Travel
Psych
Asheville, NC
Behavioral Health Nurse Lead
Shift: 7:00 PM – 7:00 AM
Contract Duration: 26 weeks
Location: Asheville, NC
Guaranteed Hours: 36 per week
About the Role
The facility's emergency department is seeking an experienced Behavioral Health Nurse Lead to provide specialized , assessment, and clinical leadership for patients presenting with psychiatric and behavioral health needs—whether primary or secondary diagnoses.
Key Responsibilities
- Conduct immediate and comprehensive risk assessments for all new behavioral health presentations, evaluating elopement risk, suicidal or self-harm ideation, aggression potential, and detoxification needs
- Develop individualized behavioral management plans with de-escalation strategies, communication approaches, and reinforcement techniques
- Provide real-time education and coaching to nursing staff on trauma-informed care, verbal de-escalation, and therapeutic boundaries
- Perform routine rounding on all behavioral health patients; reassess safety needs and intervention effectiveness
- Lead or support de-escalation efforts during behavioral health crises, including immediate response to CODE BERT activations
- Collaborate with psychiatry, intake teams, and ED leadership on patient flow and disposition planning
- Review behavioral health documentation for accuracy, completeness, and regulatory compliance
- Serve as a clinical resource and advocate for patients and families throughout their ED stay
- Participate in interdisciplinary care planning and quality improvement initiatives
Required Qualifications
- Current RN license
- Behavioral health or psychiatric nursing experience
- Knowledge of patient rights, advance directives, and confidentiality requirements
- Strong communication and de-escalation skills