title: Registered Nurse

Profession: Nursing

Specialty: Pediatric Psychiatric Unit

Duration: 13 weeks

Shift: 7 PM - 7 AM

Hours per Shift: 12

Experience: Minimum 1 year of Behavioral Health nursing required; Pediatric experience preferred

License: Valid state nursing license

Certifications: BLS, MOAB (obtained on-site during orientation)

Must-Have: De-escalation experience, experience with physical restraints, ability to run groups, comfort with medication passes, and documentation skills

Description: Urgent start needed. Candidates must be willing to float between adult and pediatric patients as necessary. The facility is a free-standing acute inpatient facility. All patients come from an emergency department and are medically cleared. It is not typical to have lines, drains, tubes, etc. Admissions include both involuntary and voluntary patients. Pediatric patients range in age from 5 to 18 years old. Adult patients include individuals 18 years and older. Common pediatric diagnoses include eating disorders, depression, suicidal ideation, anxiety, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, and gender dysphoria. Common adult diagnoses include schizophrenia, major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, eating disorders, suicidal ideation, and anxiety. There are no forensic patients or inmates; the facility is locked but not to the extent of holding patients under arrest. Seclusion rooms are used when necessary. Occasionally, substance use disorder or detoxing patients on CIWA may present, but they must be medically cleared. The facility provides both traditional medical and psychiatric care, as well as specialized therapies such as pet therapy, group sessions, and community gardens. Patient ratios are as follows: RN Day: 1:5-6; RN Night: 1:13 with resource support; Psych Techs for Pediatrics: Day 6, Night 2; Psych Techs for Adults: Day 2 for both shifts. Support on the unit includes nurse supervisors available during evenings and weekends, a nurse manager present during the day, and a house administrator available overnight and on weekends. A psychiatrist conducts daily rounds and is on call overnight. Charting is done through the Cerner system. Nurses may float between all units for adults and pediatrics. Issues should be communicated to management for resolution. The scheduling includes a weekend rotation every other weekend. Holiday work is expected in rotation. Time off requests may be approved up to 7 days, but adjustments may be made if unavailable to work all shifts in a week. Travelers will sign up for preferred shifts which will be reviewed by management. If not signed up, travelers will be automatically assigned to vacant shifts. The scrub color is any solid color, but must be professional. Heavy snow conditions are expected during the winter. In case of escalation, a code leader will assign roles to staff while verbally de-escalating the patient. Travelers may function as the code leader and a debriefing form should be completed afterward. Scenario-based training occurs every other week for practice as needed. An educator/trainer for MOAB will be present on-site.