Registered Nurse (RN) - Behavioral Health Unit
Larkin Community Hospital - South Miami Campus | 615 - Behavioral Health Unit (BHU)
Location
South Miami, FL
Status / Shift
Per Diem (POOL)
FLSA Status
Non-Exempt
Job Summary
The Registered Nurse (RN) provides professional nursing care to patients on the Behavioral Health Unit (BHU) at Larkin Community Hospital South Miami Campus. The RN assesses physical and behavioral health needs, develops and evaluates individualized nursing plans of care, administers prescribed medications and treatments, and coordinates care with the interdisciplinary team. Care emphasizes a safe, structured therapeutic environment, trauma-informed communication, suicide and self-harm prevention, de-escalation, and timely response to changes in condition. Responsibilities include patient and authorized support-person education, supervision of delegated care, and discharge safety planning. The RN practices in accordance with the Florida Nurse Practice Act, hospital policies and procedures, applicable behavioral health and patient-rights requirements, professional nursing standards, and validated competencies.
Position Qualifications/Requirements
Education/Experience
- Associate Degree in Nursing (ASN) or higher; Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) preferred.
- Previous professional Registered Nurse experience in an acute-care hospital setting preferred.
- Previous psychiatric or behavioral health nursing experience, particularly in an inpatient setting, preferred.
- Experience with psychiatric nursing assessment, psychotropic medication monitoring, therapeutic communication, and crisis prevention preferred.
- Successful completion of hospital and departmental orientation and validation of behavioral health, patient-safety, and emergency-response competencies.
Licenses/Certifications
- Current, active, and unrestricted license as a Registered Nurse in the State of Florida, or a valid multistate Registered Nurse license with current privilege to practice in the State of Florida.
- Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification through the American Heart Association or other hospital-approved provider.
- Current hospital-approved crisis prevention and intervention training as required by departmental policy and assigned responsibilities.
- Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) or other advanced life support certification as required by hospital or departmental policy and the assigned patient population.
- Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing Certification (PMH-BC) through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) preferred.
Skills/Requirements
- Knowledge of professional nursing principles, the nursing process, and psychiatric nursing practice.
- Knowledge of lifespan development, family and support systems, and nursing care appropriate to the assigned patient population.
- Ability to perform comprehensive physical, psychosocial, and mental-status assessments and to develop, implement, and evaluate individualized nursing plans of care.
- Ability to assess and respond to suicide, self-injury, aggression, elopement, and other patient-safety risks.
- Knowledge of trauma-informed care, therapeutic communication, professional boundaries, crisis prevention, verbal de-escalation, and least restrictive approved interventions.
- Knowledge of psychotropic medications, age-appropriate medication safeguards, therapeutic effects, and adverse reactions.
- Ability to recognize physical illness, medical deterioration, substance-related concerns, and other conditions requiring prompt evaluation.
- Knowledge of patient rights, confidentiality, consent, and authorized involvement of families, legal representatives, and support persons.
- Knowledge of applicable Florida behavioral health requirements, including the Baker Act, and required reporting procedures for suspected abuse, neglect, exploitation, and other safety concerns.
- Ability to maintain a structured therapeutic environment and identify behavioral health environmental hazards.
- Knowledge of infection prevention, fall prevention, skin protection, and safe patient handling.
- Strong clinical judgment, prioritization, organization, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to respond effectively to behavioral and medical emergencies within validated training.
- Ability to provide developmentally appropriate education to patients and authorized support persons.
- Ability to delegate, supervise, and evaluate patient-care and observation activities appropriately.
- Ability to collaborate with psychiatry, nursing, therapy, social services, case management, pharmacy, and other disciplines.
- Ability to use electronic medical records and document clinical findings, safety interventions, and patient responses accurately.
- Commitment to patient dignity, cultural sensitivity, confidentiality, evidence-based practice, and professional development.
Physical Requirements
- Stand and walk for extended periods while providing nursing care, supervision, and patient-safety rounds.
- Sit for periods of assessment, documentation, education, and therapeutic activities.
- Frequently bend, stoop, kneel, reach, push, pull, and perform repetitive movements.
- Assist with lifting, transferring, repositioning, and transporting patients using approved techniques and required assistance.
- Push and maneuver beds, wheelchairs, stretchers, clinical equipment, and supply carts with appropriate assistance.
- Demonstrate sufficient manual dexterity to administer medications, provide nursing care, and operate assigned clinical equipment.
- Assess patients, observe behavioral changes, read clinical information, and effectively receive patient statements, staff communications, and alarms.
- Maintain attention to patient behavior, clinical condition, and environmental safety during a changing workload.
- Communicate clearly and respond promptly to behavioral and medical emergencies using required training and team assistance.
- Perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.
Equal Opportunity Employer
Larkin Health System is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Larkin Health System is a drug-free workplace.