Registered Nurse (RN) - Mental Health

WakeMed

Raleigh, North Carolina

Posted Oct 21 · New grads welcomed

License: RN license Registered Nurse Required
Term: Permanent

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New grads: Welcomed Experience 2 Years Nursing Required - Or No Experience Required With Preferred Education Show more Show less []
License: Registered Nurse Required

Preferred

Education: Diploma Nursing Required - Or Associate's Degree Nursing Required - And Bachelor's Degree Nursing Preferred
Experience: 2 Years Nursing Required - Or No Experience Required With Preferred Education

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Start about six months before graduation. Some programs open earlier; use each employer’s application dates.

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Why start this early?

Advocate describes a 6–9 month application runway for several regional RN programs. These milestones are a planning guide, not deadlines for every employer. See program calendars.

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The workplace

WakeMed

Health system employer

WakeMed Health & Hospitals is a healthcare system based in Raleigh, North Carolina, serving the broader Wake County community. The organization's mission centers on improving the health and well-being of the community through outstanding and compassionate care. WakeMed emphasizes recruiting…

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On your path

Psychiatric is open from year one. Behavioral health spans inpatient, emergency, and community settings.

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Original listing

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Overview

At WakeMed, our mission is to improve the health and well-being of our community—and we do it by delivering outstanding, compassionate care.

We’re currently hiring a Registered Nurse to provide comprehensive, patient-centered care within a Behavioral Health Emergency Clinical Evaluation environment. In this role, you’ll deliver care that meets the unique needs of patients and families while supporting high standards of professional nursing practice.

What You'll Do

Provide comprehensive nursing care to patients being assessed by the Mental Health and Well-being team and the primary medical team. This includes implementation of care plans and physician orders for pediatric, adult and geriatric populations.

Assess patient needs across physical, psychological, and social factors to guide care delivery.

Deliver patient and family education to support understanding and participation in care.

Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams to ensure coordinated, high-quality care.

Apply WakeMed’s Patient & Family Centered Care (PFCC) model in all aspects of care delivery.

Who You Are

Licensed Registered Nurse (RN) with clinical experience in psychiatric, mental health and/or substance abuse settings Comfortable working in high-acuity, fast-paced care settings with patients who may exhibit challenging behaviors Strong understanding of nursing standards, including American Nursing Association Scope and Standards and NC Board of Nursing Practice Act Effective communicator who collaborates well with patients, families, and care teams Dedicated to maintaining clinical excellence and continuous professional development

If you’re ready to make a meaningful impact through high-quality patient care, we encourage you to apply!

Department Description

Nursing Benefits/Highlights

Career Ladder – RN I – IV, depending on education and experience
Sign-On Bonus and/or Relocation Incentive available for select positions
Competitive Benefits Package
Tuition Reimbursement
Public Service Loan Forgiveness
Free Onsite Parking
Professional Development Opportunities

Serving the community since 1961, WakeMed Health & Hospitals is the leading provider of health services in Wake County. With a mission to improve the health and well-being of our community, we are committed to providing outstanding and compassionate care. For more information, visit www.wakemed.org.

EOE

Licensure

Registered Nurse Required

Education

Diploma Nursing Required - Or Associate's Degree Nursing Required - And Bachelor's Degree Nursing Preferred

Experience

2 Years Nursing Required - Or No Experience Required With Preferred Education

What's around it?

In Raleigh, NC

Raleigh, NCFrom Census ACS 2024.

Living costs about 2% below the US average

Median rent: $1,572/mo
Household income: $85,395/yr, all local households, not nurse pay

Life in Raleigh, NC

NeighborhoodsYoung professionals and downtown-oriented movers cluster in Downtown Raleigh, Five Points, and Glenwood South for restaurants, nightlife, and walkability, or in upscale North Hills for a shopping-dining-living mix. Value-seekers look at Garner and Knightdale, Southeast Raleigh inside city limits, and neighboring Wendell, Clayton, Fuquay-Varina, Willow Spring, and Zebulon. Historic tree-lined enclaves just inside the beltline offer a quieter in-city feel. Fuquay-Varina has grown to roughly 44,000 people (nearly 28% since 2020) and has two historic downtown districts recognized as North Carolina Main Street Communities.

Young professionals and downtown-oriented movers cluster in Downtown Raleigh, Five Points, and Glenwood South for restaurants, nightlife, and walkability, or in upscale North Hills for a shopping-dining-living mix. Value-seekers look at Garner and Knightdale, Southeast Raleigh inside city limits, and neighboring Wendell, Clayton, Fuquay-Varina, Willow Spring, and Zebulon.

Historic tree-lined enclaves just inside the beltline offer a quieter in-city feel. Fuquay-Varina has grown to roughly 44,000 people (nearly 28% since 2020) and has two historic downtown districts recognized as North Carolina Main Street Communities.

