Registered Nurse (RN) - Mental Health

Raleigh, North Carolina

The Clinical Nurse is responsible for providing total comprehensive nursing to patients and their families through the implementation of a plan of care.

Posted Oct 5 · New grads welcomed

Unit and setting: Mental Health & Well-Being Hospital - WakeBrook · Behavioral Health WakeBrook will serve adults in need of inpatient care for psychiatric illnesses.adults in need of inpatient care for psychiatric illnesses
License: RN license
Term: Permanent

Do you qualify?

New grads: Welcomed No Experience Required
Education: Diploma or Associate's Degree in Nursing Diploma Nursing Required - Or Associate's Degree Nursing Required

Let us help you check

Your six-month RN application plan

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

Graduation month

6 months before
Shortlist units
Check application windows. Gather clinical experience, references and your expected graduation date.
Find residencies
4–6 months before
Apply as windows open
Apply before graduation when the program allows it. Keep the cohort date and license deadline with each application.
Explore new grad jobs
2–3 months before
Meet the unit manager
Ask about overtime, a shadow shift, preceptor continuity and the schedule after orientation.
Prepare your questions
Around graduation
Confirm your start
Coordinate NCLEX, the required license and your start date. Get relocation and repayment terms in writing.
Plan your license

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.

What it pays

Tuition assistance: Tuition Reimbursement
Loan repayment: Public Service Loan Forgiveness
Bonus: Sign-On Bonus Sign-On Bonus available for select positionsselect positions

Benefits

BenefitsCompetitive Benefits PackageCompetitive Benefits Package
BenefitsTuition ReimbursementTuition Reimbursement
BenefitsPublic Service Loan ForgivenessPublic Service Loan Forgiveness
Sign-On Bonus available for select positions
Free Onsite Parking

Posted pay in North Carolina Ask Mira what this role should pay

The role and schedule

Day to day: providing total comprehensive nursing through implementation of care plan The Clinical Nurse is responsible for providing total comprehensive nursing to patients and their families through the implementation of a plan of care.
Care model: Nursing Professional Practice model and Patient & Family Centered Care (PFCC) model
Details: 150-bed Mental Health & Well-Being hospital in Garner, NC opening in 2029 WakeMed will also open a 150-bed Mental Health & Well-Being hospital in Garner, NC in 2029, which will offer additional opportunities when it is close to completion.

The workplace

WakeMed

Health system employer

Parking: Free Onsite Parking Free Onsite Parking

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…

Organization profile Employer website

Worth asking

Can you walk me through base pay range and differentials?
What should I expect for shifts, weekly hours, weekend, holiday, call, and rotation?

Ask Mira

Your fit

[data-job-fit-skeleton]{display:none}Answer one question to see your fit

On your path

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

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

Original listing

Read full text

Overview

The Clinical Nurse is responsible for providing total comprehensive nursing to patients and their families through the implementation of a plan of care. The plan is based upon the patient's developmental and health care needs identified through the assessment of the patient's physical, psychological, socioeconomic status, and physician orders regarding care, treatment, and education. The Clinical Nurse understands the needs of the organization and supports the mission, values, and management of patient care services.

The Clinical Nurse actively supports and incorporates ANA Scope and Standards of Nursing Practice, North Carolina Board of Nursing Practice Act, WakeMed's Division of Nursing Professional Practice model, and WakeMed's Patient & Family Centered Care (PFCC) model. The four key concepts of PFCC are: Dignity and Respect = Listen to and honor patient and family perspectives and choices; Information Sharing = Communicate and share complete and unbiased information with patients and families in ways that are affirming and useful; Participation = Patients and families are encouraged and supported in participating in care and decision-making at the level they choose; Collaboration = Patients and families and the Clinical Nurse collaborate in the delivery of care.

Department Description

Mental Health & Well-Being Hospital – WakeBrook provides innovative solutions to address the mental health issues among adults in our community.

WakeBrook will serve adults in need of inpatient care for psychiatric illnesses. This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a critical service for our community and care for adults who need our help.

WakeMed will also open a 150-bed Mental Health & Well-Being hospital in Garner, NC in 2029, which will offer additional opportunities when it is close to completion.

Benefits/Highlights

Sign-On Bonus available for select positions
Competitive Benefits Package
Tuition Reimbursement
Public Service Loan Forgiveness
Free Onsite Parking

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

Experience

No Experience Required

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

Check licensing in NC

See Raleigh, NC

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

Compare living costs Plan your license move Explore this area

Nurses on this role

Help improve this pageShare what it’s like, leave a heads-up, or fix a detail.

What would you like to do?

What was it really like?

Your connectionWould you recommend it?Your role (optional)Unit (optional)

Add ratings or a short headline

Short headline (optional)StaffingManagementSchedulingOrientationCultureTime there (optional)

I understand that, after review, Nursing Mastery may publish this anonymously.

A person reviews every submission before anything changes.

Do you qualify?

Shortlist units

Apply as windows open

Meet the unit manager

Confirm your start

What it pays

Benefits

The role and schedule

The workplace

Worth asking

Ask Mira

Your fit

On your path

Original listing

Department Description

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.