Registered Nurse (RN) – Behavioral Health & Psychiatric Nursing

Registered Nurse (RN) – Behavioral Health & Psychiatric Nursing | Day Shift

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Job Details

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• Job Title: Registered Nurse (RN) – Behavioral Health & Psychiatric Nursing
• Location: Indianapolis, Indiana
• Work Arrangement: Onsite
• Onsite Requirement: Full-time onsite work at a state-operated hospital facility
• Number of Openings: 4
• Employment Type: Contract
• Estimated Start Date: November 9, 2026
• Estimated End Date: February 7, 2027
• Contract Duration: Approximately 13 weeks
• Submission/Application Deadline: November 4, 2026 , no new submissions accepted after this date
• Shift: Day shift
• Scheduled Shift Hours: 6:30 AM–7:30 PM, with a 30-minute lunch
• Shift Duration: Listed as a 12.5-hour day
• Weekend Requirement: Flexible scheduling, including weekend and holiday rotations; typically 3 out of 6 weekends, approximately every other weekend
• Schedule Flexibility: May require rotating shifts, evenings, weekends, irregular hours, or on-call availability depending on operational needs
• Orientation: Mandatory three-week orientation beginning November 9, 2026; candidates must be available for the complete orientation period without missing time
• Candidate Pay Rate: $55.00 per hour
• Education: Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) from an accredited college
• Professional License: Active Indiana Registered Nurse (RN) license or a license from a state participating in the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC), required at submission
• Certifications: CPR certification required
• Behavioral Intervention Training: Must remain current; training will be provided during orientation
• Electronic Medical Records: Cerner experience preferred by the skills description; other EMR experience accepted
• Flu Vaccination: Proof of flu vaccination or documented religious/medical declination required

Position Overview

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The Registered Nurse will direct and coordinate patient care and provide clinical supervision of support staff. The role involves assessing patient health problems and needs, developing and implementing nursing care plans, administering medications and treatments, and maintaining accurate medical records.

The nurse will provide care for patients with a range of medical diagnoses and varying degrees of illness, collaborate with other clinical staff, educate patients and families, and help maintain a safe clinical environment.

Education

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• Associate Degree in Nursing from an accredited college

Required Skills / Experience

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• Indiana RN license or a license from a Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) participating state, required at the time of submission
• 1 year of previous psychiatric experience
• Proficiency in computer skills and the ability to learn programs used for maintaining electronic medical records
• Knowledge and/or ability to work with the adult population, including geriatrics, as well as adolescents aged 12 and older
• CPR certification
• Ability to provide nursing care and exercise sound clinical judgment across a range of medical diagnoses and illness severity
• Good interpersonal skills and effective verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to understand and apply medical and facility terminology
• Ability to use Microsoft Office applications and electronic patient records
• Ability to serve as a patient advocate
• Knowledge of and ability to interpret nursing and facility policies and procedures
• Ability to collaborate with clinical disciplines, patients, families, guardians, healthcare representatives, and support staff
• Ability to maintain patient safety and follow applicable infection-control procedures

Preferred Skills / Experience

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• Cerner EMR Experience , Preferred: Cerner experience is preferred in the skills description; other electronic medical record experience is accepted
• Current Behavioral Intervention Training , Classification Conflict: The narrative states that the nurse must stay current with behavioral intervention training, while the skills matrix lists current training as required but also labels it preferred and states that training will be provided during orientation. Confirm the applicable requirement with the recruiter

