Travel Nurse RN - Psychiatric
Manchester, CT
First Connect Health
5x8 hrs, Nights
Referral Bonus

RN - Inpatient Dual Diagnosis (Psych)

Location: Manchester, CT

Contract Duration: 12 Weeks 

Shift: Nights (23:00 – 07:30) | 5x8-Hour Shifts (40 Hours Weekly)

Position Status: Open (1 Vacancy)

Job Summary

Seeking a seasoned Behavioral Health RN for their Inpatient Dual Diagnosis unit. This specialized unit treats patients navigating the intersection of acute psychiatric disorders and substance use disorders. Because this is a night-shift role, you will be responsible for maintaining a therapeutic and safe environment during critical hours, managing detoxification protocols, and responding to acute behavioral escalations.

Key Responsibilities

• Dual Diagnosis Care: Provide integrated nursing care for patients with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders.
• Withdrawal Management: Monitor and document withdrawal symptoms using standardized scales (e.g., CIWA for alcohol or COWS for opioids); administer medical tapers as ordered.
• Crisis De-escalation: Utilize CPI (Crisis Prevention Intervention) techniques to manage patient agitation or aggression, prioritizing the least restrictive interventions.
• Safety & Rounding: Conduct rigorous safety checks and environmental rounds to mitigate risks of self-harm or contraband.
• EMR Transition Support: Maintain accurate records during the facility's transition from MediTech to Epic; proficiency in Epic is required to assist with this workflow change.
• Medication Administration: Safely administer psychiatric medications and manage medical comorbidities common in the dual-diagnosis population.

Requirements & Qualifications

• Experience: Minimum 3 years of Acute Inpatient Psych experience.
• Education: Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or higher.
• Licensure: Active Connecticut (CT) RN License.
• Certifications: AHA BLS and CPI (Crisis Prevention Intervention) are strictly required.
• Technical Skills: Must have Epic experience.
• Policy Note: Local candidates are not being considered for this specific travel contract.

Unit & Facility Details

• Unit: Inpatient Dual Diagnosis.
• Cost Center: 91011.707050.
• Shift Length: 8 hours only (12-hour shifts are not an option on this unit).
• Schedule: 5 shifts per week, including every other weekend/holiday rotations as assigned.
• On-Call: No on-call requirement..

Clinical Spotlight: The Dual Diagnosis Night Nurse

In a dual-diagnosis environment, the "NOC" shift is a balance of psychiatric stability and medical vigilance. You aren't just monitoring for suicidal ideation; you are also watching for the physical signs of respiratory depression or autonomic instability during the detox process. Your role is to bridge the gap between behavioral health and internal medicine, ensuring that a patient’s physical withdrawal symptoms don’t trigger a psychiatric crisis in the middle of the night.

Manchester is a bustling town just east of Hartford, offering great local parks and easy access to the Connecticut shoreline.