Registered Nurse (RN) | Behavioral Health Adolescent Unit

Location: Avera Behavioral Health Center, Sioux Falls

Worker Type: Regular | Shift: Rotating days, evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays

Pay Range: $32.50 - $48.50 (actual pay rate dependent upon experience)

About the Role

This position may be eligible for a sign-on bonus of up to $15,000.

• Nurses with 3+ years of experience: Every 3rd weekend, every other holiday
• Nurses with < 3 years of experience: Every other weekend, every other holiday

The Avera Behavioral Health Adolescent & Child Unit provides a structured, age-appropriate therapeutic environment for children and adolescents to learn problem-solving, healthy coping skills, and goal-setting.

Why This Role Matters

You will thrive in this setting if you:

• Enjoy working with children (ages 5–12) and adolescents (ages 13–17), as well as their families
• Have a passion for helping patients with conditions such as addiction, anxiety disorders, ADHD, depression, or suicidal behavior
• Appreciate an active, challenging care environment requiring critical thinking
• Value autonomous professional nursing practice
• Are motivated to deliver high-quality patient care in an energizing team environment

Unit Highlights

• Adolescent program expanding to a 40-bed unit
• Child unit: 14 beds
• Adolescent Residential unit: 8 beds
• Opportunity to work alongside 70+ coworkers
• 1 RN to 7–8 patient ratio
• Self-scheduling program

Responsibilities

• Deliver nursing care by developing a nursing diagnosis, establishing care objectives, defining interventions, and providing physical, emotional, psychological, and spiritual support to patients, families, and friends
• Provide patient care by reviewing physician prescriptions, communicating the nursing care plan, coordinating with healthcare providers, and offering support to patients and families
• Develop nursing care plans by obtaining medical histories, examining patients, documenting conditions, and conferring with family and friends
• Teach healthcare requirements by setting patient care goals and instructing patients, families, and friends on conditions, medications, and self-care skills
• Evaluate patient care by measuring health outcomes against standards, reviewing records, and adjusting care plans as needed
• Maintain a safe, secure, and healthy patient care environment by adhering to infection-control policies, medication procedures, and legal regulations
• Document patient care services by charting in patient and department records
• Maintain patient care equipment by following operating instructions, troubleshooting breakdowns, and performing preventive maintenance
• Keep patient care supplies ready by checking stock, anticipating needs, and verifying receipt
• Maintain competence in nursing capabilities as outlined by leadership

Requirements

• Ability to work specified hours, including visual acuity and effective communication skills
• Registered Nurse (RN) with an active license in the state of practice (required upon hire)
• 1–3 years of experience working in a clinical environment (preferred)

Benefits

• PTO available from day one for eligible hires
• Up to 5% employer matching contribution for retirement
• Career development through hands-on training and mentorship