Job Responsibilities

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• Prioritize and organize the daily care of patients
• Make patient care assignments and assist in developing treatment plans in collaboration with other clinical staff
• Assess and document patients' physical and psychosocial status from admission through discharge
• Direct support staff to coordinate unit workflow and communicate problems to unit supervisors
• Administer medications and treatments according to facility policies and procedures
• Develop and implement nursing care plans based on nursing diagnoses or treatment plan changes
• Complete medication-administration supervision monitors and clinical observation notes for support staff
• Complete required nursing notes, transfer forms, and other medical records
• Educate patients and family members regarding medications, procedures, treatment goals, and objectives
• Respond to and intervene in emergency situations and situations involving agitated patients
• Provide orientation and support to staff assigned to the unit
• Ensure that appropriate safety and infection-control standards are maintained
• Collaborate with other clinical disciplines to support patient care
• Communicate nursing principles to colleagues and support staff
• Interact professionally with patients, families, guardians, and healthcare representatives while protecting patient privacy
• Serve as a patient advocate and promote patient safety and welfare
• Communicate and work with support staff to promote a safe environment
• Communicate with children and families on a regular basis
• Partner with agency personnel and relevant stakeholders to complete assigned functions
• Provide appropriate customer service to agency partners and other individuals interacting with the facility
• Exercise sound judgment and effective communication when interacting with facility residents or offenders
• Perform other duties, responsibilities, and activities as assigned

Work Schedule & Orientation

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The role requires flexibility to accommodate unit staffing requirements, including weekend and holiday rotations. The typical weekend requirement is 3 out of 6 weekends, approximately every other weekend.

The source specifies the following orientation schedule:

• Week 1: Wednesday, 8:00 AM–4:00 PM; Thursday and Friday, 8:00 AM–12:00 PM
• Week 2: Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM–4:00 PM
• Week 3: Four shifts shadowing on the unit; the source lists the hours as 6:30 PM–7:30 AM
• Attendance: Candidates cannot miss any time during the three-week orientation period

The orientation schedule contains a night-shift time range despite the position being described as a day-shift role. Candidates should confirm the Week 3 schedule before accepting the assignment.

Additional Candidate Requirements

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• Scheduled time-off requests must be submitted to the manager for approval at least four weeks in advance
• Absences exceeding two weeks require advance approval from contract management, and contact information must be provided so the resource can be reached during the absence
• In the event of illness or an emergency requiring a missed shift, the candidate must contact the unit manager or nursing services at least four hours before the scheduled shift
• Candidates must be willing to float to other units, including pediatrics, within their scope of practice
• All compliance requirements must be completed and uploaded in Vector at least five days before the start date
• A completed eligibility check must be uploaded with the candidate submission
• The candidate must be available for the scheduled November 9, 2026, orientation

Physical Requirements

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• Ability to run short distances to provide immediate care, protection, or attention to patients
• Ability to walk, stand, climb stairs or ladders, bend, stoop, push, pull, and perform similar movements as required
• Ability to lift and transport items weighing up to 50 pounds, with or without equipment assistance
• Ability to perform patient restraints in accordance with departmental policies and procedures
• Keen observational and hearing skills to recognize potentially dangerous situations

Working Conditions

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• Work is performed in a state-operated hospital facility
• Potential exposure to infectious diseases and hazardous materials
• Possible exposure to gas, fumes, dust, grease, noise, vibration, and soiling of clothing or skin
• Requires attention to safety due to activities that may involve risk of injury or loss of life
• Appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) must be used when necessary
• The role may involve periods of high stress or pressure

Key Competencies

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• Critical thinking
• Effective communication
• Stress management
• Navigating organizations

Ideal Candidate

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The strongest candidate is likely to be a licensed Registered Nurse with at least one year of previous psychiatric experience, current CPR certification, and the ability to work with adults, geriatric patients, and adolescents aged 12 and older.

A competitive candidate would bring sound clinical judgment, effective communication, experience with electronic medical records, and the ability to respond appropriately to behavioral escalations and emergency situations.

Cerner experience is a useful differentiator, although other EMR experience is accepted. Candidates should also be comfortable with onsite hospital work, floating to other units within their scope of practice, weekend and holiday rotations, physical demands, and completing the full orientation schedule.

Candidates who cannot commit to the November 9, 2026, start date, the complete orientation period, or the stated schedule flexibility may not be a suitable match for this assignment.