Registered Nurse - Behavioral Health

the Client • Winston Salem, NC

2d • Onsite

About The Position

This is a contract behavioral health travel nursing position in an onsite, hospital-based locked inpatient psychiatric unit in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The unit serves adult and geriatric patients across all mental health diagnoses and is divided between the second and ninth floors. Nurses rotate between both floors and are expected to work in every area of acuity. Floating to med-surg units may be required when needed.

The care team includes psych techs, lead psych techs, nursing leadership, and a therapy team that conducts groups seven days a week. An onsite nurse manager, assistant nurse manager, or house supervisor provides coverage, with virtual clinical nursing support available 24/7. The target nurse-to-patient ratio is 1:7. The position is scheduled for night shifts from 18:45 to 07:15, typically four 12-hour shifts, with 36–48 hours available and every other weekend required. No call is required. Unit orientation is 32 hours, and the nurse must be available for hospital orientation classes each day during the first week. Navy blue scrubs are required.

The role requires inpatient behavioral health nursing experience, including experience on a locked unit, and a minimum of two years of experience. MOAB certification and an RN license are required. EPIC experience is required. Flu vaccination is required, with medical or religious exemptions accepted. First-time travelers and local candidates are accepted. Applicants must be authorized to work for any U.S. employer; visa sponsorship is not available.

Requirements

• At least two years of experience.
• Inpatient behavioral health nursing experience.
• Experience working on a locked unit.
• RN license required.
• MOAB (Management of Assaultive Behavior) certification required.
• EPIC required.
• Flu vaccination required; medical or religious exemptions are accepted.
• Skills and experience covering substance use or chemical dependency; anxiety, bipolar, depressive, personality, post-traumatic stress, psychotic, schizophrenia-spectrum, trauma- and stressor-related, degenerative, and other listed disorders; and self-injurious or suicidal behavior.
• Ability to manage assaultive behavior and use emergent chemical restraints, physical hold protocols, seclusion, and voluntary/involuntary commitment procedures.
• Ability to administer antianxiety medications, antidepressants, antipsychotics, mood stabilizers, and sedatives or analgesics.
• Ability to perform blood glucose monitoring, interpret and communicate lab values, administer oxygen, and provide wound care and dressing changes.
• Ability to use behavior management, crisis intervention, de-escalation, and psychoeducation techniques.
• Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the United States; visa sponsorship is unavailable.
• Must be available for hospital orientation classes each day during the first week.
• Must work every other weekend.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with congenital or developmental disorders.
• Experience with profound impulse control issues.
• Experience starting and maintaining IVs.
• First-time travelers are accepted.
• Local candidates are accepted.

Responsibilities

• Provide inpatient behavioral health nursing care to adult and geriatric patients across mental health diagnoses on a locked unit.
• Rotate between the second and ninth floors and work in all areas of acuity as required.
• Administer and monitor medications, including antianxiety medications, antidepressants, antipsychotics, mood stabilizers, and sedatives or analgesics.
• Perform blood glucose monitoring, oxygen administration, wound care, and dressing changes; interpret and communicate lab values.
• Use behavior management, crisis intervention, and de-escalation techniques.
• Manage assaultive behavior and apply physical hold protocols, emergent chemical restraints, and seclusion procedures as required.
• Execute voluntary and involuntary commitment procedures.
• Provide psychoeducation to patients.
• Document in EPIC and use Pyxis for medication dispensing and SBAR for communication.
• Use ObservSmart for patient monitoring, personal panic alarms, and available public safety resources.
• Collaborate with psych techs, lead psych techs, the therapy team, and nursing leadership to maintain a safe therapeutic milieu.
• Float to med-surg units when needed, according to the float requirement.

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed