JobsAdvocate Health

Registered Nurse (RN) - Behavioral Nurse

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 a child or teenager on your unit escalated quickly. What did you do first, and how did it turn out?

whether the candidate can stay calm and act fast during acute escalation, and whether they follow a de-escalation sequence rather than jumping straight to physical intervention

Have you ever had to be part of a physical restraint? What was your role and how did you make sure it stayed safe for the patient and the team?

comfort with hands-on safety interventions and understanding of proper restraint protocol and patient dignity during it

Tell me about a time you disagreed with a treatment plan or medication order from a psychiatrist. How did you handle it?

willingness to advocate for a patient and comfort raising concerns with providers respectfully but firmly

How do you build trust with a kid who has been through trauma and doesn't want to talk to anyone, let alone a nurse they just met?

therapeutic communication skill and genuine comfort working with a difficult, guarded pediatric population

Tell me about a time you had to work closely with techs, social workers, and other team members to manage a difficult shift on an inpatient unit.

collaboration style and whether they see themselves as a team leader or a solo operator

How do you take care of yourself after a shift where you've been physically or emotionally pushed to your limit by a patient?

self-awareness about compassion fatigue and sustainability in a high-acuity behavioral health role

Technical

What does a typical safety check or milieu round look like for you on a child and adolescent inpatient unit?

whether the candidate actually knows unit routines like line-of-sight checks, contraband sweeps, and environmental safety specific to pediatric psych

What's your process for documenting a behavioral incident, from the moment it happens to your final note?

attention to documentation standards that matter for legal protection and continuity of care in psych settings

Situational

Walk me through how you'd de-escalate a 14-year-old who is screaming and threatening to hurt himself, right before a restraint would even be considered.

knowledge of verbal de-escalation technique and whether restraint is treated as a last resort, not a first response

A parent calls demanding details about their teenager's treatment, but the patient hasn't consented to that information being shared. What do you do?

understanding of confidentiality rules for minors in behavioral health and how to navigate family dynamics without breaking policy

You're the only RN on the unit and two patients need attention at once, one is having a panic attack and one just made a self-harm gesture. How do you prioritize?

triage judgment under pressure with limited staffing, a real scenario given the part-time, overnight-heavy schedule

This schedule includes overnight shifts and rotating weekends, including a Sunday 11pm start. How do you manage your focus and energy on shifts like that?

realistic self-assessment of fit with the actual shift pattern, since overnight and split shifts are a known burnout risk

What would you do if you noticed a coworker using restraint or seclusion in a way that felt excessive for the situation?

willingness to speak up for patient safety even when it means confronting a colleague

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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: Sun 2300-0330, Wed 1500-0330, Thurs 1900-0730 W2: Mon 1500-2330, Wed 1500-0330, Sat 2300-0330 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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