Behavioral Health Registered Nurse
Salem, North Carolina
Novant Health Forsyth Medical Center

Registered Nurse – Behavioral Health

Location: Winston Salem, North Carolina
Employment Type: Travel/Contract
Contract Length: 13 weeks

Job Summary

• Work on an inpatient locked behavioral health unit serving adults and geriatrics with a wide range of mental health diagnoses including substance use, anxiety, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia-spectrum disorders, trauma-related disorders, and more.
• Unit spans two floors with varying acuity; staff rotate between floors.
• No call requirement. Floating to med-surg units may be required occasionally.
• Weekend schedule only: Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
• Shift hours: 6:45 AM – 7:15 PM (12-hour shifts), 36-48 hours per weekend.
• Target nurse-to-patient ratio: 1:7.

Required Qualifications

• Valid RN license in North Carolina.
• Minimum 2 years of behavioral health nursing experience, including experience within the last year.
• Certification in MOAB (Management of Aggressive Behavior) or CPI (Crisis Prevention Institute).
• Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) or Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN).
• Experience using EPIC electronic health record system.

Orientation & Training

• 32 hours of unit orientation required, including hospital orientation during the first week. Attendance at all classes is mandatory.
• Must complete required background checks, education verifications, and health screenings prior to start.
• Required certifications include BLS and ACLS (American Heart Association or American Red Cross accepted).
• Competency exams and medication/pharmacology competency testing required as applicable.
• Dysrhythmia/EKG competency exam required with a minimum passing score of 82%.
• Must complete Non-Novant Health Worker Clinical Education Orientation modules (approx. 8-10 hours for acute care).
• Additional facility-specific trainings and compliance documents must be completed before or shortly after start date.

Patient Population & Unit Details

• Adult and geriatric patients with all mental health diagnoses.
• Behavioral health unit split between 2nd and 9th floors; staff rotate between floors and acuity levels.
• Psych techs assist with vital signs, blood glucose, milieu management, and patient monitoring.
• Onsite leadership includes nurse manager, assistant nurse manager, or house supervisor; virtual clinical nursing support available 24/7.
• Therapy team available 7 days per week conducting group sessions.

Equipment & Systems

• Use of EPIC electronic health record system required.
• Medication dispensing via Pyxis system.
• Communication using SBAR (Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation) technique.
• Patient monitoring includes ObservSmart proximity-based safety tool and personal panic alarms.

Scheduling

• Weekend shifts only: Friday, Saturday, Sunday.
• 12-hour day shifts from 6:45 AM to 7:15 PM.
• Floating to med-surg units may be required.

Health & Compliance Requirements

• Physical exam within 1 year of start; if past positive TB, physical within 30 days required and updated annually.
• Negative TB test or chest x-ray within required timeframes.
• Required immunizations or titers for Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Varicella, Hepatitis B (facility-specific declination form if titer negative).
• Drug screening required within 30 days of start (9-panel urine drug screen).
• Fit testing for N95 mask or completion of PAPR training required.
• Seasonal flu vaccination or approved exemption required during flu season.
• Background checks including local, county, federal, and sex offender registry within 90 days of start.
• Compliance with facility-specific confidentiality, bloodborne pathogens, and hospital policy acknowledgments.

Dress Code & Uniform

• Navy blue scrubs required.

Additional Notes

• No return-to-office (RTO) after booking allowed; call-offs or additional RTO may result in cancellation.
• Photo for badge required prior to start (passport style, white background, business attire).
• Candidates must complete a password registration and I-Learn account setup for access to required online training modules.
• Radiation badge required only if assigned to radiation-related areas (not applicable for this role).

This position offers a challenging and rewarding opportunity to work in a specialized behavioral health setting with a supportive team and comprehensive orientation. Weekend-only schedule is ideal for those seeking focused work periods.