JobsAdvocate Health

Registered Nurse (RN) Behavioral Health

Advocate Health · Wauwatosa, 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 on the unit start to escalate toward aggression. What did you see building up, and what did you do before it got physical.

whether the candidate can recognize early warning signs and use verbal de-escalation before restraints become necessary

Tell me about a shift where you had to manage several patients with very different acuity levels at the same time. How did you decide where to put your attention first.

prioritization skill on a unit where conditions can shift fast and staffing is tight

Describe a time you disagreed with a physician or another team member about a patient's plan of care. How did you handle it.

ability to advocate for a patient while staying collaborative on an interdisciplinary team

Tell me about a patient interaction that really tested your compassion. What kept you grounded.

emotional resilience and whether burnout risk shows up under stress

Tell me about a time you gave feedback about a process or safety concern to your leadership. What happened after.

willingness to speak up about unit culture and whether that feedback loop was taken seriously

Technical

Walk me through how you'd assess a newly admitted adult patient on the inpatient unit who is guarded and won't talk much.

knowledge of psychiatric assessment technique and comfort building rapport with resistant patients

How do you approach medication administration and monitoring for patients who may be resistant to treatment or have a history of misuse concerns.

grasp of safe medication practices specific to psychiatric and substance use populations

What does a safe patient environment look like to you on a locked inpatient psych unit, and what do you personally check for during a shift.

understanding of environmental safety checks like contraband, sharps, ligature risks

How comfortable are you performing hands-on interventions, including assisting with patient transfers or physical holds, given the physical demands of this unit.

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

Situational

Say a patient on your unit becomes physically aggressive toward staff and de-escalation isn't working. What's your next step, and who do you involve.

familiarity with the actual restraint and safety protocol chain of command, not just theory

A patient tells you they're having thoughts of hurting themselves right now. Walk me through exactly what you do in the next few minutes.

working knowledge of suicide risk protocol and whether the response is immediate and procedural, not vague

This unit runs PM shifts with an every-other-weekend and every-other-holiday rotation, and you'd need to hold this schedule for at least six months. How do you feel about that kind of consistency requirement.

honest fit with the scheduling commitment before it becomes a retention problem

If a family member is upset and pushing you for details about a patient's condition beyond what you're allowed to share, how do you handle that conversation.

understanding of confidentiality boundaries in behavioral health and communication skill under pressure

Practice this interview out loud.

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The full job description

As published by Advocate Health.

Department: 34903 Aurora Psychiatric Hospital - Behavioral Health: IU Adult 3 Status: Part time Benefits Eligible: Yes Hou rs Per Week: 28 Schedule Details/Additional Information: Week 1: Mon/Tues/Wed/Thurs Week 2: Mon/Wed/Thur PM shift 8 hours 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: $38.20 - $57.30 Registered Nurse (RN) – Behavioral Health Adult 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 Adult 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. Ready to Take the Next Step: Apply Now!   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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