Registered Nurse Behavioral Health jobs in Wauwatosa, WI

Walk me through how you'd assess a newly admitted adult patient on the behavioral health unit in the first hour after arrival.

knowledge of intake and risk assessment process specific to inpatient psych, including suicide and violence risk screening

Tell me about a time you worked with a child or teenager who was escalating on the unit. What did you do first, and how did it turn out?

whether the candidate has real hands-on experience with de-escalation and follows a structured approach rather than reacting impulsively

Walk me through how you'd handle a situation where a 14-year-old patient becomes physically aggressive toward staff or peers and verbal de-escalation isn't working.

knowledge of the escalation continuum, when restraint is appropriate, and comfort using physical safety interventions safely

What does a good milieu look like on a child and adolescent psych unit, and how do you help maintain it during a shift?

understanding of therapeutic environment management specific to inpatient behavioral health, not just individual patient care

Tell me about a time you had to give difficult news or set a firm boundary with a parent or guardian of a young patient. How did you handle it?

skill communicating with families under emotional stress, a constant feature of pediatric psych care

How do you assess a young patient's risk for self-harm or suicide during a shift, and what would make you escalate your concern immediately?

clinical judgment on suicide risk assessment and knowing thresholds for escalation, critical in this setting

This unit runs evening into overnight shifts, three days a week. How do you keep your assessments and documentation sharp when energy naturally dips late in a long shift?

self-awareness about fatigue management and commitment to consistent clinical rigor on the specific schedule posted

Describe a time you disagreed with a treatment plan or intervention a physician or therapist proposed for a patient. What did you do?

whether the candidate can advocate for patients through appropriate channels without undermining the care team