RN - Inpatient - Psychiatry

Madison, Wisconsin

The remarkable team on our inpatient psychiatry unit at Wisconsin’s top-ranked hospital is seeking an experienced RN to practice in an environment where work is valued, your growth is supported, and your impact is profound. UW Health is an academic medical center.

Posted Oct 5 · “Six (6) months nursing experience or current participant in UW Health’s Nurse Residency Program with successful completion of the Nurse Residency Orientation on unit/similar unit Required” from the posting

Shift and hours: 8- or 12-⁠hour shifts · evening/night, 3:00 pm - 7:30 am 80% FTE, 8/12-hour evening/night shift between the hours of 3:00 pm - 7:30 am
Unit and setting: inpatient psychiatry unit · Hospital caring for acutely ill adult patients who have a variety of comorbidities and psychiatric conditions.acutely ill adult patients with comorbidities and psychiatric conditions
License: RN license Licensed as a Registered Nurse (RN) in the State of WI or holds a license issued by a jurisdiction that has adopted the nurse licensure compact RequiredRN license, WI or nurse licensure compact state
Term: Permanent 80% FTE, 8/12-hour evening/night shift between the hours of 3:00 pm - 7:30 am80% FTE

Do you qualify?

License: RN license, WI or nurse licensure compact state Licensed as a Registered Nurse (RN) in the State of WI or holds a license issued by a jurisdiction that has adopted the nurse licensure compact Required Check your license
Certification: current CPR/BLS Current CPR/BLS Certification Required
Experience: six months nursing experience or current Nurse Residency Program participant

Preferred

Certification: relevant certification Relevant Certification Preferred
Education: BSN Bachelor's Degree in Nursing (BSN) Preferred
Experience: relevant RN experience Relevant RN Experience Preferred

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What it pays

Against similar roles: Top of Madison staff RN payMadison staff RN postings that state pay run $39/hr to $40/hr, the middle half $40/hr to $40/hr, across 213 postings.
Pay differential: Additional components of compensation include impressive shift differentials - $4/hour evening, $5/hour night and $4.25/hour weekend differential as applicable for hours worked. Additional components of compensation include impressive shift differentials - $4/hour evening, $5/hour night and $4.25/hour weekend differential as applicable for hours worked.
Extra pay: $4/hour evening differentialas applicable for hours worked
Extra pay: $5/hour night differentialas applicable for hours worked
Extra pay: $4.25/hour weekend differentialas applicable for hours worked
Eligibility: full-time benefits for part-time work Full time benefits for part time work (for positions 60% FTE and higher).positions 60% FTE and higher
Bonus: referral bonus The opportunity to earn a referral bonus for referring friends, former colleagues or others to apply for open, posted positions.referring friends, former colleagues or others to apply for open, posted positions

Benefits

Benefitshealth and dental insuranceAn excellent benefits package, including health and dental insurance, paid time off, retirement plans, two-week paid parental leave and adoption assistance.
Benefitspaid time off
Benefitsretirement plans
Benefitstwo-week paid parental leave
Benefitsadoption assistance
Benefitstuition benefits eligibility from day oneTuition benefits eligibility on day one of employment

More benefits (5)

BenefitsEmployee Wellbeing Department resourcesAccess to great resources through the UW Health Employee Wellbeing Department that supports your emotional, financial, and physical well-being.
Benefitsoptions for a variety of schedules and shiftsOptions for a variety of schedules and shifts that offer flexibility and allow for work-life balance.
Full-time benefits for part-time work (60% FTE and higher)
Tuition benefits eligibility on day one
Referral bonus opportunity

The role and schedule

Day to day: function in cohesive interdisciplinary team with nurse-driven collaboration Function as part of a cohesive interdisciplinary team, providing nurse driven collaboration and patient-centered care.
Day to day: serve as trusted support system and educator for patients Serve as a trusted support system and educator for patients, helping them navigate their treatment journey with dignity, understanding and hope.
Unit size: 18-bed med/psych unit Practice in a safe environment on a locked 18-bed med/psych unit
Hours stated: 8/12-hour evening/night shift between the hours of 3:00 pm - 7:30 am with an every other weekend rotation. Holiday rotation required.
Weekends: every other weekend rotation with an every other weekend rotation.
Holidays: holiday rotation required Holiday rotation required.
Details: shared governance structure giving every nurse a voice A strong shared governance structure which assures every nurse has a voice.
Details: works at University Hospital, Madison You will work at University Hospital in Madison, WI.

Support on this unit

Nurse to patient: acuity-based staffing ratios Acuity based staffing ratios for optimal safety.

The workplace

UW Health

Academic Medical Center

4.7 Google rating

Facility profile Employer website

Worth asking

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Your fit

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On your path

Psychiatric Behavioral health spans inpatient, emergency, and community settings.

