Psychiatric Nurse Jobs in Virginia

Company Description

IHMS USA, Inc. provides medical services to some of the world’s most vulnerable populations, including individuals and families who are migrating, displaced, or affected by conflict, disaster, or disease. For more than 20 years, IHMS has delivered compassionate, high-quality healthcare services across the Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Americas. Headquartered in Houston, Texas, IHMS USA focuses on supporting communities across the Western Hemisphere while drawing on the global experience and best practices developed by IHMS teams around the world.

Our work is driven by a commitment to delivering safe, effective, and patient-centered care in complex environments. To support this mission, IHMS has developed accredited and compliant management systems that help ensure quality care while tracking and coordinating every aspect of patient health services. These systems promote transparency, strengthen safeguarding practices, and provide near real-time visibility into clinical operations.

We understand that many of the individuals we serve are navigating difficult and uncertain circumstances. That’s why our care model includes access to comprehensive behavioral health services when needed, ensuring patients receive both medical and emotional support.

For healthcare professionals, working with IHMS means being part of a mission-driven team dedicated to making a meaningful impact. Our teams operate around the world and stand ready to provide compassionate care wherever it is needed most.

Job Description

This position is eligible for an additional sign-on bonus.

The Psychiatric Registered Nurse provides direct psychiatric nursing care as full-time, dedicated staff within the Behavioral Health Unit. The role supports continuous registered nurse coverage across assigned shifts and provides patient screening, nursing assessment, medication administration, emergency response, monitoring of serious mental illness and suicide precautions, clinical documentation, and continuity-of-care support in accordance with state licensure, credentialing, privacy, safety, and contract requirements.

Key Responsibilities:

- Provide direct psychiatric nursing care as full-time, dedicated Behavioral Health Unit staff during assigned shifts.
- Perform initial health screening and support mental health screening activities within scope of practice and facility protocol, including timely escalation of positive findings for further mental health evaluation.
- Monitor, observe, and support patients with serious mental illness, moderate behavioral health conditions, and suicide precautions in accordance with facility procedures.
- Administer and monitor medications within scope of practice and facility capability, including oral, intramuscular, subcutaneous, topical, and limited intravenous therapies where applicable.
- Assess, document, and communicate patient status changes, including psychiatric symptoms, suicide risk, response to treatment, medication effects, and urgent clinical concerns.
- Solicit and triage requests for health care as assigned, document actions in the health record, and coordinate follow-up care with the appropriate provider level.
- Provide nursing care within the facility’s clinical capability, including vital signs, wound care and dressing changes, point-of-care testing, immunizations, electrocardiograms, basic vision and hearing screening, and other ordered nursing interventions within licensure and competency.
- Respond to medical and behavioral health emergencies, provide immediate on-site nursing intervention and stabilization, and support transfer to a higher level of care when required.
- Support continuity of care during transfer, discharge, release, or other movement of patients by preparing or supporting required clinical documentation and communicating current medications, diagnoses, precautions, appointments, and equipment need.
- Maintain complete, timely, and accurate documentation in the Electronic Health Record and protect the privacy, confidentiality, and security of patient information and other sensitive records.
- Use professional in-person, telephonic, video, or other approved language services so patients with limited English proficiency or communication disabilities can access care and understand health information.
- Participate in required training and drills, including Basic Life Support, emergency response, signs and symptoms of mental illness and suicide risk, suicide prevention and intervention, nonviolent crisis intervention, trauma-informed care, and emergency evacuation procedures.
- Work collaboratively with the interdisciplinary behavioral health and medical team to support patient safety, therapeutic structure, and compliance with applicable standards of care.
- Complete required organizational compliance education, including assigned requirements that are client-specified, for Joint Commission Healthcare Staffing Services certification or other regulatory bodies.

This list is non-exhaustive, and the role holder may be required to undertake additional duties that are not specifically listed above.

Qualifications

Basic Requirements/Certifications:

- Current, full, active, and unrestricted Registered Nurse license in Maryland or the ability to obtain one.
- Minimum one year of professional psychiatric experience as a licensed registered nurse in a hospital, medical office or residential setting.
- Board Certification in Psychiatric Nursing by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) within 2 years of hire.
- Experience in a detention/correctional healthcare setting preferred.
- Basic Life Support (BLS) certification.

Education Required:

- Graduate from an associate, baccalaureate, or graduate nursing program for Registered Nurses located in a State, the District of Columbia, or a U.S. territory accredited by The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) or The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

Attributes and Professional Qualities:

- Ability to provide culturally competent and trauma-informed care.
- Ability to maintain sound judgment, alertness, tact, and emotional control in high-acuity and emergency situations.
- Ability to understand and apply written and verbal instructions, rules, procedures, and training materials, and to complete reports and clinical documentation accurately.
- Ability to work effectively with patients of varied clinical acuity and with individuals who have limited English proficiency or communication impairments.
- Ability to maintain confidentiality and safeguard protected health information and other sensitive information.

Physical Requirements:

- Required to walk unaided at a normal pace for up to 5 minutes and maintain balance.
- Required to jog/fast walk up to ¼ mile.
- Requires physical exertion such as lifting objects greater than 30 pounds.
- Required to perform CPR/emergency care standing or kneeling.
- Must have the ability to assist sick, injured, or aging patients or staff exiting the building (may require lifting, dragging, wheeling, or carrying someone who weighs significantly more than self).
- Must be able to see, hear and smell with aids if necessary.
- Must be able to lift, push, or carry 30 pounds.
- Must perform the duties of my job in a stressful and often austere environment without physical limitations.
- Sitting and/or standing for extended periods of time.
- Average manual dexterity for computer operation.
- Phone or computer use for extended periods of time.

Other Special Qualifications:

- Must maintain current/physical residency in the continental U.S.
- Pass a medical examination conducted by a licensed physician within 30 days prior to initial assignment.
- U.S. citizen and have resided in the U.S. for the last five years (unless abroad on official U.S. government duty).
- Successfully engage in and complete a thorough Background Investigation.
- Poses or have ability to obtain required security clearances.
- Proficiency in Spanish is preferred.

Additional Information

Privacy Disclaimer:

By clicking “I’m Interested” and submitting your application, you acknowledge that you have read and understood the applicable Privacy Policy (available via the link above) and agree that IHMS USA, Inc., may collect, use, store, transfer, and otherwise process your personal information in accordance with that Privacy Policy for recruitment and hiring purposes.

Compensation Disclaimer:

Pay range is based on several factors and may vary in addition to a full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits. Final salary and offer will be determined by the applicant’s background, experience, skills, internal equity, and alignment with geographical market data.

Benefits Language (FTE roles):

Full-time positions are eligible for our comprehensive and competitive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, and basic life insurance. Additional benefits include a 401k plan, paid time off, and an annual bonus. IHMS USA, Inc. complies with all federal, state, and local minimum wage laws.

Equal Opportunity Employer (EEO) Statement:

IHMS USA, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against employees or job applicants on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, amnesty, or status as a covered veteran in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws.