Registered Nurse 2 - Pediatric BEST Team - Weekend Days

Vanderbilt Health is seeking a Registered Nurse 2 for the Pediatric BEST (Behavioral Emergency Support Team) to provide acute behavioral crisis support in a medical hospital setting. This full-time position works weekends (7am-7pm, 24 hours per week) with children and youth as part of a small multidisciplinary team.

You will respond to behavioral events throughout your shift, working with patients who exhibit behavioral challenges, have mental health diagnoses, or experience difficulties adhering to medical care. The role focuses on crisis intervention, prevention, and behavioral health support for patients admitted to inpatient units and those receiving care in the Pediatric Emergency Department. When not actively responding to crises, you will collaborate with the team to identify patients at risk for behavioral events and provide proactive support to patients, families, and staff to prevent crises.

Clinical Setting

This position is based within Vanderbilt Health, the region's largest comprehensive academic health system with eight hospitals and over 180 clinics. You will work in pediatric inpatient units and the Pediatric Emergency Department.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct patient care, including assessment, management, and treatment planning for patients with behavioral and mental health needs by responding to behavioral crisis events
• Lead crisis response effort debriefs following behavioral emergencies
• Provide direct patient care through proactive rounding on behavioral health patients
• Provide education and support to care teams regarding behavioral health diagnoses and interventions
• Collaborate with medical teams to ensure stabilization and treatment according to scope of practice and training
• Incorporate cultural sensitivity and language preferences into care delivery
• Document care interventions, observations, and monitoring in compliance with policy
• Participate in transfer of care and communicate special considerations as needed
• Comply with all behavioral health-related policies to ensure safety for patients, staff, and self
• Provide patient and family education tailored to identified needs
• Maintain patient rights and confidentiality of health information
• Engage in lifelong learning and integrate new knowledge into practice
• Lead and participate in mock crisis drills and training sessions
• Collaborate with and serve as consultant for other health team members in the education of behavioral health
• Offer guidance and oversight for interventions involving behavioral health care
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to ensure coordinated care
• Uphold ethical practices and maintain professional boundaries
• Contribute to a positive and supportive work environment
• Apply evidence-based practices and research findings to clinical decision-making
• Monitor safety within the work environment and report hazards or errors
• Participate in quality improvement initiatives to enhance patient outcomes and workflows
• Ensure equipment functionality for safe patient care
• Demonstrate flexibility and commitment during times of change

Required Qualifications

• Active Registered Nurse license
• 2-3 years of pediatric clinical experience, preferably in an emergency or acute care setting
• Minimum of two years of psychiatric or behavioral health experience in a medical setting
• Ability to organize and manage multiple tasks effectively
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Skills in coordination, delegation, and team collaboration
• Critical thinking and rapid decision-making abilities
• Ability to remain calm and manage verbal and physical responses in stressful situations
• Ability to establish rapport and use therapeutic communication techniques
• Knowledge of normal and abnormal growth and development across the age continuum
• Familiarity with assessment, management, and treatment of behavioral health patients
• Knowledge of crisis management and de-escalation strategies

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing or related field

Licenses and Certifications

• Completion of Marcus crisis prevention training program within orientation (required)

Schedule

• Weekend Days: 7am-7pm
• 24 hours per week
• Full-time position

Benefits

• Affordable high quality health plan options
• Dental and/or vision plan
• 403(b) retirement plan
• Paid time off (flex PTO)
• Tuition reimbursement and adoption assistance (maximums applied)
• Short and long-term disability
• Subsidized backup childcare
• Current inpatient nursing supplemental pay program available