<p>A state psychiatric hospital in Pueblo, Colorado is seeking an experienced Registered Nurse for high-acuity adult inpatient psychiatric care on a 24-week travel contract. This role offers a compelling $3,498 per week pay package on a 48/48 schedule — 48 hours on, 48 hours off — giving clinicians strong earning potential alongside genuine recovery time between shifts. Pueblo's Colorado State Hospital system provides a structured, security-supported environment where psychiatric RNs with solid de-escalation skills and clinical autonomy can make a measurable impact on a complex patient population.</p>
<h3>Perks and Benefits</h3> <ul> <li>$3,498 per week gross pay package</li> <li>24-week contract with rolling start dates available</li> <li>12-hour day or night shifts on a 48/48 rotation (48 hours on, 48 hours off)</li> <li>Comprehensive benefits package included with assignment</li> <li>Personalized onboarding support to ensure a smooth transition into the assignment</li> <li>Dedicated recruiter advocacy with consistent communication throughout the contract</li> </ul>
<h3>Practice Highlights</h3> <ul> <li>Adult inpatient psychiatric unit at a state psychiatric hospital — high-acuity behavioral health setting</li> <li>48/48 shift structure: 12-hour day or night shifts with extended off-period built into the schedule</li> <li>Security-supported environment with expectation of strong clinical autonomy between security interventions</li> <li>Interdisciplinary team model requiring active collaboration across nursing, psychiatry, social work, and ancillary staff</li> <li>Patient population centered on acute psychiatric illness requiring crisis stabilization, medication management, and therapeutic intervention</li> <li>Strong emphasis on CPI-based de-escalation protocols and structured behavioral health care delivery</li> <li>Rolling contract start dates provide scheduling flexibility for candidates transitioning between assignments</li> </ul>
<h3>Qualifications</h3> <ul> <li>Active Colorado RN license or valid compact nursing license</li> <li>Minimum of 1 year of recent acute inpatient psychiatric nursing experience required; 2 or more years preferred</li> <li>BLS certification through the American Heart Association (AHA)</li> <li>Demonstrated CPI or equivalent de-escalation training and proficiency</li> <li>Comfort managing high-acuity behavioral health patients with a high degree of clinical independence</li> <li>Experience in behavioral crisis stabilization and inpatient psychiatric medication management preferred</li> <li>Associate or Bachelor of Science in Nursing preferred</li> <li>Willingness to complete a background check in accordance with Colorado state law</li> </ul>
<h3>About the Community</h3> <p>Pueblo sits along the Arkansas River in southern Colorado at roughly 4,700 feet elevation, offering a lower cost of living than Denver or Colorado Springs while remaining within 45 minutes of the Colorado Springs metro area. The region draws outdoor enthusiasts with access to Lake Pueblo State Park, the Arkansas River for kayaking and fishing, and proximity to the San Isabel National Forest and the Sangre de Cristo mountain range. Pueblo's historic downtown, arts district, and affordable housing make it a practical and appealing base for travel clinicians looking to stretch their earnings while enjoying genuine Colorado lifestyle.</p>