Registered Nurse - Pediatric Psychiatric Unit
Bangor, ME
Host Healthcare
4x10 hrs, Evenings
Referral Bonus

Registered Nurse - Pediatric Psychiatric Unit

Location

• Bangor, Maine

Job Overview

• Immediate start needed
• Must be willing to float between pediatric and adult psychiatric units as needed (manager approval required if not comfortable floating to pediatrics)
• Facility is a free-standing acute inpatient psychiatric unit with 94 beds (50 pediatric, 44 adult)
• Patients are medically cleared from the Emergency Department before admission
• Patient population includes involuntary and voluntary admissions, ages 5 and up (pediatrics: 5-18 years; adults: 18+ including geriatric)
• No forensic patients or inmates; locked unit but not for holding arrested patients

Patient Diagnoses

• Pediatric: Eating Disorders, Depression, Suicidal Ideation, Anxiety, Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Gender Dysphoria
• Adult: Schizophrenia, Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), Bipolar Disorder, Eating Disorders, Suicidal Ideation, Anxiety
• Occasionally Substance Use Disorder or detox patients (medically cleared)
• Use of seclusion rooms when necessary
• Specialized therapies offered including pet therapy, group sessions, and community gardens

Patient Ratios

• RN Day shift: 1:5-6 patients
• RN Night shift: 1:13 patients with resource support
• Psych Techs:

  • Pediatrics: Day – 6 techs; Night – 2 techs
  • Adults: Day – 2 techs; Night – 2 techs

Required Qualifications

• Valid RN license in Maine
• Minimum 1 year of psychiatric nursing experience within the last year
• Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) or Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN)
• BLS certification
• Experience with de-escalation techniques
• Experience with physical restraints (chemical restraints are NOT used)
• Comfortability and experience facilitating group sessions

Orientation & Scheduling

• Orientation: 2 weeks total

  • Week 1: Monday-Friday, day shifts
  • Week 2: 12-hour shifts as scheduled
• Shift: 2:00 PM – 11:30 PM
• Hours per week: 36
• Weekend rotation: every other weekend (Saturday/Sunday)
• Modified self-scheduling with manager oversight to ensure coverage
• No on-call required
• Overtime available
• Holiday work expected on a rotating basis
• Time off requests up to 7 days allowed, with possible schedule adjustments to cover shifts

Unit Support

• Nurse Supervisor available evenings and weekends
• Nurse Manager available days; open communication encouraged
• House Administrator available overnight and weekends
• Charge Nurse may have patient assignments
• Psych Techs on all shifts
• Contracted phlebotomist for lab draws
• Nurse Practitioner onsite until 4:00 PM, then on call overnight
• Psychiatrist available for daily rounds and on call midnight to 6:00 AM
• Occupational Therapist available 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM, 7 days per week
• Security onsite but does not respond to patient escalations; staff respond instead

Charting System & Equipment

• Electronic Health Record: Cerner
• Medication dispensing: Pyxis

Additional Information

• Scrub color: any solid color, must be professional
• Free parking available
• Winter weather: heavy snow conditions expected
• Code leader protocol in place for patient escalations; travelers may serve as code leader
• Scenario-based de-escalation training offered every other week; MOAB educator/trainer onsite
• First-time travelers accepted

Required Pre-Employment Documentation & Checks

• Annual core competencies
• Clinical references (2)
• Criminal background check
• Drug screen
• Various health and immunization verifications (e.g., Hep B, MMR, TDAP, Varicella)
• License/certification verification
• Skills checklist and competency validation
• Other standard employment and compliance documentation as required