JobsAdvocate Health

Registered Nurse (RN) Behavioral Health

Advocate Health · Milwaukee, WI

Posted Sep 10, 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 de-escalate a patient who was becoming aggressive or violent. What did you do and how did it turn out?

Whether the candidate has real hands-on de-escalation skill versus just textbook knowledge

Tell me about a time a patient attempted or expressed intent to self-harm while under your care. What actions did you take, in what order?

Familiarity with suicide risk protocols and speed of clinical response under pressure

Tell me about a time you disagreed with a physician or provider about a patient's treatment plan or discharge readiness. What did you do?

Ability to advocate for patient safety while working within a multidisciplinary team

Tell me about a night shift where things went sideways, maybe several patients decompensating at once. How did you prioritize?

Composure and triage skill during high-acuity, low-staffing overnight conditions

How do you take care of yourself after a shift that involved a violent incident or a patient crisis?

Self-awareness around burnout and coping strategies specific to psychiatric crisis work

Technical

What is your experience with physical or chemical restraints, and how do you decide when a restraint is truly necessary versus when other interventions should be tried first?

Knowledge of least-restrictive-intervention standards and regulatory requirements around restraint use

How do you approach a shift change handoff for a patient who has been agitated most of the night?

Communication discipline and thoroughness in transferring safety-critical information between shifts

What does a safe therapeutic environment look like to you on a locked behavioral health unit, and what specific things do you check for during your shift?

Practical knowledge of environmental safety checks, contraband, and ligature risk awareness

Situational

Walk me through how you would assess a new patient who just arrived on an involuntary hold and is refusing to talk to you.

Clinical judgment and ability to build rapport with resistant or legally mandated patients

This unit sees both children and adults in separate treatment areas overnight. How do you keep yourself organized and safe when you're covering or supporting across both populations?

Ability to manage competing priorities and age-specific safety considerations on a mixed-population crisis unit

A patient's family member is at the front desk demanding information about their adult child who was brought in involuntarily. How do you handle that conversation?

Understanding of confidentiality rules and ability to manage emotionally charged family interactions

If you had a patient who was medically stabilizing but psychiatrically still in crisis, how would you coordinate their transition to the next level of care?

Understanding of care coordination and discharge/transition planning in a crisis stabilization setting

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The full job description

As published by Advocate Health.

Department: Status: Full time Benefits Eligible: Yes Hou rs Per Week: 36 Schedule Details/Additional Information: Behavioral Health experience preferred NIGHTS 1900-0730 Pay Range: $38.20 - $57.30 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. 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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