JobsAdvocate Health

Registered Nurse (RN) - Behavioral Health

Advocate Health · Milwaukee, WI

Posted Aug 31, 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 to use verbal de-escalation with a patient who was becoming aggressive. What did you actually say and do?

concrete evidence of de-escalation skill versus rehearsed talking points, and whether they escalated or defused the situation

Have you ever been part of a physical restraint or seclusion event. What was your role and how did you make sure it stayed safe for the patient and the team?

comfort and actual hands-on experience with restraint protocols, and whether safety and dignity stayed central

Tell me about a shift where you had multiple high-acuity patients at once and had to decide who needed you first.

triage judgment and prioritization under real caseload pressure, especially on a 12-hour night shift

Describe a time a patient or family member became verbally abusive toward you. How did you handle it and how did you take care of yourself afterward?

resilience, professionalism under personal attack, and whether they have healthy coping strategies for repeated exposure to hostility

How do you work with the multidisciplinary team here, things like psychiatry, social work, security, when a patient's plan needs to change quickly?

whether they collaborate well across roles in a fast-moving environment or tend to work in isolation

Tell me about a mistake or near-miss you had on a behavioral health unit. What happened and what changed afterward?

honesty and whether they learn from errors rather than covering them up, important in a high-risk safety environment

Technical

Walk me through how you'd assess a patient who just arrived at the crisis center and is agitated and refusing to talk to you.

whether the candidate has a real structured approach to rapid psychiatric triage under pressure, not just generic calm-down language

This unit treats children, adolescents, and adults in separate areas. How does your approach change when you're working with an agitated teenager versus an agitated adult?

whether they understand developmental differences in crisis presentation, not just a one-size-fits-all technique

How do you screen for suicide risk and self-harm during intake, and what do you do differently if the patient minimizes their symptoms?

depth of actual clinical assessment skill versus surface familiarity with a checklist tool

Situational

A patient on an involuntary hold tells you they want to leave right now and starts walking toward the door. What do you do in the next sixty seconds?

knowledge of legal holds, chain of command, and ability to act decisively without escalating the situation

A patient who was calm an hour ago suddenly starts pacing, clenching fists, and raising their voice. Walk me through what you're watching for and what you do first.

ability to recognize escalation cues early and intervene before a crisis reaches a physical stage

What's your experience with patients coming in under police custody or brought by EMS in crisis. How do you build trust with someone who didn't choose to be here?

comfort with involuntary, often distrustful patients and ability to build rapport without coercion

How do you handle the physical demands of this job, things like transfers, restraints, and being on your feet through a 12-hour night shift with rotating weekends?

realistic self-assessment of stamina and willingness to commit to the schedule and physical requirements described in the posting

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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: Night shift 12 hour shift length, 36 hrs./week, rotating weekends and holidays. Pay Range: $38.20 - $57.30 Registered Nurse (RN) – Behavioral Health MHEC   Milwaukee, 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 the Mental Health Emergency Hospital (MHEC) 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. 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. 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 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. 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. 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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