NURSE EDUCATOR/RESOURCE NURSE

Position Summary

The Resource Nurse / Nursing Educator – Behavioral Health provides clinical expertise, education, and real‑time support to Psychiatric Nursing staff to promote safe, therapeutic, and evidence‑based care in a behavioral health setting. This role supports nursing practice related to psychiatric assessment, milieu management, de‑escalation, restraint and seclusion standards, medication administration, and documentation, while reinforcing regulatory compliance and patient safety. The Resource Nurse serves as a clinical role model and trusted educator, supporting staff development without direct disciplinary authority.

Qualifications

Required

• Current, unencumbered Registered Nurse (RN) license in the applicable state.
• Minimum 3–5 years of Behavioral Health or Psychiatric nursing experience.
• Demonstrated clinical competence in psychiatric nursing practice.
• Strong communication, coaching, and interpersonal skills.

Preferred

• Prior experience in nursing education, charge nurse, or preceptor roles.
• Certification in Psychiatric‑Mental Health Nursing (RN‑BC or equivalent).
• Experience with restraint and seclusion training or Behavioral Health regulatory compliance.
• Experience with quality improvement or staff development initiatives.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Behavioral Health Clinical Resource Support

• Serves as a clinical resource for nursing staff regarding psychiatric nursing care, patient assessments, medication administration, and documentation.
• Provides just‑in‑time coaching and guidance related to:
• Crisis intervention and de‑escalation techniques
• Therapeutic communication
• Milieu management
• Suicide risk and safety assessments
• Supports staff during high‑risk or complex patient situations.
• Reinforces trauma‑informed and recovery‑oriented care principles.
• Assists with patient care during staffing needs as appropriate, while maintaining primary education and support responsibilities.

Education and Staff Development

• Participates in the orientation, onboarding, and mentoring of new Behavioral Health nursing staff.
• Provides education and competency validation related to:
• Behavioral Health nursing standards
• Observation levels and safety precautions
• Restraint and seclusion policy and monitoring requirements
• Psychiatric medications and side‑effect monitoring
• Develops and delivers unit‑based education, skills labs, and refresher training.
• Identifies learning gaps and provides targeted education and remediation.
• Supports annual competencies, regulatory training, and skills verification.