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Behavioral Health Unit

Advocate Health · Wauwatosa, WI

Posted Sep 16, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Sep 20, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

Behavioral

Tell me about a time you saw a patient's behavior start to escalate before it became a full crisis. What did you notice and what did you do?

whether the candidate can read early warning signs and act before de-escalation becomes physical intervention

Tell me about a time you had to report something unusual you observed in a patient to the RN. How did you decide it was worth reporting?

judgment about clinical significance and comfort communicating up the chain of command

Describe a time you worked with a patient or family member who was scared or confused about being on a psychiatric unit.

empathy and skill in orienting anxious patients and families to an unfamiliar and stigmatized setting

Tell me about a time you had to set a firm limit with a patient. How did you do it while keeping the environment calm?

ability to hold boundaries without being confrontational, a core skill on a locked behavioral health unit

Tell me about a time you worked as part of a care team where you weren't the one making the final call, like taking direction from a nurse. How did that go?

whether the candidate can operate well within a hierarchy and communicate observations without overstepping scope

Technical

Have you completed CPI Nonviolent Crisis Intervention training before, and if so, tell me about a time you had to use physical intervention skills with a patient.

comfort level and actual hands-on exposure to safe restraint procedures, since this is required within 90 days

How would you document a rounding check where you noticed a patient seemed withdrawn compared to their baseline?

understanding of objective, factual charting versus vague or subjective notes

This unit requires you to physically assist with a sliding transfer of a 150 pound patient with a second person present, and lifting up to 50 pounds. Tell me about your experience with patient transfers or similar physical tasks.

realistic self-assessment of physical capability for the job's demands

Have you worked around blood, body fluids, or other exposure risks before, and how do you approach using personal protective equipment consistently?

safety habits and whether PPE use is automatic or something they'd need reminding about

Situational

Walk me through how you would defuse a situation with a patient who is becoming agitated and starting to threaten staff or other patients.

practical knowledge of verbal de-escalation technique versus jumping straight to physical response

A patient refuses to let you take their vital signs and becomes verbally hostile. What do you do?

ability to balance patient autonomy, safety protocol, and de-escalation without escalating the refusal

If you're escorting a patient to a group activity and they suddenly refuse to go and become physically resistant, what's your next move?

judgment on when to use verbal redirection versus calling for backup support

This schedule is a rotating pattern with every other weekend and every other holiday, and you'd need to stay in this role for at least six months. How does that fit with your life right now?

realistic commitment to the schedule stability the unit needs before someone can transfer or leave

Practice this interview out loud.

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The full job description

As published by Advocate Health.

Department: 34904 Aurora Psychiatric Hospital - Behavioral Health: IU Adult 4 Status: Part time Benefits Eligible: Yes Hou rs Per Week: 28 Schedule Details/Additional Information: Week 1: W/Th/Sat Week 2: Su/M/T/W EOW and EOHoliday Remain in current role, FTE, shift for at least 6 months to meet the needs of the organization/patient needs/staffing needs. Students will be asked to work around their school schedule as well as present their schedule to their leader 2 months prior to the start of the semester. Pay Range: $21.85 - $32.80 Major Responsibilities: • Assists, monitors and/or maintains patient activities of daily living (ADL's). • Orients patient and family/significant others to the unit and hospital. • Escorts patients to various locations i.e., tests, meals, activities, supervising and managing their behaviors as required. • Performs vital signs on patients. • Receives direction from the RN and communicates significant or unusual occurrences in patient behavior.Documents pertinent observations/occurrences in the patient's medical records according to policy. • Defuses and reports crisis situations, intervening when appropriate and uses proper procedures. • Maintains a safe and therapeutic environment by assisting with groups, setting limits on patients; following established safety and risk management policies and procedures. • Performs patient rounding at designated intervals and documents appropriately. Licensure, Registration, and/or Certification Required: • Nurse Aide in good standing as indicated with the State Registry in which the team member practices and • Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Providers certification issued by the American Heart Association (AHA). • Team members will maintain annual educational requirements for hospital-based certifications (e.g. DNV, DHS, CARF or others) Education Required: • Advanced training beyond High School that includes the completion of an accredited or approved program in Nursing Assistant. • Successful completion of CPI's Nonviolent Crisis Intervention with Advanced Physical Skills within 90 days. Experience Required: • No experience required. Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Required: • Good verbal and written skills for safe and effective patient care. • Demonstrates positive and effective interpersonal skills. Physical Requirements and Working Conditions: • Must be able to sit, stand, walk, lift, squat, bend, twist, and reach above shoulders frequently throughout the workday. • Must be able to: • - lift up to 50 lbs. from floor to waist. • - lift up to 20 lbs. over the head. • - carry up to 40 lbs. a reasonable distance. • Must be able to: • - push/pull with 30 lbs. of force. • - perform a sliding transfer of 150 lbs. with a second person present • Must be physically able to restrain and control patients who are outwardly psychotic or physically combative. • Must have functional use of senses to allow for effective communication. • May be exposed to mechanical, electrical, chemical, and radiation hazards as well as blood and body fluids; therefore, personal protective equipment must be worn as necessary. • Operates all equipment necessary to perform the job. • *Any exceptions to the above requirements must be documented through Employee Health. This job description indicates the general nature and level of work expected of the incumbent. It is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities required of the incumbent. Incumbent may be required to perform other related duties. Our Commitment to You: Advocate Health offers a comprehensive suite of Total Rewards: benefits and well-being programs, competitive compensation, generous retirement offerings, programs that invest in your career development and so much more – so you can live fully at and away from work, including: Compensation • Base compensation listed within the listed pay range based on factors such as qualifications, skills, relevant experience, and/or training • Premium pay such as shift, on call, and more based on a teammate's job • Incentive pay for select positions • Opportunity for annual increases based on performance Benefits and more • Paid Time Off programs • Health and welfare benefits such as medical, dental, vision, life, and Short- and Long-Term Disability • Flexible Spending Accounts for eligible health care and dependent care expenses • Family benefits such as adoption assistance and paid parental leave • Defined contribution retirement plans with employer match and other financial wellness programs • Educational Assistance Program Note: Eligibility for programs listed above may depend on your FTE or status (e.g., full-time, part-time, per diem, temporary, etc.); please ask a Recruiter for more information during an interview. About Advocate Health  Advocate Health is the third-largest nonprofit, integrated health system in the United States, created from the combination of Advocate Aurora Health and Atrium Health. Providing care under the names Advocate Health Care in Illinois; Atrium Health in the Carolinas, Georgia and Alabama; and Aurora Health Care in Wisconsin, Advocate Health is a national leader in clinical innovation, health outcomes, consumer experience and value-based care. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, Advocate Health services nearly 6 million patients and is engaged in hundreds of clinical trials and research studies, with Wake Forest University School of Medicine serving as the academic core of the enterprise. It is nationally recognized for its expertise in cardiology, neurosciences, oncology, pediatrics and rehabilitation, as well as organ transplants, burn treatments and specialized musculoskeletal programs. Advocate Health employs 155,000 teammates across 69 hospitals and over 1,000 care locations, and offers one of the nation’s largest graduate medical education programs with over 2,000 residents and fellows across more than 200 programs. Committed to providing equitable care for all, Advocate Health provides more than $6 billion in annual community benefits.

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