Behavioral Health Registered Nurse
Saint Louis, Missouri
Barnes-Jewish Hospital

Job Opportunity: Behavioral Health Registered Nurse (Travel/Contract)

Location: Saint Louis, Missouri
Contract Length: 13 weeks

Job Details

• Discipline: Registered Nurse
• Specialty: Behavioral Health
• Shift: 3 shifts per week, 12-hour day shifts
• Patient Ratio: 1:6
• Weekend Requirement: Every other weekend
• Floating: Within service line and to all Behavioral Health units
• Block Schedule: Not accommodated
• Local Candidates: Not accepted (75-mile radius restriction)
• Pending License: Accepted
• On-call: Not required
• Guaranteed Hours: 3 shifts per 13 weeks (cancelled shifts must be full shift length)
• RTO Restrictions: No more than 7 days off between shifts

Required Experience & Skills

• Years of Experience Required: Minimum 1 year in specialty
• Prior Travel Experience: Not explicitly required; first-time travelers accepted
• Special Skills:

  • Geriatric and adult psychiatric populations (18+ years)
  • Experience with locked units, inpatient behavioral health
  • Medical/Psych care and substance use/chemical dependency
  • Medication administration (PO, rectal, IM, IV, SC, etc.)
  • Starting and maintaining IVs
  • Blood glucose monitoring
  • Foley catheter insertion and maintenance
  • Restraint application and presence in milieu
  • Pre-op preparation for ECT
  • Ability to work as charge nurse as needed

Certifications & Licenses

• Required Certifications:

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

  • ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support) not required for Behavioral Health
• License:

  • Valid Registered Nurse license for Missouri (pending licenses accepted)

Patient Population & Unit Information

• Adult psychiatric and geriatric patients with some medical co-morbidities requiring med-surg approach
• Common diagnoses include dementia, depression, Parkinson’s disease, bipolar disorder, anxiety
• Some patients require mobility assistance and pre-op prep for ECT
• Facility is a Magnet & Teaching Hospital, Level I Trauma Center
• Charting system: Epic
• Scrub color: Navy

Compliance & Background Requirements

• Government-issued ID required
• Criminal background check within 6 months, including statewide and nationwide searches
• Quarterly EPLS/GSA/SAM and HHS/OIG checks
• Education verification of highest nursing degree required
• Drug testing within 1 year of start, must include standard panels and be current throughout assignment
• Physical exam within 1 year of start
• Fit mask testing required and must be renewed annually
• Immunizations and health documents required:

  • Tdap vaccine or declination
  • Negative TB test or chest X-ray with yearly questionnaire
  • Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Varicella immunity or vaccination/declination as applicable
  • Flu vaccination or medical/religious exemption required during flu season
• Facility-specific documents including HIPAA acknowledgement, confidentiality form, hand hygiene, dress code, and orientation modules must be completed prior to start

Additional Requirements

• Unit-specific competency exams and skills checklists required and must be updated annually
• Medication test/pharmacology competency exam required
• Dysrhythmia/EKG competency exam required for RNs in specialty areas (including Behavioral Health units if applicable)
• References: Two professional references required (supervisors preferred)

Notes

• First-time travelers are accepted but must be screened clinically
• Floating may include other Behavioral Health units within the hospital system
• No on-call duties required
• No block scheduling available
• Local candidates within 75 miles are not accepted

This position offers an opportunity to work in a high-acuity behavioral health setting within a Magnet and teaching hospital environment, providing care to adult and geriatric psychiatric patients with complex medical needs.