Travel Nurse RN - Psychiatric
Elmira, NY
First Connect Health
5x8 hrs, Evenings
Referral Bonus

RN Inpatient Psych – Behavioral Health | Long-Term Assignment

Job ID: CCA-72294 

Location: Elmira, NY 

Department/Unit: Behavioral Health / Inpatient Psychiatry (BSU 6560) 

Assignment Dates: 11/22/2026 – 03/13/2027 

Duration: 16 weeks 

Shift: Evenings, 3:00 PM–11:30 PM 

Schedule: Five 8-hour shifts per week

Experience Required: 3 years 

Scrubs: Navy blue 

Floating: May float to a similar unit, including the inpatient addiction rehabilitation unit

Critical Submission Guardrails

• Experience: 3 years of experience required.
• Certification: BLS required.
• Specialty: Inpatient psychiatric / behavioral health nursing experience.
• Schedule: Five evening shifts per week, 3:00 PM–11:30 PM.
• Weekends and Holidays: Every other weekend and holidays required.
• Blocked Scheduling: Must be agreed upon in advance.
• Weekend Requests: Scheduled weekends off cannot be approved without coverage unless previously specified within the RDO.
• Floating: Must be willing to float to a similar inpatient unit.
• Charge Nurse Duties: Will be trained for charge nurse responsibilities.

Job Summary & Clinical Scope

• Provide nursing care on a 25-bed acute inpatient psychiatric unit.
• Care for patients experiencing acute psychosis, depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, suicidal or homicidal ideation, and dual diagnoses.
• Rotate through nursing responsibilities, including charge nurse duties, admission assessments and coordination, and medication administration.
• Conduct patient rounds, monitor vital signs, support daily care, and facilitate therapeutic groups.
• Apply de-escalation techniques to manage behavioral crises and support patient safety.
• Participate in restraint procedures only as a last resort after de-escalation techniques fail; security support is available during crises.
• Coordinate emergency medical transfers when necessary, as the hospital does not have an emergency department on-site.
• Maintain patient assignments while collaborating with the interdisciplinary behavioral health team.

Unit Highlights

• Capacity: 25-bed acute inpatient psychiatric unit.
• Patient Ratio: Up to 5:1, often lower.
• Staffing Model: Licensed nursing staff and Mental Health Assistants, with dedicated charge nurse and admission nurse responsibilities.
• Clinical Environment: Acute behavioral health with an emphasis on de-escalation and patient safety.