Behavioral Health Registered Nurse
Saint Louis, MO
Access Healthcare
3x12 hrs, Days

Job Opportunity: Behavioral Health Registered Nurse (RN)

Location: Saint Louis, Missouri
Employment Type: Travel/Contract
Contract Length: 13 weeks

Job Details

• Shift: 3 shifts per week, 12-hour day shifts
• Patient Ratios: 1:6
• Weekend Requirement: Every other weekend
• Floating: Within service line and to all Behavioral Health units
• Block Schedule: Not accommodated
• Locals Accepted: No (must be outside 75-mile radius)
• Pending License Accepted: Yes
• On-call: No
• Guaranteed Hours: 3 shifts per 13 weeks
• RTO Restrictions: No more than 7 days off between shifts

Patient Population & Unit Description

• Adult psychiatric and geriatric patients (18 years or older)
• Patients with co-morbid medical conditions requiring med-surg approach
• Diagnoses may include dementia, depression, Parkinson's Disease, bipolar disorder, anxiety
• Some patients require pre-op prep for Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)
• Locked unit, inpatient behavioral health setting

Required Skills & Experience

• Years of Experience: Minimum 1 year in specialty (Behavioral Health Nursing)
• First-time travelers: Accepted, but must pass clinical screening
• Experience with:

  • Geriatric and adult inpatient psychiatric care
  • Locked unit and medical/psychiatric care
  • Substance use/chemical dependency
  • Medication administration (PO, rectal, IM, IV, SC, etc.)
  • Starting and maintaining IVs
  • Blood glucose monitoring
  • Foley catheter insertion and maintenance
  • Presence in milieu
  • Restraint application
  • Charge nurse duties as needed

Certifications & Licenses

• Required Certifications:

  • BLS (Basic Life Support)
  • CPI (Crisis Prevention Institute) Blue Card or Management of Assaultive Behavior (MAB) if applicable
• Preferred/Additional Certifications:

  • ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support) – required for most units except Behavioral Health
  • Other certifications may be required based on unit (refer to unit-specific requirements)
• License: Valid Registered Nurse (RN) license for Missouri (pending licenses accepted)
• IV Certification: Required if applicable (for LPN/LVN, not applicable here)

Special Requirements

• Experience with Epic electronic health record system
• Medical and psychiatric nursing experience required
• Ability to float to other Behavioral Health units with similar patient populations
• Must be able to work with patients who have mobility issues and complex diagnoses
• No on-call required
• No block scheduling accommodation

Compliance & Background Checks

• Government-issued ID required
• Criminal background check within 6 months, including statewide and nationwide searches
• Education verification required
• Quarterly EPLS/GSA/SAM and HHS/OIG checks
• Fingerprinting required for assignments in Illinois long-term care or rehab units (not applicable here)
• Drug testing within 1 year of start, must include specific panels and be current throughout assignment
• Physical exam within 1 year of start
• Fit mask testing required and must be current
• Immunizations and health screenings required:

  • Tdap vaccine or declination
  • Negative TB test or chest x-ray within required timeframes
  • Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Varicella immunity or vaccination/declination
  • Seasonal flu vaccination or approved exemption during flu season
• Facility-specific documents including HIPAA acknowledgement, confidentiality form, hand hygiene, dress code, and orientation modules must be completed

Additional Information

• No local candidates accepted (must be outside 75-mile radius)
• Floating within Behavioral Health units only
• No block scheduling accommodations
• First-time travelers accepted but require clinical screening
• Must meet all compliance and credentialing requirements prior to start

This position is ideal for RNs with behavioral health experience seeking a travel contract in a Magnet, Level I Trauma, teaching hospital setting with a focus on adult and geriatric psychiatric care.