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Registered Nurse (RN) Behavioral Health

Advocate Health · Wauwatosa, WI

Posted Sep 14, 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 worked with a child or teenager who was escalating on the unit. What did you do first, and how did it turn out?

whether the candidate has real hands-on experience with de-escalation and follows a structured approach rather than reacting impulsively

Tell me about a time you had to give difficult news or set a firm boundary with a parent or guardian of a young patient. How did you handle it?

skill communicating with families under emotional stress, a constant feature of pediatric psych care

Describe a time you disagreed with a treatment plan or intervention a physician or therapist proposed for a patient. What did you do?

whether the candidate can advocate for patients through appropriate channels without undermining the care team

Tell me about a shift where you had to manage several competing needs at once, like a new admission, a crisis with another patient, and routine care for the rest of the unit.

prioritization and triage skills in a high acuity, low-staff-ratio environment typical of psych units

What draws you to child and adolescent behavioral health specifically, rather than adult psych or general medical nursing?

genuine motivation and fit for a population that requires more patience, different developmental awareness, and higher emotional demands

Technical

What does a good milieu look like on a child and adolescent psych unit, and how do you help maintain it during a shift?

understanding of therapeutic environment management specific to inpatient behavioral health, not just individual patient care

How do you assess a young patient's risk for self-harm or suicide during a shift, and what would make you escalate your concern immediately?

clinical judgment on suicide risk assessment and knowing thresholds for escalation, critical in this setting

What's your experience with documentation and charting standards required for behavioral health, especially around restraint episodes or safety checks?

familiarity with the regulatory and legal documentation demands specific to psychiatric inpatient units

Situational

Walk me through how you'd handle a situation where a 14-year-old patient becomes physically aggressive toward staff or peers and verbal de-escalation isn't working.

knowledge of the escalation continuum, when restraint is appropriate, and comfort using physical safety interventions safely

This unit runs evening into overnight shifts, three days a week. How do you keep your assessments and documentation sharp when energy naturally dips late in a long shift?

self-awareness about fatigue management and commitment to consistent clinical rigor on the specific schedule posted

If you noticed a coworker using restraint or seclusion in a way that seemed excessive or against policy, what would you do in the moment and afterward?

willingness to intervene on patient safety and knowledge of reporting obligations, not just theoretical ethics

How would you build trust with a teenager who is guarded, has been through the system before, and doesn't want to talk to you?

therapeutic communication skills specific to adolescent psychiatric populations, not generic bedside manner

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The full job description

As published by Advocate Health.

Department: 34907 Aurora Psychiatric Hospital - Behavioral Health: IU Child and Adolescent Status: Part time Benefits Eligible: Yes Hou rs Per Week: 24 Schedule Details/Additional Information: W1: Wed 1500-0330, Fri 1500-0330 W2: Tues 1500-0330, Wed 1500-0330 2/6 required holidays A sign-on bonus is available to applicants who have not received a sign-on bonus from the company for another role within the past 24 months. Pay Range: $38.20 - $57.30 Registered Nurse (RN) – Behavioral Health C/A Inpatient Unit APH Wauwatosa, WI United States 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 Aurora Psychiatric Hospital in the Child/Adolescent Inpatient unit 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: At Aurora Psychiatric Hospital you can count on the most comprehensive continuum of behavioral health care in the state. Located on a beautiful, 30-acre wooded campus in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, our facility offers an ideal healing setting for children, adolescents and adults experiencing mental health or substance concerns. From our landscaped garden areas to our use of pet therapy dogs, we create a patient-focused, healing treatment experience that fosters recovery. You can rest assured that our team’s expertise and compassion will help you or your loved one begin the journey to recovery in a caring, confidential and comfortable environment. Physical Requirements & Working Conditions Requires frequent sitting, standing, walking, bending, squatting, reaching, twisting, and lifting throughout the workday. Must safely lift up to 35 pounds and perform patient handling tasks, including pushing/pulling up to 30 pounds and assisting with 150-pound sliding transfers. Requires functional speech, vision, hearing, touch, and fine motor skills for clinical procedures, as well as the ability to operate equipment foot controls. Must be able to respond quickly to changing patient conditions and perform patient safety interventions, including verbal de-escalation and restraints when necessary. Exposure to blood, body fluids, communicable diseases, chemicals, and hazardous waste may occur; appropriate protective equipment must be used. Physical Abilities Testing and additional department-specific requirements may apply. 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. 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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Registered Nurse (RN) Behavioral Health

Likely interview questions for this role

Practice this interview out loud.

The full job description

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