RN - Brook Lane - Behavioral Health

Meritus Health; Hagerstown (MD); On-site; USD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Life Insurance

Disability Insurance

PTO

401(k) Retirement Plan

Education Assistance

Tuition Reimbursement

FSA or HSA

Shift Differential

Job summary

Meritus Health is seeking an Inpatient Behavioral Health Nurse to provide compassionate, patient-centered care for individuals in acute mental health crises within a hospital setting. You will collaborate with an interdisciplinary team to support stabilization and recovery, delivering structured, high-acuity care.

The role requires emotional resilience, strong nursing skills, and a commitment to patient advocacy.

Qualifications

• Education - ASN or higher required; BSN or higher preferred.
• Experience - Minimum of one year in a hospital setting.
• Licensure/Certification - Current Maryland RN license or Multi-State Compact license with Maryland designation required.
• Knowledge/Skills/Abilities - Compassion, empathy, organization, and communication skills; basic computer skills.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct nursing care including medication administration and monitoring for side effects.
• Conduct patient assessments to evaluate mental, emotional, and physical health needs.
• Collaborate with psychiatrists, social workers, and therapists on individualized treatment plans.
• Assist with de-escalation and crisis intervention techniques.
• Educate patients and families about conditions, coping strategies, and discharge planning.
• Document all interactions and progress in electronic health records.
• Participate in shift hand-offs and team meetings to ensure continuity of care.

Skills

Compassion

Empathy

Communication skills

Organization

Computer literacy

Education

ASN or higher

BSN preferred

Job description

72 hrs. biweekly

Dayshift (7am-730pm) or Nightshift (7pm-730am)

As an inpatient Behavioral Health Nurse, you play a vital role in providing compassionate, patient-centered care to individuals experiencing acute mental health crises. You will work in a fast-paced, structured environment within a mental health hospital, collaborating with an interdisciplinary team to support patients through stabilization and recovery. This role requires strong clinical skills, emotional resilience, and a commitment to patient advocacy.

Daily Responsibilities

What to Expect in This Role

• Provide direct nursing care, including medication administration, monitoring for side effects, and assessing changes in patient behavior.
• Conduct patient assessments to evaluate mental, emotional, and physical health needs.
• Work closely with psychiatrists, social workers, and therapists to develop and implement individualized treatment plans.
• Support de-escalation efforts, utilizing therapeutic communication and crisis intervention techniques.
• Educate patients and families about mental health conditions, coping strategies, and discharge planning.
• Document all patient interactions, interventions, and progress in electronic health records.
• Participate in shift hand-offs and team meetings to ensure continuity of care.

Work Environment

• A high-acuity, structured setting, where teamwork is essential to maintaining patient and staff safety.
• Patients may experience severe psychiatric symptoms, including agitation, aggression psychosis, or suicidal ideation.
• Regular use of nonviolent crisis intervention techniques to manage escalations
• Shifts may include days, nights, weekends, and holidays based on patient needs.
• A multidisciplinary team approach, where communication and collaboration are key.
• Security team on staff and rounding on units 24/7.

Challenges You May Face

• Emotional intensity—working with patients in crisis requires strong emotional regulation and self-care.
• Physical demands—assisting patients in distress may require standing, walking, and occasional interventions.
• Complex cases—co-occurring disorders, medication noncompliance, and social barriers can make treatment challenging.
• Safety concerns—while rare, aggressive behavior from patients may occur, requiring quick thinking and adherence to hospital safety protocols.

Why This Role Matters

Your work as an Inpatient Behavioral Health Nurse has a profound impact on patients' lives. You will provide hope, support, and stability during some of their most vulnerable moments. If you are compassionate, resilient, and committed to mental health advocacy, this role offers a rewarding opportunity to make a difference every day.

Minimum Qualifications

Education - ASN or higher required. BSN or higher preferred.

Experience - Minimum of one year of experience in a hospital setting required.

Licensure/Certification - Current license to practice as Registered Nurse in the State of Maryland, or if resident of a state that participates in Nurse Multi-State Compact agreement, holds Registered Nurse License from that state that is designated as \"Compact\" or \"Multi-State Privilege\" using primary source verification and provides additional documentation as required by the Maryland Board of Nursing. RN License from a compact state with a designation of \"Single State\" does not meet the requirement and nurse must obtain a Maryland license.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities - Ability to apply the standards of professional nursing practice with compassion and empathy. Basic computer skills required. Must possess high level of organization and communication skills.

Caring for Our Team

• Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance Coverage begins on the first of the month following your hire date.
• Life Insurance & Disability Coverage Includes company-paid life insurance, as well as short- and long-term disability benefits to provide peace of mind.
• Paid Time Off (PTO) A generous PTO program designed to help you recharge and maintain a healthy work-life balance.
• 401(k) Retirement Plan Benefit from a robust company match to support your long-term financial goals.
• Education Assistance & Tuition Reimbursement Support for your continued learning and career growth.
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) and Health Savings Accounts (HSA) Options to save pre-tax dollars for eligible healthcare and dependent care expenses.
• Shift Differential Pay

Happy to Help

At Meritus, we believe in a collaborative and caring work environment. Interactions are an opportunity to learn, listen and to be there for one another. Therefore, we provide warm welcomes, hospitality-driven closures, and are always Happy to Help, and are always Happy to Help.