Registered Nurse / Behavioral Health RN

Department Overview

About OHSULink www.ohsu.eduOHSU's singular focus on improving health starts with Oregonians and has global impact. We are the only academic health center in Oregon, but we're also nationally distinct as a university dedicated solely to advancing health sciences. This allows us to concentrate resources on research to prevent and cure disease, on education that prepares physicians, dentists, nurses and other health professionals to succeed in an evolving health care environment, and on patient care that incorporates the latest knowledge and discoveries. We have 18,000 employees and secure competitive research funding of more than $400 million a year. As a public organization, we provide community outreach and services for Oregon's most vulnerable populations. OHSU’s stated mission to improve the health and quality of life for all Oregonians through excellence, innovation and leadership in health care, education and research.

 

About OHSU Doernbecher Children’s HospitalLink https://www.ohsu.edu/doernbecherWith a strong tradition of teamwork, diversity and interdisciplinary care, we believe all children deserve the best. At Doernbecher, we built a hospital around that belief. It’s why we have more specialists in children’s health than anywhere else in the state. We offer the newest and most advanced treatments available, along with innovative collaborations and research opportunities. As Oregon’s only academic health center, we strive to offer the best medical care to every child across Oregon, Southwest Washington and beyond.

 

About The Department of PsychiatryLink https://www.ohsu.edu/school-of-medicine/psychiatry

The fundamental purpose of OHSU and The Department of Psychiatry is to improve well-being.

The OHSU Department of Psychiatry is part of the OHSU Brain Institute, and focuses on providing excellent clinical treatment to our patients, leading innovative research, and offering hands-on training for the next generation of psychiatrists. Our specialists care for people of every culture and background and it is our mission to value and show appreciation for diversity, showing respect for all people who we treat, teach, and serve.

Function/Duties of Position

The Outpatient Behavioral Health Registered Nurse (BH RN) is an integral member of the Adult Outpatient Psychiatry Clinic, working within a multidisciplinary team that includes psychiatrists, psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners, physician associates, psychologists, care coordinators, social worker, and Patient Access Specialists. This role is designed to strengthen clinical operations, enhance patient access, and support high-quality behavioral health care delivery across a growing and dynamic outpatient setting. The BH RN plays a central role in bridging clinical care and operational workflows, ensuring patients receive timely, coordinated, and clinically appropriate support throughout their care journey.

 

The BH RN is responsible for managing and supporting key clinical workflows, including MyChart message management, triage, medication refills, prior authorizations, medication clarification, referral coordination, and care navigation to support timely patient access, strengthens care coordination, and ensures continuity across care transitions, including hospitalization follow-up and coordination of IOP admissions when appropriate.

 

As a core member of the care team, the BH RN contributes to a therapeutic, collaborative, and patient-centered environment. This role requires strong clinical judgment, clear communication, and the ability to navigate complex patient needs within an ambulatory behavioral health setting.

 

The Adult Outpatient Psychiatry Clinic includes multiple specialty areas, including Psycho-Oncology, Electroconvulsive Therapy, and the Resident Outpatient Psychiatry Clinic, with continued growth planned through the expansion of Interventional Psychiatry services. The BH RN role is foundational to supporting this expansion, helping to build sustainable workflows and ensuring readiness for increasing clinical complexity and volume.

Required Qualifications

Education:

• BSN Graduates: Baccalaureate Degree in Nursing from a program accredited by Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) or Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation (CNEA) 30 days before start date.

 

Experience:

• Minimum 2 Years RN Experience in an inpatient or outpatient Behavioral health setting.

 

Job Related Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (Competencies):

• Basic medical terminology understanding.
• Demonstrated ability to wor