Registered Nurse (RN), Residential Psychiatry

Cincinnati Children's•College Hill, TX

14h•$37 - $43•Onsite

About The Position

The Registered Nurse provides psychiatric nursing care to youth in a residential setting at Cincinnati Children’s College Hill Campus. The role focuses on creating a safe, stable, and nurturing environment through trauma-informed, developmentally appropriate care; behavioral assessment; therapeutic communication; group programming; and individualized nursing interventions. The nurse collaborates with an interdisciplinary team and families to support patient safety, engagement, treatment progress, and discharge goals. The position is part-time at 24 hours per week, with rotating day and evening shifts and every other weekend required. The nurse administers medications, monitors patient conditions, maintains observation levels, responds to behavioral and clinical crises, documents care and progress, and supports regulatory compliance and continuous improvement. A Therapeutic Crisis Intervention certification course must be passed during orientation. External hires without a BSN or MSN must enroll in a BSN or MSN program within one year of hire and complete it within five years.

Requirements

Associate degree or diploma-prepared RN education from an ACEN-, CCNE-, or NLN CNEA-accredited institution.
Active Ohio RN license; other state licensure may be required.
Foreign graduates must have their license validated through TruMerit according to Ohio Board of Nursing code for Foreign Graduates.
Pass the Therapeutic Crisis Intervention Certification Course during orientation.
External candidates hired without a BSN or MSN must enroll in a BSN or MSN program within one year of hire and complete the program within five years of hire.

Nice To Haves

BSN from an ACEN- or CCNE-accredited institution.
MSN.

Responsibilities

Create a safe, stable, and nurturing environment using trauma-informed and developmentally appropriate strategies for patients experiencing psychiatric challenges.
Implement a token economy to reinforce positive behaviors and support skill-building and progress toward discharge goals.
Prevent and respond to crises using Therapeutic Crisis Intervention strategies, including verbal de-escalation and physical interventions when necessary due to imminent risk.
Lead and intervene in behavioral crises using strategies based on the Stress Model of Crisis and individualized care plans.
Perform safety checks, room and patient searches, and monitor environmental risk factors.
Maintain compliance with departmental policies, hospital protocols, and regulatory standards, including CMS and Joint Commission requirements.
Assess patient care needs, apply clinical judgment, and develop care plans.
Administer medications and monitor their effectiveness.
Develop, coordinate, and implement nursing interventions addressing physical and mental health needs.
Support activities of daily living and provide developmentally appropriate care in group and individualized settings.
Maintain assigned observation levels accurately and compassionately.
Recognize changes or deterioration in patient condition and escalate concerns as needed.
Lead or support structured group programming and adapt delivery to developmental needs.
Engage patients, observe behaviors, and use observations to inform treatment progress and problem-solving.
Build therapeutic rapport, maintain professional boundaries, and advocate for patient needs.
Maintain current knowledge of accreditation standards and regulatory requirements; complete certifications, licensure renewals, and Safety College trainings on schedule.
Partner with nurse councils, Magnet representatives, and leadership to promote safety practices and continuous performance improvement.
Identify and promptly report safety and compliance concerns.
Document assessments, interventions, incident reports, safety checks, and patient progress accurately.
Review and ensure timely, accurate documentation by Behavioral Health Specialists, particularly regarding incidents, safety checks, and behavioral observations.
Communicate clinical priorities between Behavioral Health Specialists and the interdisciplinary team and help coordinate team members.
Participate in family-centered rounds; provide updates and education to families and caregivers, using teach-back and other strategies to support understanding.
Contribute to shift reports, handoffs, and interdisciplinary care planning.
Collaborate with physicians, advanced practice RNs, social workers, allied health providers, patients, and families to support continuity of care.
Assign tasks such as safety checks, group facilitation, and patient support, and monitor completion, quality, and safety.
Engage in shared decision-making through unit-based councils or communication with peers and leaders.
Participate in performance reviews, peer feedback, and clinical education.
Support student and new nurse onboarding through role modeling, mentoring, and shared learning.
Collaborate across disciplines using the Interprofessional Practice Model.
Assess cultural factors and individual preferences and integrate them into nursing care.
Advocate ethically for patients and families, particularly when patients cannot advocate for themselves.