Registered Nurse (RN) Inpatient Behavioral Health

Duke University; Durham (NC); Hybrid; USD 75,000 - 105,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation Assistance

Job summary

Duke Regional Hospital is seeking a Registered Nurse for the Behavioral Health Inpatient Unit in Durham, NC. The unit cares for patients with major depressive and bipolar disorders as well as schizophrenia, offering track scheduling and opportunities for certification bonuses.

The role requires BSN, NC RN licensure, and BLS. Schedule is three 12-hour night shifts per week, with leadership and team-collaboration responsibilities. Relocation assistance may be available for eligible staff.

Qualifications

• Graduate from an accredited BSN program.
• Current RN licensure in North Carolina.
• BLS certification required.
• New Graduate RN eligibility; Level II requires one year of RN experience.

Responsibilities

• Plan, provide, supervise and document professional nursing care following physician orders and policies.
• Delegate tasks and supervise other licensed and unlicensed care providers.
• Act as team leader or charge nurse for a group of patients or an entire unit as assigned.
• Monitor and maintain the environment of care, equipment, and resources.
• Participate in professional development and ongoing education opportunities.

Education

BSN degree

RN licensure in NC

Job description

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Registered Nurse (RN) Inpatient Behavioral Health

Work Arrangement: On-Site

Requisition Number: 273304

Regular or Temporary: Regular

Location: Durham, NC, US, 27704

Date: Sep 22, 2026

At Duke Health, we're driven by a commitment to compassionate care that changes the lives of patients, their loved ones, and the greater community. No matter where your talents lie, join us and discover how we can advance health together.

About Duke Regional Hospital

Pursue your passion for caring with Duke Regional Hospital in Durham, North Carolina. With 388 beds it is the second largest of Duke Health's four hospitals and offers a comprehensive range of medical, surgical, and diagnostic services, including orthopedics, weight-loss surgery, women's services, and heart and vascular services.

Duke Nursing Highlights

• Duke University Health System is designated as a Magnet organization
• Nurses from each hospital are consistently recognized each year as North Carolina's Great 100 Nurses.
• Duke University Health System was awarded the American Board of Nursing Specialties Award for Nursing Certification Advocacy for being strong advocates of specialty nursing certification.
• Duke University Health System has 6000 + registered nurses
• Quality of Life: Living in the Triangle!
• Relocation Assistance (based on eligibility)

Unit Overview

The Behavioral Health Inpatient Unit at Duke Regional Hospital is a 42-bed unit caring primarily for patients experiencing major depressive and bipolar disorders as well as schizophrenia. As part of the team, you’ll have the opportunity to advance your career through bonuses for psychiatric mental health certifications and annual crisis prevention training. Team members can also be part of the Charge RN Committee or Clinical Practice Counsel, which allow team members to guide policy and improve workflows. The Behavioral Health Inpatient Unit offers four-week-long track scheduling, designed to help all team members find balance with their personal and professional schedules in advance.

Schedule: Fulltime, three 12-hour shifts, Nights 7p-7a

General Description of the Job Class

Independently plan and provide professional nursing care for patients in accordance with physician orders and established policies and procedures. Provide nursing services to patients and families in accordance with the scope of the RN as defined by the North Carolina Board of Nursing.

Duties and Responsibilities of this Role

• Plan, provide, supervise and document professional nursing care utilizing the nursing process for patients in accordance with physician orders and established policies and procedures. Use professional nursing judgment to individualize the plan of care based on assessment of the patient's baseline needs and response to care.
• Delegate tasks and supervise the activities of other licensed and unlicensed care providers.
• Assist other nursing personnel in the delivery of nursing care and act as team leader or charge nurse for a group of patients or an entire unit as assigned.
• Monitor and initiate corrective action to maintain the environment of care including equipment and material resources.
• Participate in own professional development by maintaining required competencies, identifying learning needs and seeking appropriate assistance or educational offerings.
• Act as preceptor and support the development of other staff and formal learners.
• Participate in the identification of clinical or operational performance improvement opportunities and in performance improvement activities.
• Perform other related duties incidental to the work described herein.

Required Qualifications at this Level

Education

• Work requires graduation from an accredited BSN program.
• Registered Nurses who do not have a Bachelor's degree in Nursing (BSN) or higher will be required to enroll in an appropriate BSN program within two years of their start date, and to complete that program within five years of their start date in this role.
• Exception: Registered nurses hired between July 1, 2014 and April 11, 2021 without a Bachelor's degree in Nursing (or higher) are encouraged to enroll in an appropriate BSN program within two years of their start date but must complete the program within five years of their start date. Registered nurses hired before July 1, 2014 are not required to enroll in a BSN program to remain in this job classification.

Experience

• No previous RN experience is required for New Graduate Registered Nurses
• One year of RN experience is required for Level II Registered Nurses

Degrees, Licensure, and/or Certification

• Must have current or compact RN licensure in the state of North Carolina.
• BLS required.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of scope of the registered nurse, licensed practical nurse and NCA
• Knowledge of and appropriate application of the nursing process
• Knowledge of professional theory, practice and procedure
• Ability to assess nursing needs of acute and chronically ill patients and their families
• Ability to independently seek out resources and work collaboratively
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships
• Ability to communicate clearly with patients, families, visitors, healthcare team, physicians, administrators, leadership and others
• Ability to teach patients and families in accordance with the nursing plan of care
• Ability to use sensory and cognitive functions to process and prioritize information, treatment, and follow-up
• Ability to use fine motor skills
• Competent in BLS and or other specialized life support requirements designated by work area
• Ability to record activities, document assessments, plan of care, interventions, evaluation and re-evaluation of patient status
• Ability to use computer and learn new software programs
• Able to document and communicate pertinent information using computer and or paper documentation tools
• Ability to navigate the entity to provide clinical care for patients
• Ability to withstand prolonged standing and walking.
• Ability to remain focused and organized
• Working knowledge of procedures and techniques involved in administering routine and special treatments to patients
• Working knowledge of infection control procedures and safety precautions
• Working knowledge and completion of appropriate JCAHO and other regulatory requirements
• Pre-employment Physical Capacity Testing Required

