Travel RN - Psychiatric

Assignment Overview Shift:

Nights, 3x12hrs

Hours:

36 hrs/wk

Start Date:

May 18, 2026

Length:

13 weeks

Openings:

1 Description American Traveler is hiring an experienced RN for a Behavioral Health Unit (Psychiatric) position requiring at least 1 year of psych experience and comfort with physical restraints, working 12-hour night shifts at a Level 3 Trauma facility. Details Work setting is an acute care Behavioral Health Unit (BHU) within a Level 3 Trauma hospital The BHU consists of two sub-units: an Intensive Psychiatric Unit (IPU) with 10 beds and an enclosed nurses' station with in-room cameras, and a Progressive Psychiatric Unit (PPU) with 8 beds and an open nurses' station with no in-room cameras Patient population includes adults 19 years and older with diagnoses such as substance use disorders, detox, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder, anxiety, depression, eating disorders, and geri-psych Nurse-to-patient ratios: IPU — 2 RNs with 1 tech per 10 patients; PPU — 1 RN with 1 tech per 8 patients Charting is performed in Epic; training provided on-site 12-hour night shifts (6p-6a) with scheduling made 4-6 weeks in advance Block scheduling (3 consecutive shifts) may be accommodated upon request Every 3rd weekend rotation required (Friday, Saturday, Sunday); some travelers may be placed on a dedicated weekend schedule (every Fri, Sat, Sun) No telemetry or IV therapy on this unit Travelers typically do not float to other hospital areas, though may occasionally be assigned as a 1:1 sitter Low census periods result in the full shift being cancelled rather than a standby requirement Requirements Active NE or Compact RN license required Current BLS certification (AHA or ARC) required Current CPI (Crisis Prevention Intervention) certification required Minimum 1 year of psychiatric nursing experience required Must be comfortable performing physical restraints including 4-point and chair restraints Epic EMR experience preferred; on-site training provided Additional Information Responsibilities include rounding, medication administration, patient assessments, crisis intervention, diabetic management, wound care, and breathing treatments/inhalers A dedicated wound care RN is available for consultation; the charge nurse handles admissions Charge nurse is present on every shift and is counted as one of the IPU RNs; manager and house supervisor are also available for escalation Respiratory therapy is available via medical floor consult; BHU RNs administer breathing treatments and inhalers; some patients use CPAP for OSA Medical detox is initiated on medical floors prior to transfer to the BHU; no strict BAC cutoff for transfer eligibility Average patient length of stay is 6-7 days, though some stays extend significantly longer Orientation consists of a meeting with the nurse manager for Epic training followed by 2 paired shifts with a floor RN on the assigned shift Unit staff is a mix of senior and newer nurses and is described as a welcoming, close-knit team Holiday coverage may be required based on unit need RN scrub color is navy blue First-time travelers are welcome to apply