Clinical Nurse II, RN | Behavioral Health (5 South) | Days

Howard University Hospital  |  Washington, DC

Role Summary

The Clinical Nurse II (CN II) is a Registered Nurse reporting directly to the Nurse Manager and embedded on Howard University Hospital’s 5 South Behavioral Health inpatient unit, where you will deliver safe, recovery-oriented, trauma-informed care to adults experiencing acute psychiatric and behavioral health crises. Working alongside psychiatrists, psychiatric advanced practice providers, social workers, mental health technicians, and a multidisciplinary team, you will provide skilled assessment, therapeutic engagement, medication management, and milieu leadership across the full spectrum of acuity — from voluntary admissions to involuntary holds.

You will exemplify HUH’s CARES values, adhere to ANA Psychiatric-Mental Health standards of practice, and play a meaningful role in supporting patients and families through some of their most vulnerable moments.

What You’ll Do

• Perform comprehensive psychiatric nursing assessments including mental status examination, suicide and self-harm risk screening, violence risk assessment, withdrawal screening, and physical health evaluation on admission and throughout the inpatient stay
• Develop, implement, and update individualized, recovery-oriented plans of care in collaboration with patients, families, psychiatrists, and the interdisciplinary team
• Administer and monitor psychotropic medications safely — including antipsychotics, mood stabilizers, antidepressants, anxiolytics, and PRN agents for acute agitation; recognize and respond to side effects, EPS, and signs of neuroleptic malignant syndrome or serotonin syndrome
• Lead therapeutic milieu management to maintain a safe, structured, and recovery-focused unit environment; conduct environmental safety rounds and ligature risk checks per policy
• Apply evidence-based de-escalation and crisis intervention techniques as the first-line response to escalating behavior; coordinate emergency response and least-restrictive interventions when needed
• Implement and document levels of observation (routine, close, 1:1) per ordered safety status; communicate observation responsibilities clearly to assigned staff
• Apply restraint and seclusion only as a last resort, in strict accordance with CMS Patient Rights and Joint Commission standards; perform required monitoring, documentation, and post-event debriefs
• Provide therapeutic communication, brief individual interventions, and co-facilitate or support psychoeducation and process groups as scheduled
• Conduct contraband searches and belongings inventories on admission and as clinically indicated; maintain unit security protocols including key, badge, and elopement-prevention procedures
• Recognize and escalate medical emergencies and acute medical decompensation in psychiatric patients; activate Rapid Response or Code Blue per protocol and provide BLS interventions pending team arrival
• Partner with social work and case management on discharge planning, coordinating warm handoffs to outpatient psychiatry, partial hospitalization (PHP), intensive outpatient (IOP), substance use treatment, housing, and community resources
• Provide patient and family education on diagnoses, medications, relapse prevention, safety planning, and crisis resources including the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
• Document patient care, assessments, behavioral observations, medication administration, restraint/seclusion events, and outcomes accurately in the electronic health record
• Delegate tasks appropriately to mental health technicians and other non-licensed personnel; provide oversight and clinical direction
• Adhere to infection control, medication administration and storage, and controlled substance regulations
• Participate in unit performance improvement programs and engage in education, engagement, and practice committees
• Maintain and grow clinical knowledge through educational workshops, professional publications, and professional societies
• Perform other duties as assigned consistent with the scope of this role

Required Qualifications

• Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) required; Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) preferred
• Graduate of an accredited school of nursing
• Current, active Registered Nurse (RN) licensure in the District of Columbia
• Minimum one (1) year of clinical experience as a Mental Health Nurse or Psychiatric Nurse in an inpatient, emergency, or acute behavioral health setting
• Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification through the American Heart Association (AHA) required
• Working knowledge of psychotropic medications, DSM-5-TR diagnostic categories, DC involuntary commitment processes, and patient rights regulations regarding restraint and seclusion
• Strong therapeutic communication, de-escalation, clinical judgment, and team collaboration skills

Preferred Qualifications

• Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing Certification (PMH-BC) through the American Nurses Credentialing Center
• Crisis Prevention Intervention (CPI) certification or equivalent de-escalation and behavioral emergency training
• Experience caring for patients with co-occurring substance use disorders, trauma histories, or forensic involvement
• Familiarity with trauma-informed care frameworks and recovery-oriented practice models

What We Offer

• Work-life balance
• Recognition and rewards for professional expertise
• Competitive, comprehensive benefit plans including health, disability, vacation, sick leave, and 403(b) retirement plan
• Tuition remission at Howard University for you and/or eligible dependent children — up to two (2) courses per semester
• A mission-driven environment rooted in over 150 years of excellence, service, and advocacy for the communities we serve

About Howard University Hospital

Howard University Hospital (HUH) is the nation’s only teaching hospital located on the campus of a historically Black university. With a legacy dating back to 1862 — when it operated as Freedmen’s Hospital, providing care and refuge to those who had been denied it elsewhere — HUH has grown into one of the most comprehensive healthcare facilities in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area and is a designated DC Level 1 Trauma Center. Today, HUH continues its proud tradition of delivering exemplary, patient-centered, and culturally responsive care to the community, while providing exceptional learning and professional development opportunities for the next generation of healthcare professionals.

Position Details

Pay & Schedule

This is a full-time, non-exempt position covered under the DC Nurses Association (DCNA) collective bargaining agreement. Pay range: $37.33 – $62.43/hr, commensurate with experience and qualifications.

Compliance Statements

Culture of Care: Howard University Hospital supports a Just Culture that promotes accountability, learning, and patient safety.

Equal Opportunity Employer: Howard University Hospital is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and applicants and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other status protected by applicable law.

Reasonable Accommodation: Howard University Hospital is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and applicable state and local laws. If you require an accommodation during the application or interview process, please contact the Human Resources Department at HUHLA@huhosp.org.

Pay Transparency: Salary ranges listed in job postings reflect the expected compensation range for the position and are provided in accordance with applicable pay transparency laws. Final compensation is determined based on experience, education, internal equity, and other relevant factors.

Disclaimer: The above statements describe the general nature and level of work performed. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, or qualifications associated with the position.