JobsAdvocate Health

Registered Nurse (RN) Behavioral Health

Advocate Health · Milwaukee, WI

Posted Sep 1, 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 had a patient who was escalating toward violence. What did you do, step by step, and how did it end?

hands-on experience with de-escalation technique and whether they can describe outcomes honestly, including ones that didn't go perfectly

Tell me about a shift where you had more than one patient decompensating at the same time. How did you prioritize?

triage judgment and composure under a high-acuity, fast-moving environment

Describe a time you disagreed with a physician or another team member about a patient's plan of care. What did you do?

whether they can advocate for a patient through appropriate channels without becoming combative or passive

Tell me about a time a patient's family member was distressed or difficult to deal with. How did you handle that conversation?

communication skill with families under stress and whether they can stay patient-centered while managing family dynamics

Tell me about a time you had to restrain or physically intervene with a patient, or chose not to when others thought you should. Why did you make that call?

judgment around use of least restrictive interventions and comfort with the physical demands of behavioral health nursing

Technical

Walk me through how you would assess a patient who just arrived in crisis and is both agitated and refusing to talk to you.

whether the candidate has a real, structured approach to rapid psychiatric assessment rather than a vague sense of 'staying calm'

How do you approach care differently for a 12-year-old in crisis versus an adult, given that MHEC has separate areas for each?

awareness that adolescent and adult behavioral health present differently and require different communication and safety strategies

What's your process for a suicide risk assessment, and how do you decide what level of observation a patient needs?

concrete clinical knowledge of suicide risk screening tools and observation level protocols, not just familiarity with the concept

What does building a therapeutic environment look like for you on a shift-to-shift basis, in a unit that holds both voluntary and involuntary patients?

practical understanding of milieu management and how to balance safety with dignity for people who did not choose to be there

How do you plan for a patient's transition out of MHEC, whether that's home, to inpatient psych, or somewhere else?

understanding of discharge and care coordination responsibilities beyond the acute crisis moment

Situational

A patient here is involuntary and wants to leave right now. What do you actually do?

understanding of legal holds and involuntary commitment procedures and whether they know their own authority and its limits

You've got a patient who is coming down off a substance and also showing psychiatric symptoms. How do you sort out what's driving what?

clinical reasoning around co-occurring substance use and psychiatric presentation, a common reality in crisis settings

This is an evening shift with every other weekend required. What's made a schedule like that sustainable for you in the past, or what concerns you about it?

honesty about fit with the actual hours and whether they've thought through the toll of PM shifts in a high-intensity unit

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The full job description

As published by Advocate Health.

Department: 10084 Advocate Aurora Health Corporate - Mental Health Emergency Center JV: ELA Emergency Status: Full time Benefits Eligible: Yes Hou rs Per Week: 36 Schedule Details/Additional Information: This role is a PM shift position 8 hour shifts (1500-2330) . Every other weekend required Holiday work requirements will be determined based on departmental needs and the current holiday rotation schedule. Pay Range: $38.20 - $57.30 Be the Nurse Who Redefines Care. At Advocate Health, being a nurse means more than delivering exceptional clinical care—it means leading with purpose, compassion, and boldness. As part of our One Advocate Nurse community, you’ll join a unified team committed to lifting others up, embracing innovation, and creating inclusive spaces where everyone can thrive. You’ll be empowered to think boldly, collaborate with humility, and drive change through fearless curiosity. Whether you're at the bedside, in the community, or advancing care through research and education, you’ll help shape the future of health—because here, we’re redefining care for you, for us, for all. Your feedback matters . Every nurse’s voice is vital in shaping our culture and improving care. We value your insights and experiences because they help us grow stronger together. Where You Will Work:   Come join our team at the Mental Health Emergency Hospital (MHEC) At MHEC, you’ll be part of a nationally recognized model for emergency mental health services, collaborating with a multidisciplinary team dedicated to compassionate, evidence-based care. This is an opportunity to make a meaningful impact in a community with a critical need for mental health resources. We’re Looking For:   • Completion of an accredited or approved program in nursing  • Registered Nurse license issued by the state in which the teammate practices  • Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Providers certification issued by the American Heart Association   What You’ll Do:   • As a skilled and compassionate RN, you will play a pivotal role in providing and coordinating comprehensive patient care through the nursing process to deliver safe, therapeutic care in accordance with established standards, policies, and procedures.   • Using evidence-based practice, clinical decision making, compassion, and skills communication while leading efforts to create the safest patient environment and the best patient experience across the continuum.   About This Location:    Conveniently located in Milwaukee County, MHEC serves as a central hub for crisis intervention. Our mission is to deliver 24/7/365 mental health assessment, stabilization, treatment, and transition care for children, adolescents, and adults. We provide a therapeutic environment that supports both voluntary and involuntary patients, ensuring safety and dignity for all. Scope of Services MHEC offers immediate crisis assessment and stabilization, specialized care with separate treatment areas for children/adolescents and adults, and comprehensive care coordination to support ongoing recovery and transition planning Ready to Take the Next Step: Apply Now!   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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