Registered Nurse - Behavioral Health Inpatient Services - Day/Evening

Work in a 26-bed adult inpatient psychiatric unit, featuring a 16-bed less acute unit and a 10-bed acute care unit. Provide 24/7 inpatient psychiatric care including diagnostic assessments, stabilization, and personalized treatment plans.

About the Role

Join a multidisciplinary team of Psychiatry, Nursing, Licensed and Unlicensed Professional Counselors, Occupational Therapy, RN Care Management, and Social Work. Thrive in a supportive and engaging team culture that fosters personal and professional growth. Access nursing leadership pathways, preceptorships, and a graduate nurse residency program to advance your career. Benefit from educational support for nursing certifications and mentorship from a dedicated Nursing Educator, Clinical Managers, and a Licensed Professional Counselor leader.

Responsibilities

• Implement, direct, and coordinate patient care using the nursing process: assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation.
• Recognize and treat physical and psychosocial changes unique to the age/population served.
• Demonstrate safe medication practice and maintain a professional image.
• Complete chart checks to ensure no missed orders and accurately transcribe physician’s orders.
• Demonstrate therapeutic communication skills and assess patient education needs.
• Attend at least 50% of staff/committee meetings and in-services for the unit.
• Demonstrate leadership through the nursing process and supervision while maintaining accountability for treatment and patient outcomes.
• Act as a resource person regarding patient care, specialty area, orientation, and teaching of staff.
• Analyze assessment data, identify priority problems, and document on Plan of Care in PCS for patients, families, and significant others.
• Use effective problem-solving skills to plan patient care and identify critical factors evidencing changes in patient condition.
• Complete and document discharge assessment against plan of care goals.
• Initiate and maintain Intravenous Therapy according to IV standards.
• Respond appropriately to emergency situations and utilize proper body mechanics.
• Safely position, transfer, and transport patients.
• Function as a virtual nurse as assigned, including admissions, discharges, education, documentation, and collaboration with bedside nursing staff.
• Apply physical and mechanical restraints and complete RN face-to-face assessment (or restraint competency for BHU).
• Describe interventions for least restrictive alternatives to restraints and demonstrate de-escalation techniques.
• Respond to behavioral health emergencies appropriately.
• Facilitate group therapy and individual support (completed group therapy competency).
• Provide psycho-education (individual and group) to patients.
• Follow role and responsibility in assessing and reporting physical, emotional, sexual abuse, and neglect in all populations.
• Demonstrate understanding of unit-level leadership roles and identify Manager on Call.
• Participate in MOCK, medical emergencies, and/or Rapid Response Team (RRT).
• Perform CIWA, AIMS, DAST/AUDIT, and Suicide Risk Assessments.
• Perform accurate physical and psychosocial assessments.
• Participate in the development and review of safety plans.
• Describe Level of Care Policy, including responsibility and handoff process for every 15-minute safety checks.
• Administer medications as prescribed.
• Demonstrate knowledge of growth and development principles over the life span of the assigned patient population.
• Assess and interpret patient age-specific data and provide appropriate treatment.
• Provide direct patient care to assigned patient age group(s).
• Comply with all applicable safety regulations and report actual/potential errors and hazardous conditions.
• Maintain established policies and procedures, objectives, quality assessment, safety, environmental, and infection control standards.

Requirements

• Graduate of an accredited School of Nursing required; Bachelor of Science in Nursing preferred.
• Evidence of participation in educational programs to update and maintain current knowledge and clinical skills.
• Experience applying customer service behaviors and communication skills required.
• Previous nursing experience in a behavioral/psychiatric specialty area preferred; two years of experience in Behavioral/Psychiatric nursing required for Outpatient Behavioral Health Services.
• Child Abuse Recognition and Reporting Training in accordance with Act 31 of 2014 required.
• Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Clearance and fingerprinting required.

Qualifications

• Eligible for or currently licensed as a Registered Professional Nurse in Pennsylvania.
• Certification in specialty (e.g., PMH-BC) preferred.
• CPR certification required.
• Proficiency in cardiac monitor interpretation, de-escalation techniques, and behavioral health emergency response.

Benefits

• Flexible self-scheduling.
• Shift and weekend differentials for added compensation.
• Educational support for nursing certifications and mentorship.
• Safe staffing practices and low nursing turnover.

Schedule

• Full time (72 hours biweekly).
• 12-hour Day/Evening shift.
• Every third weekend.