Psychiatric RN – Adolescent Unit

Location: Westbrook, Maine
Shift: 7:00 PM – 7:30 AM
Schedule: 36 hours/week
Contract: Travel
Openings: 3
Experience Required: 2+ years of psychiatric nursing experience
Unit: Adolescent Psychiatric Unit
Call: None
Weekend Requirement: Yes
Float: Potentially

Position Summary

We are seeking an experienced Psychiatric RN to provide nursing care to adolescent patients in an acute behavioral health setting. The ideal candidate will have recent Adolescent Psychiatric Unit experience and strong skills in behavioral health assessment, crisis intervention, de-escalation, and therapeutic patient care.

Roles & Responsibilities

• Provide safe, compassionate, and age-appropriate nursing care to adolescent psychiatric patients.

• Perform comprehensive psychiatric and nursing assessments, including ongoing evaluation of mental and behavioral status.

• Develop, implement, and evaluate individualized nursing care plans based on patient needs.

• Monitor patients for changes in mood, behavior, thought processes, and overall clinical condition.

• Administer medications safely and accurately while monitoring therapeutic effects and potential adverse reactions.

• Maintain a safe and therapeutic environment for patients, staff, and visitors.

• Utilize effective de-escalation and crisis intervention techniques when managing agitation, aggression, or other behavioral emergencies.

• Recognize signs of escalating behaviors, self-harm risk, suicidal ideation, psychosis, mania, and other psychiatric concerns and respond appropriately.

• Establish professional, therapeutic relationships with adolescent patients while maintaining appropriate boundaries.

• Provide emotional support, education, and guidance to patients and their families as appropriate.

• Collaborate with psychiatrists, therapists, social workers, behavioral health staff, and other members of the interdisciplinary team.

• Participate in treatment planning, patient care conferences, and multidisciplinary rounds.

• Document assessments, interventions, medication administration, patient responses, and progress accurately in the medical record.

• Maintain confidentiality and comply with facility policies, regulatory requirements, and behavioral health standards.

• Assist with admission, transfer, and discharge processes.

• Provide patient and family education regarding treatment plans, medications, coping strategies, and follow-up care.

• Respond calmly and professionally to challenging situations while maintaining patient dignity and safety.

• May float to other appropriate behavioral health areas based on operational needs.

Required Qualifications

• Active RN license.

• Minimum 2 years of recent psychiatric/behavioral health nursing experience.

• Recent Adolescent Psychiatric Unit experience is required.

• Strong acute psychiatric nursing experience.

• Demonstrated de-escalation and crisis management skills.

• Ability to work effectively with patients experiencing behavioral and emotional challenges.

• Ability to remain calm, professional, and composed in high-stress situations.

Patient Population

Patients may present with conditions including:

• Thought disorders

• Psychosis

• Personality disorders

• Mania

• Behavioral and emotional disturbances

• Other acute psychiatric conditions

Work Environment & Dress Code

• Business casual attire.

• No ripped jeans.

• No shorts.

• No T-shirts or sweatshirts with logos.

• Closed-toe shoes required.