Registered Nurse (RN) | Behavioral Health Adolescent Unit

Location: Avera Behavioral Health Center, Sioux Falls

Worker Type: Regular – 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.

This role is ideal for a nurse who:

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

Position Highlights

• Adolescent program expanding to a 40-bed unit
• Child unit: 14 beds
• Adolescent Residential unit: 8 beds
• Opportunity to work alongside 70+ coworkers
• Opportunity to positively impact the lives of adolescents and children
• Patient-to-nurse ratio: 7–8 patients per RN
• Self-scheduling program available

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
• Review physician prescriptions, communicate the nursing care plan, and coordinate with healthcare providers
• Provide physical, emotional, psychological, and spiritual support to patients, families, and friends
• Confer with physicians and develop nursing care plans by obtaining medical histories, examining patients, and documenting conditions
• Establish patient care goals, instruct patients and families on conditions, medications, and self-care skills, and provide resources
• Evaluate patient care by measuring 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
• Manage patient care supplies by checking stock, anticipating needs, and expediting orders
• 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) license – active in the state of practice (upon hire)

Preferred Qualifications

• 1–3 years of experience working in a clinical environment

Expectations and Standards

• Commitment to Avera’s mission, vision, core values, and social principles
• Promote values of compassion, hospitality, and stewardship
• Uphold Avera’s CARE standards (Communication, Attitude, Responsiveness, Engagement)
• Maintain confidentiality and work effectively in a team environment
• Comply with safety principles, laws, and regulations (e.g., CMS, The Joint Commission, DHHS, OSHA)

Benefits

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