Unit Overview

The Behavioral Health Inpatient Unit at Duke Regional Hospital is a 42-bed unit caring primarily for patients experiencing major depressive and bipolar disorders as well as schizophrenia. As part of the team, you’ll have the opportunity to advance your career through bonuses for psychiatric mental health certifications and annual crisis prevention training. Team members can also be part of the Charge RN Committee or Clinical Practice Counsel, which allow team members to guide policy and improve workflows. The Behavioral Health Inpatient Unit offers four-week-long track scheduling, designed to help all team members find balance with their personal and professional schedules in advance.

General Description of the Job Class

Independently plan and provide professional nursing care for patients in accordance with physician orders and established policies and procedures. Provide nursing services to patients and families in accordance with the scope of the RN as defined by the North Carolina Board of Nursing.

Duties and Responsibilities of this Role

• Plan, provide, supervise and document professional nursing care utilizing the nursing process for patients in accordance with physician orders and established policies and procedures. Use professional nursing judgment to individualize the plan of care based on assessment of the patient's baseline needs and response to care.
• Delegate tasks and supervise the activities of other licensed and unlicensed care providers.
• Assist other nursing personnel in the delivery of nursing care and act as team leader or charge nurse for a group of patients or an entire unit as assigned.
• Monitor and initiate corrective action to maintain the environment of care including equipment and material resources.
• Participate in own professional development by maintaining required competencies, identifying learning needs and seeking appropriate assistance or educational offerings.
• Act as preceptor and support the development of other staff and formal learners.
• Participate in the identification of clinical or operational performance improvement opportunities and in performance improvement activities.
• Perform other related duties incidental to the work described herein.

Required Qualifications at this Level

Education

• Work requires graduation from an accredited BSN program.
• Registered Nurses who do not have a Bachelor's degree in Nursing (BSN) or higher will be required to enroll in an appropriate BSN program within two years of their start date, and to complete that program within five years of their start date in this role.
• Exception: Registered nurses hired between July 1, 2014 and April 11, 2021 without a Bachelor's degree in Nursing (or higher) are encouraged to enroll in an appropriate BSN program within two years of their start date but must complete the program within five years of their start date. Registered nurses hired before July 1, 2014 are not required to enroll in a BSN program to remain in this job classification.

Experience

• No previous RN experience is required for New Graduate Registered Nurses
• One year of RN experience is required for Level II Registered Nurses

Degrees, Licensure, and/or Certification

• Must have current or compact RN licensure in the state of North Carolina.
• BLS required.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of scope of the registered nurse, licensed practical nurse and NCA
• Knowledge of and appropriate application of the nursing process
• Knowledge of professional theory, practice and procedure
• Ability to assess nursing needs of acute and chronically ill patients and their families
• Ability to independently seek out resources and work collaboratively
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships
• Ability to communicate clearly with patients, families, visitors, healthcare team, physicians, administrators, leadership and others
• Ability to teach patients and families in accordance with the nursing plan of care
• Ability to use sensory and cognitive functions to process and prioritize information, treatment, and follow-up
• Ability to use fine motor skills
• Competent in BLS and or other specialized life support requirements designated by work area
• Ability to record activities, document assessments, plan of care, interventions, evaluation and re-evaluation of patient status
• Ability to use computer and learn new software programs
• Able to document and communicate pertinent information using computer and or paper documentation tools
• Ability to navigate the entity to provide clinical care for patients
• Ability to withstand prolonged standing and walking.
• Ability to remain focused and organized
• Working knowledge of procedures and techniques involved in administering routine and special treatments to patients
• Working knowledge of infection control procedures and safety precautions
• Working knowledge and completion of appropriate JCAHO and other regulatory requirements
• Pre-employment Physical Capacity Testing Required

Duke is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing employment opportunity without regard to an individual's age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy and pregnancy related conditions), sexual orientation or military status.

Duke aspires to create a community built on collaboration, innovation, creativity, and belonging. Our collective success depends on the robust exchange of ideas - an exchange that is best when the rich diversity of our perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences flourishes. To achieve this exchange, it is essential that all members of the community feel secure and welcome, that the contributions of all individuals are respected, and that all voices are heard. All members of our community have a responsibility to uphold these values.

Duke aspires to create a community built on collaboration, innovation, creativity, and belonging. Our collective success depends on the robust exchange of ideas - an exchange that is best when the rich diversity of our perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences flourishes. To achieve this exchange, it is essential that all members of the community feel secure and welcome, that the contributions of all individuals are respected, and that all voices are heard. All members of our community have a responsibility to uphold these values.

Essential Physical Job Functions: Certain jobs at Duke University and Duke University Health System may include essential job functions that require specific physical and or mental abilities. Additional information and provision for requests for reasonable accommodation will be provided by each hiring department.

Nearest Major Market: Durham
Nearest Secondary Market: Raleigh

Read more about Duke’s commitment to affirmative action and nondiscrimination at hr.duke.edu/eeo.