See your route →Check first: New-grad residency fine print

Original listing

Posted on UW Health’s careers page.

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Work Schedule

80% FTE, 8/12-hour evening/night shift between the hours of 3:00 pm - 7:30 am with an every other weekend rotation. Holiday rotation required. You will work at University Hospital in Madison, WI.

Pay

Additional components of compensation include impressive

shift differentials - $4/hour evening, $5/hour night and $4.25/hour weekend differential as applicable for hours worked.

Are you a dedicated, compassionate Registered Nurse with a deep commitment to mental health? The remarkable team on our inpatient psychiatry unit at Wisconsin’s top-ranked hospital is seeking an experienced RN to practice in an environment where work is valued, your growth is supported, and your impact is profound.

As a RN on this unit, you will have the opportunity to

Practice in a safe environment on a locked 18-bed med/psych unit caring for acutely ill adult patients who have a variety of comorbidities and psychiatric conditions. Function as part of a cohesive interdisciplinary team, providing nurse driven collaboration and patient-centered care. Serve as a trusted support system and educator for patients, helping them navigate their treatment journey with dignity, understanding and hope. Interested? Click here to learn more from a nurse on the unit!

At UW Health, you will have

An excellent benefits package, including health and dental insurance, paid time off, retirement plans, two-week paid parental leave and adoption assistance. Full time benefits for part time work (for positions 60% FTE and higher). Options for a variety of schedules and shifts that offer flexibility and allow for work-life balance.

Access to great resources through the UW Health Employee Wellbeing Department that supports your emotional, financial, and physical well-being. Acuity based staffing ratios for optimal safety. A strong shared governance structure which assures every nurse has a voice.

A place where nursing excellence is recognized and celebrated in our inpatient and outpatient settings through several award programs. Tuition benefits eligibility on day one of employment - UW Health invests in your professional growth as a nurse by helping pay for coursework associated with career advancement. The opportunity to earn a referral bonus for referring friends, former colleagues or others to apply for open, posted positions.

Qualifications Bachelor's Degree in Nursing (BSN) Preferred Work Experience Six (6) months nursing experience or current participant in UW Health’s Nurse Residency Program with successful completion of the Nurse Residency Orientation on unit/similar unit Required Relevant RN Experience Preferred Licenses & Certifications Licensed as a Registered Nurse (RN) in the State of WI or holds a license issued by a jurisdiction that has adopted the nurse licensure compact Required Current CPR/BLS Certification Required Relevant Certification Preferred Our Commitment to Social Impact and Belonging UW Health is committed to fostering a workplace that creates belonging for everyone and is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer. Our respect for people shines through patient care interactions and our daily work practices as we work to embrace the knowledge, unique perspectives and qualities each employee and faculty member brings to work each day. It is the policy of UW Health to provide equal opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, protected veteran or disabled status, or genetic information.

Job Description UW Hospital and Clinics benefits

What's around it?

In Madison, WI

Madison, WIFrom Census ACS 2024.

Living costs about 3% below the US average

Median rent: $1,413/mo
Household income: $78,050/yr, all local households, not nurse pay

Life in Madison, WI

NeighborhoodsRecent grads and young professionals on Reddit often look at East Washington Avenue and blocks right by the Capitol, plus East Side pockets that stay cheaper than the near-east even as they gentrify; Sun Prairie comes up as a cheaper bedroom-community commute. Extra Space’s 2026 roundup flags Hill Farms-University as the in-city budget option (median home $274,000, median rent $708), Marquette for historic charm and lakeside recreation ($298,833 / $1,186), Vilas near UW–Madison ($393,950 / $1,475), and Dudgeon-Monroe as a tree-lined mix of families and young pros with more than a mile and a half of Monroe Street shops ($423,567 / $1,287). Families are frequently pointed toward suburbs Verona, Middleton, and Waunakee.

Recent grads and young professionals on Reddit often look at East Washington Avenue and blocks right by the Capitol, plus East Side pockets that stay cheaper than the near-east even as they gentrify; Sun Prairie comes up as a cheaper bedroom-community commute. Extra Space’s 2026 roundup flags Hill Farms-University as the in-city budget option (median home $274,000, median rent $708), Marquette for historic charm and lakeside recreation ($298,833 / $1,186), Vilas near UW–Madison ($393,950 / $1,475), and Dudgeon-Monroe as a tree-lined mix of families and young pros with more than a mile and a half of Monroe Street shops ($423,567 / $1,287).

Families are frequently pointed toward suburbs Verona, Middleton, and Waunakee.

