RN - Behavioral Health, Adult Inpatient - New York, NY - DS 26-13910

Job Description

Job Description

Job Title: Registered Nurse (RN) – Behavioral Health Adult Inpatient
Location: New York, NY
Job Type: Contract
Duration: 14 weeks
Shift: Night Shift
Schedule: 3 days per week | 7:00 PM – 7:30 AM | 34.5 hours per week
Local Candidates Required: Yes
Traveler Candidates Required: Yes

Pay Rate
Local: $2,000 – $2,400/week
Traveler: $2,500 – $2,700/week

Position Overview

We are seeking an experienced Behavioral Health RN to provide safe, patient-centered nursing care to adults in an inpatient mental health setting.

Required Qualifications

• Associate Degree in Nursing (ASN/ADN) from an accredited nursing program.

• Active New York State RN license with primary source verification through NYSED.

• Minimum 2 years of behavioral health nursing experience.

• Ability to assess mental status, recognize behavioral changes, and identify patient safety risks.

• Knowledge of behavioral health conditions, psychiatric medications, therapeutic interventions, and inpatient mental health care.

• Experience administering medications and monitoring therapeutic effects, side effects, and adverse reactions.

• Ability to use therapeutic communication and appropriate de-escalation techniques.

• Understanding of suicide prevention, patient observation, crisis response, and behavioral health safety protocols.

• Current BLS certification from the American Heart Association (AHA).

• Strong clinical documentation, communication, critical-thinking, and decision-making skills.

• Ability to collaborate effectively with psychiatrists, therapists, social workers, and other healthcare professionals.

• Ability to work in a fast-paced inpatient behavioral health environment and respond to changing patient needs.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct nursing care to adult patients admitted to an inpatient behavioral health unit.

• Conduct initial and ongoing nursing assessments, including physical health, mental status, emotional well-being, and behavioral observations.

• Monitor changes in mood, behavior, mental status, and overall clinical condition.

• Develop, implement, and evaluate individualized nursing care plans with the interdisciplinary treatment team.

• Administer prescribed medications and monitor patients for therapeutic effects, side effects, and adverse reactions.

• Observe patients for psychiatric deterioration, escalating behavior, self-harm risk, and other safety concerns.

• Apply de-escalation techniques and therapeutic communication to manage challenging behaviors.

• Maintain a safe, structured, and supportive therapeutic environment.

• Follow protocols for suicide risk assessment, violence prevention, and patient observation.

• Respond to behavioral health emergencies according to facility policies and training.

• Document nursing assessments, medication administration, patient behaviors, interventions, and treatment progress in the electronic health record.

• Educate patients about medications, treatment plans, coping strategies, and discharge instructions as appropriate.

• Coordinate care with psychiatrists, therapists, social workers, and other healthcare professionals.

• Encourage participation in therapeutic activities and recovery programs.

• Assist with discharge planning and communicate ongoing care needs as appropriate.

• Maintain confidentiality and comply with facility policies, infection prevention standards, and nursing regulations.

• Provide effective shift handoffs to ensure continuity of care during overnight hours.

Special Requirements

• Current AHA BLS certification is required.