Pediatric Behavioral Health RN
Kansas City, Missouri
Crittenton Children's Center

Pediatric Behavioral Health Registered Nurse (Travel/Contract)

Location: Kansas City, Missouri
Contract Length: 13 weeks

Job Summary

• Acute In-Patient Pediatric Psychiatric Behavioral Health RN role
• Night shift: 3 shifts per week, 12 hours each (7:00 PM to 7:30 AM)
• Patient ratio: 1 RN to 12 patients on all shifts (days, nights, weekends)
• Facility type: Pediatric Psychiatric Hospital with 46 staffed beds
• Magnet designated facility
• Charting system: EPIC
• Parking: Free
• Scrub color: Navy blue for RNs

Required Qualifications

• Valid RN license in Missouri
• Associate of Science in Nursing / Associate Degree in Nursing
• Minimum 2 years of Pediatric Behavioral Health experience, including experience within the last year
• Experience with 1:12 patient ratio
• Behavioral Health experience
• BLS certification issued by the American Heart Association
• CPI (Crisis Prevention Institute) or MANDT certification

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Experience in treatment settings including: Child/Adolescents, Eating Disorders, Forensic, Geriatric, Locked Unit, Medical/Psych, Outpatient, Residential/Group Home, Substance Use/Chemical Dependency
• Care of patients with: Anxiety, Bipolar, Depressive, Eating, Personality, Psychotic, Schizophrenia-spectrum, PTSD, Substance Use, Suicidal behavior, Trauma- and Stressor-Related Disorders, Severe intellectual disabilities, Assault/violence, Congenital/Developmental, Degenerative disorders (Alzheimer’s, ALS, Parkinson’s)
• Emergency care skills: Cardiac arrest/CPR, emergent chemical restraints, physical hold protocols
• Legal knowledge: Use of seclusion, voluntary/involuntary commitment
• Medication administration: oral, rectal, IM, IV, SC routes; antianxiety, antidepressant, antipsychotic, mood stabilizers, sedatives/analgesics; starting and maintaining IVs
• Professional skills: blood glucose monitoring, lab value interpretation, seclusion protocols
• Therapeutic approaches: behavior management, crisis intervention, de-escalation, managing assaultive behavior, psychoeducation

Certifications and Competencies

• BLS (Basic Life Support) - AHA only
• MANDT or CPI (Crisis Prevention Institute) certification required
• Pediatric Pharmacology Competency Exam required
• Medication Test/Pharmacology Competency Exam required
• Color Blind Testing within 12 months of start
• Unit-specific competency exams, including Dysrhythmia/EKG competency exam (80% pass rate required)
• Physical exam within 1 year of start
• Fit mask (N95) testing required annually
• Immunizations and health requirements:

  • Negative TB test or chest x-ray within 1 year
  • Tdap vaccine or declination (expires every 10 years)
  • Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Varicella immunity or vaccination/declination as applicable
  • Drug testing within 1 year, including full panel (amphetamines, benzodiazepines, cocaine, opiates, etc.)
  • Seasonal flu vaccination or medical/religious exemption required during flu season (Sept-April)

Background and Compliance Requirements

• Criminal background check within 6 months of start (7-year search including statewide, nationwide, and international if applicable)
• Quarterly EPLS/GSA/SAM and HHS/OIG checks
• Missouri Family Care Safety Registry (MO FCSR) registration and results required (7 business days processing)
• Missouri Highway Patrol Check (annual renewal)
• Education verification of highest nursing degree required
• Fingerprinting required for Illinois long-term care or rehab assignments (not applicable here)
• Multiple facility-specific compliance documents required prior to start, including:

  • HIPAA Acknowledgement
  • Latex Allergy Questionnaire
  • Confidentiality Form
  • Regulatory Compliance Education (annual quiz with 80% passing score)
  • TB Questionnaire (annual)
  • Hand Hygiene Policy acknowledgment
  • Fingernail and Dress Code Policy acknowledgment
  • Orientation modules (approx. 16 hours) completed via online platform prior to start

Additional Information

• Must complete all required documentation and background checks promptly to avoid cancellation or delayed start
• Guaranteed minimum of 3 shifts over the 13-week contract
• No on-call required
• No block schedule accommodations
• No floating outside scope of practice
• References: Two professional references required, preferably supervisors within the last year
• Employment application and unit-specific skills checklist required within 1 year of start

This position is ideal for RNs with pediatric behavioral health experience seeking a travel contract in a specialized acute inpatient psychiatric setting. First-time travel nurses are accepted.