Sources

As of Sep 11, 2026Source 1: zillow.com Source 2: newhomeinc.com Source 3: dreamfindershomes.com Source 4: facebook.com Source 5: reddit.com

Getting aroundThe completed I-540 outer loop lets commuters reach any part of Raleigh from surrounding towns without driving through downtown. Fuquay-Varina is about 18 miles south on US 401, typically 25–35 minutes; Willow Spring and Clayton about 30 minutes; Zebulon about 35; Lillington about 39 minutes via NC 210 and US 401. Inner-city traffic is a standing complaint, with about 31 lost commute hours per year cited, and sprawl makes a car the default outside the core. Downtown residents describe walking to groceries, coffee, and errands and rarely filling the tank. These sources do not name hospital campuses, parking, or transit lines to specific medical centers.

The completed I-540 outer loop lets commuters reach any part of Raleigh from surrounding towns without driving through downtown. Fuquay-Varina is about 18 miles south on US 401, typically 25–35 minutes; Willow Spring and Clayton about 30 minutes; Zebulon about 35; Lillington about 39 minutes via NC 210 and US 401. Inner-city traffic is a standing complaint, with about 31 lost commute hours per year cited, and sprawl makes a car the default outside the core.

Downtown residents describe walking to groceries, coffee, and errands and rarely filling the tank. These sources do not name hospital campuses, parking, or transit lines to specific medical centers.

Sources

As of Sep 11, 2026Source 1: newhomeinc.com Source 2: extraspace.com Source 3: youtube.com

OutdoorsWilliam B. Umstead State Park is the big in-town wilderness for hiking, biking, picnicking, and fishing. Lake Johnson Park has paved and natural trails, fishing, shelters, and seasonal boat rentals; Yates Mill County Park adds hiking, gardens, and exhibits; Lake Crabtree County Park and Jordan Lake are the water go-tos. Pullen Park offers a carousel, train, paddle boats, and playgrounds; Dorothea Dix Park has open lawns and a dog park; the Neuse River Trail/Greenway is a long boardwalk-and-trail spine. JC Raulston Arboretum and WRAL Azalea Gardens cover the garden side; Go Ape adds ziplines and treetop courses. Residents repeatedly call out parks and playgrounds as a standout.

William B. Umstead State Park is the big in-town wilderness for hiking, biking, picnicking, and fishing. Lake Johnson Park has paved and natural trails, fishing, shelters, and seasonal boat rentals; Yates Mill County Park adds hiking, gardens, and exhibits; Lake Crabtree County Park and Jordan Lake are the water go-tos.

Pullen Park offers a carousel, train, paddle boats, and playgrounds; Dorothea Dix Park has open lawns and a dog park; the Neuse River Trail/Greenway is a long boardwalk-and-trail spine. JC Raulston Arboretum and WRAL Azalea Gardens cover the garden side; Go Ape adds ziplines and treetop courses.

Residents repeatedly call out parks and playgrounds as a standout.

Sources

As of Sep 11, 2026Source 1: stateviewhotel.com Source 2: foodwinesunshine.com Source 3: reddit.com Source 4: reddit.com Source 5: youtube.com Source 6: extraspace.com

Others hiring in Raleigh, NC

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Moving for this role?

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 Raleigh

Raleigh is North Carolina's capital and a Research Triangle anchor, which is why nurses land here: a healthcare-and-tech job base, parks locals actually use, and costs still a bit below many peer metros. Live downtown, in Five Points, or along Glenwood South if you want to walk to coffee, Beasley's Chicken + Honey, Longleaf Swine, and Red Hat Amphitheater nights; choose North Hills for a polished shop-dine-live setup. On an $80k–$150k budget, look at Garner, Knightdale, Southeast Raleigh, Wendell, Clayton, or Fuquay-Varina—about 18 miles and 25–35 minutes south on US 401—where two-bedrooms have been quoted near $1,700 while some core apartments hit $2,300. Finished I-540 lets you reach the city from any direction without threading downtown, but inner-city traffic still costs about 31 hours a year and sprawl means a car outside the core. Off shifts, Umstead State Park, the Neuse River Trail, Dorothea Dix Park, Pullen Park, and Jordan Lake are the weekend map; the NC Museum of Art and CAM Raleigh cover culture. Tradeoffs are muggy summers, fierce spring pollen, pests, flood pockets, a competitive market that has already pushed natives east, and no big-league sports. RDU is small and easy.

AI area guide

Sources

As of 2026Source 1: zillow.com Source 2: newhomeinc.com Source 3: extraspace.com Source 4: raleighrealty.com Source 5: stateviewhotel.com Source 6: foodwinesunshine.com Source 7: facebook.com Source 8: reddit.com Source 9: youtube.com

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Do you qualify?

Preferred

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The workplace

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Original listing

What You'll Do

Nursing Benefits/Highlights

What's around it?

Raleigh, NCiFrom Census ACS 2024.

Life in Raleigh, NC

Moving for this role?

Nurses on this role

Nurses on this role

Life in Raleigh, NC

Moving for this role?

Nurses on this role

Raleigh, NCFrom Census ACS 2024.