Job Title: Registered Nurse (RN) – Behavioral Health Adult Inpatient
Location: New York, NY
Job Type: Contract
Duration: 14 weeks
Shift: Night Shift
Schedule: 3 days per week | 7:00 PM – 7:30 AM | 34.5 hours per week
Local Candidates Required: Yes
Traveler Candidates Required: Yes
Pay Rate
Local: $2,000 – $2,400/week
Traveler: $2,500 – $2,700/week
Position Overview
We are seeking an experienced Behavioral Health RN to provide safe, patient-centered nursing care to adults in an inpatient mental health setting.
Required Qualifications
Associate Degree in Nursing (ASN/ADN) from an accredited nursing program.
Active New York State RN license with primary source verification through NYSED.
Minimum 2 years of behavioral health nursing experience.
Ability to assess mental status, recognize behavioral changes, and identify patient safety risks.
Knowledge of behavioral health conditions, psychiatric medications, therapeutic interventions, and inpatient mental health care.
Experience administering medications and monitoring therapeutic effects, side effects, and adverse reactions.
Ability to use therapeutic communication and appropriate de-escalation techniques.
Understanding of suicide prevention, patient observation, crisis response, and behavioral health safety protocols.
Current BLS certification from the American Heart Association (AHA).
Strong clinical documentation, communication, critical-thinking, and decision-making skills.
Ability to collaborate effectively with psychiatrists, therapists, social workers, and other healthcare professionals.
Ability to work in a fast-paced inpatient behavioral health environment and respond to changing patient needs.
Responsibilities
Provide direct nursing care to adult patients admitted to an inpatient behavioral health unit.
Conduct initial and ongoing nursing assessments, including physical health, mental status, emotional well-being, and behavioral observations.
Monitor changes in mood, behavior, mental status, and overall clinical condition.
Develop, implement, and evaluate individualized nursing care plans with the interdisciplinary treatment team.
Administer prescribed medications and monitor patients for therapeutic effects, side effects, and adverse reactions.
Observe patients for psychiatric deterioration, escalating behavior, self-harm risk, and other safety concerns.
Apply de-escalation techniques and therapeutic communication to manage challenging behaviors.
Maintain a safe, structured, and supportive therapeutic environment.
Follow protocols for suicide risk assessment, violence prevention, and patient observation.
Respond to behavioral health emergencies according to facility policies and training.
Document nursing assessments, medication administration, patient behaviors, interventions, and treatment progress in the electronic health record.
Educate patients about medications, treatment plans, coping strategies, and discharge instructions as appropriate.
Coordinate care with psychiatrists, therapists, social workers, and other healthcare professionals.
Encourage participation in therapeutic activities and recovery programs.
Assist with discharge planning and communicate ongoing care needs as appropriate.
Maintain confidentiality and comply with facility policies, infection prevention standards, and nursing regulations.
Provide effective shift handoffs to ensure continuity of care during overnight hours.
Special Requirements
Current AHA BLS certification is required.