Travel Psychiatric Nurse (RN) - Louisville, Kentucky

Expand your psychiatric nursing expertise while supporting children and adolescents in a dynamic behavioral health environment. This contract role calls for a Registered Nurse with previous travel experience caring for pediatric behavioral health patients—your skills will be essential on a 23-bed unit specializing in acute psychiatric care for youth ages 4-12, often presenting with aggression, impulsivity, self-harm behaviors, trauma, and challenging placements.

Schedule/Hours:

• Three 12-hour shifts per week
• Weekend rotation: every third weekend
• No on-call requirements
• Holiday coverage as scheduled by the facility

Minimum Qualifications:

• Active RN license and BLS certification
• CPI certification (can be completed on site; must be able to safely transition a patient from standing to supine)
• At least six months of psychiatric RN experience, with successful completion of at least one travel assignment
• Strong de-escalation and milieu management skills for a broad age and functioning range
• Capability to manage multiple simultaneous escalated situations, seclusion/restraint decisions, IM medication and asthma intervention
• Experience working independently and managing a unit, including floating between children/adolescent/adult units as needed
• Proficiency with EMR (Cerner) and medication dispensing (Omnicell)

What You’ll Do:

• Deliver safe, compassionate care to children and adolescents experiencing acute psychiatric crises
• Collaborate with a multidisciplinary team, including therapists, case managers, dedicated response/security staff, and crisis responders
• Implement milieu management strategies and crisis interventions
• Administer medications and monitor physical and behavioral health
• Adapt to dynamic unit assignments and patient mixes based on facility needs
• Support a culture prioritizing employee and patient safety with comprehensive backup and safety resources

Benefits:

• Supportive leadership prioritizing safety and flexibility
• Paid orientation and mentorship
• Free parking and uniforms (Galaxy Blue scrubs)
• Engaged multidisciplinary support network, including onsite crisis resources

If you are dedicated to making a meaningful difference in pediatric mental health and can confidently manage a high-acuity psych unit, submit your application today to take the next step in your nursing journey.