Sources

As of Sep 11, 2026Source 1: reddit.com Source 2: extraspace.com Source 3: facebook.com

Getting aroundU.S. News puts the typical Madison commute at about 18.31 minutes. Metro Transit’s Rapid Route A BRT runs east-west from the Sun Prairie Park and Ride to Junction Road with 15-minute weekday service until 8:00 p.m. and 15-minute Saturday service until 7:00 p.m.; Routes B and F also board along that corridor, so a home near a BRT station can feel closer than the map suggests. Redfin scores transit 35/100 and flags limited, inconsistent buses especially in the suburbs, so most nurses will still want a car. The west side holds about 33,000 residents and more than 23,000 jobs concentrated around University Research Park; UW Hospital and Clinics is the named major healthcare hub. Hospital parking and shift-specific routes are not covered in these sources.

U.S. News puts the typical Madison commute at about 18.31 minutes. Metro Transit’s Rapid Route A BRT runs east-west from the Sun Prairie Park and Ride to Junction Road with 15-minute weekday service until 8:00 p.m. and 15-minute Saturday service until 7:00 p.m.; Routes B and F also board along that corridor, so a home near a BRT station can feel closer than the map suggests.

Redfin scores transit 35/100 and flags limited, inconsistent buses especially in the suburbs, so most nurses will still want a car. The west side holds about 33,000 residents and more than 23,000 jobs concentrated around University Research Park; UW Hospital and Clinics is the named major healthcare hub.

Hospital parking and shift-specific routes are not covered in these sources.

Sources

As of Sep 11, 2026Source 1: realestate.usnews.com Source 2: susansuttonhomes.com Source 3: redfin.com Source 4: apartmentguide.com

OutdoorsMadison sits between Lake Mendota and Lake Monona among five area lakes, with 307 parks, a free Henry Vilas Zoo, and more than 200 miles of biking and hiking trails including the Capital City State Trail. Named greenspaces include Olbrich Park and Hillington Green Park in Dudgeon-Monroe; residents kayak, fish, boat, and paddleboard the lakes, and state parks sit within about an hour’s drive. Winters shut down much of this, but summers turn the lakes, beer gardens, and trail network into daily life rather than weekend trips.

Madison sits between Lake Mendota and Lake Monona among five area lakes, with 307 parks, a free Henry Vilas Zoo, and more than 200 miles of biking and hiking trails including the Capital City State Trail. Named greenspaces include Olbrich Park and Hillington Green Park in Dudgeon-Monroe; residents kayak, fish, boat, and paddleboard the lakes, and state parks sit within about an hour’s drive.

Winters shut down much of this, but summers turn the lakes, beer gardens, and trail network into daily life rather than weekend trips.

Sources

As of Sep 11, 2026Source 1: visitmadison.com Source 2: redfin.com Source 3: youtube.com Source 4: apartmentguide.com Source 5: extraspace.com

Others hiring in Madison, WI

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Check the commute at your shift’s start and end, upfront housing costs, and whether moving assistance must be repaid if you leave.

Living in Madison

Madison is a mid-size capital and Big Ten town squeezed between Lakes Mendota and Monona, with 307 parks, 200-plus miles of trails, a free Henry Vilas Zoo, and the Dane County Farmers' Market on the Capitol Square. Nurses get UW Hospital and Clinics plus west-side jobs at University Research Park; typical commute is about 18 minutes, but Rapid Route A is the only frequent BRT spine and Transit Score is 35, so most still drive. Young professionals land on the East Side, East Wash, and near the Capitol; Hill Farms-University is the budget in-city option, Dudgeon-Monroe and Vilas cost more near Monroe Street and campus. Food is a genuine draw—The Old Fashioned, Graze, State Street Brats, Olbrich Biergarten, and a thick brewery circuit. Locals are blunt about tradeoffs: winters can run November through March, listings hit about $486k in 2026, diversity is limited, and this is not a big city. If you bike, boat, and can handle a long winter, daily quality of life is the pitch.

AI area guide

Sources

As of 2026Source 1: visitmadison.com Source 2: realestate.usnews.com Source 3: susansuttonhomes.com Source 4: extraspace.com Source 5: redfin.com Source 6: concoursehotel.com Source 7: youtube.com Source 8: thehonestlocal.com

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What it pays

Benefits

The role and schedule

Support on this unit

The workplace

Worth asking

Ask Mira

Your fit

On your path

Original listing

Work Schedule

Pay

As a RN on this unit, you will have the opportunity to

At UW Health, you will have

What's around it?

Madison, WIiFrom Census ACS 2024.

Life in Madison, WI

Moving for this role?

Nurses on this role

Nurses on this role

Life in Madison, WI

Moving for this role?

Nurses on this role

Madison, WIFrom Census ACS 2024.