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 a patient became agitated or aggressive on your unit. What did you do first, and how did it end?

hands-on experience with de-escalation and whether they default to verbal techniques before physical intervention

Tell me about a shift where you had to manage several unpredictable patients at once. How did you prioritize?

ability to function under sustained unpredictability rather than isolated single incidents

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 while still working within a multidisciplinary team

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

self-awareness about burnout and secondary trauma in a high-acuity psychiatric setting

Tell me about a time you had to build trust quickly with a patient who was scared, confused, or distrustful of staff.

interpersonal skill in a setting where patients often arrive frightened or in denial about needing help

Technical

Walk me through how you'd assess a patient who just arrived in crisis, both voluntary and involuntary, and decide what level of stabilization they need.

whether the candidate has a real triage framework for psychiatric emergencies, not just general nursing assessment skills

How do you approach caring for a child or adolescent patient differently than an adult in a behavioral crisis?

awareness that MHEC treats separate age populations and requires different communication and safety approaches

What's your process for coordinating a patient's transition out of MHEC, whether that's discharge home, transfer to inpatient psych, or another level of care?

understanding of care coordination and discharge planning specific to a crisis stabilization setting

What does trauma-informed care look like in your day-to-day interactions with patients here?

whether trauma-informed principles are practiced habits or just a phrase they know

What's your experience with medication administration and monitoring for psychiatric patients, including managing side effects or refusal?

clinical competency specific to psychiatric pharmacology and patient compliance issues

Situational

Say you're on a night shift with a full unit and a patient's behavior is escalating toward the point where restraint might be needed. Walk me through what you do step by step.

knowledge of the actual escalation protocol, including when restraints are appropriate and who needs to be looped in

A patient tells you they're planning to hurt themselves once they leave, but they were brought in voluntarily and are asking to be discharged. What do you do?

grasp of legal and clinical obligations around involuntary holds and duty to protect

How would you handle a situation where a family member is upset and pushing back on the treatment plan for their loved one?

communication skill with families under stress and ability to hold boundaries around clinical decisions

Practice this interview out loud.

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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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