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RN, Registered Nurse | Medical Psychiatric Unit

Gundersen Health System logo

Gundersen Health System

La Crosse, Wisconsin

Emplify Health by Gundersen is seeking a Registered Nurse to join our 22-bed Medical Psychiatric Unit.

Posted Oct 1 · New grads welcomed

Shift and hours
8-⁠hour day and PM shifts · rotating day and PM shifts Rotating 8-hour rotating day (6:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.) and PM (2:30 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.) shifts24 hours a week
Unit and setting
Medical Psychiatric Unit · Hospital Provide Love + Medicine to patients with neuropsychiatric diagnoses, including dementia, autism spectrum disorder, Huntington's disease, and geropsychiatric conditions.
License
RN licenseCurrent RN licensure in Wisconsin upon hire
Term
Permanent 0.6 FTE | 48 hours every two weeks0.6 FTE

Do you qualify?

New grads
Welcomed New graduate and experienced RNs are encouraged to apply
License
Current RN licensure in Wisconsin upon hire Check your license
Certification
Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification for Healthcare Providers
Education
Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) required; BSN preferred

Preferred

Education
BSN
Your six-month RN application plan

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

  1. 6 months before

    Shortlist units

    Check application windows. Gather clinical experience, references and your expected graduation date.

    Find residencies
  2. 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
  3. 2–3 months before

    Meet the unit manager

    Ask about overtime, a shadow shift, preceptor continuity and the schedule after orientation.

    Prepare your questions
  4. 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

Against similar roles
In range for La Crosse staff RN rolesLa Crosse staff RN postings that state pay run $32/hr to $39/hr, the middle half $32/hr to $39/hr, across 71 postings.
Pay differential
Shift, weekend, and holiday differentials Shift, weekend, and holiday differentials
Extra pay
shift, weekend, and holiday differentials
Pay reviews
additional compensation for experience Starting pay of $38.96/hour, plus additional compensation for experience

Benefits

  • Benefitscompetitive retirement benefitsCompetitive retirement and healthcare benefits
  • Benefitscompetitive healthcare benefits
  • BenefitsCareer Development Center and Tuition Investment ProgramCareer growth opportunities through our Career Development Center and Tuition Investment Program
  • Health insurance
  • Opportunities for advancement
  • Retirement plan
More benefits (2)
  • Tuition Investment Program
  • Career Development Center

The role and schedule

Patients
patients with neuropsychiatric diagnoses, including dementia, autism spectrum disorder, Huntington's disease, and geropsychiatric conditions Provide Love + Medicine to patients with neuropsychiatric diagnoses, including dementia, autism spectrum disorder, Huntington's disease, and geropsychiatric conditions.
Day to day
care for patients with medical and behavioral health needs, including substance use disorders and withdrawal management Care for patients with medical and behavioral health needs, including substance use disorders, withdrawal management, and co-occurring medical and psychiatric conditions.
Day to day
develop specialized skills in coordinated, patient-centered care for medical and behavioral health needs Develop specialized skills in caring for patients whose medical and behavioral health needs require a coordinated, patient-centered approach.
Day to day
collaborate with an interdisciplinary team including hospitalists, psychiatrists, RNs, CNAs, social workers, and recreational therapists Collaborate with an interdisciplinary team that includes hospitalists, psychiatrists, RNs, CNAs, social workers, recreational therapists, and other healthcare professionals.
Cross-training
medical-surgical and psychiatric care
Unit size
22-bed unit Emplify Health by Gundersen is seeking a Registered Nurse to join our 22-bed Medical Psychiatric Unit.
Weekends
every other weekend Every other weekend and three holidays per year
Holidays
three holidays per year

The workplace

Gundersen Health System logo
Gundersen Health System
Health system employer

Worth asking

  • Can you walk me through base pay range?
  • What should I expect for holiday, call, and rotation?
More questions to ask
  • What orientation, preceptor time, and ongoing unit support are included?
  • How are patient load, floating, and staffing support handled day to day?
Build questions for this role

Your fit

On your path

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

Original listing

Read full text

Love + medicine is who we are, it's what we do, it's why people want to work here. If you’re looking for a job to love, apply today.

Scheduled Weekly Hours

24

Registered Nurse | Medical Psychiatric Unit

Emplify Health by Gundersen is seeking a Registered Nurse to join our 22-bed Medical Psychiatric Unit. This unique nursing opportunity allows you to provide both medical-surgical and psychiatric care while making a meaningful impact on patients and families in the beautiful Coulee Region of La Crosse, Wisconsin.

What You Will Work

  • 0.6 FTE | 48 hours every two weeks
  • Rotating 8-hour rotating day (6:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.) and PM (2:30 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.) shifts
  • Every other weekend and three holidays per year

Questions? Self-schedule a time to chat with a Nurse Recruiter

What You Will Do

  • Provide Love + Medicine to patients with neuropsychiatric diagnoses, including dementia, autism spectrum disorder, Huntington's disease, and geropsychiatric conditions.
  • Care for patients with medical and behavioral health needs, including substance use disorders, withdrawal management, and co-occurring medical and psychiatric conditions.
  • Develop specialized skills in caring for patients whose medical and behavioral health needs require a coordinated, patient-centered approach.

Collaborate with an interdisciplinary team that includes hospitalists, psychiatrists, RNs, CNAs, social workers, recreational therapists, and other healthcare professionals.

What You Will Get

  • Starting pay of $38.96/hour, plus additional compensation for experience
  • Shift, weekend, and holiday differentials
  • Competitive retirement and healthcare benefits
  • Career growth opportunities through our Career Development Center and Tuition Investment Program
  • Daily support from your Clinical Manager, Professional Development Nurse, and Clinical Nurse Leader
  • Opportunities to influence nursing practice through Nursing Shared Governance Councils
  • A collaborative and supportive team environment where both new and experienced nurses can thrive

Exposure to a unique patient population that strengthens assessment, communication, behavioral health, and critical thinking skills

What You Need

  • Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) required; BSN preferred
  • Current RN licensure in Wisconsin upon hire
  • Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification for Healthcare Providers

New graduate and experienced RNs are encouraged to apply

Why Join Emplify Health by Gundersen?

We're not just filling positions, we're building careers. At Emplify Health, we care for our teams while they care for their communities. Whether you are just starting out or looking for a change, Emplify Health supports you now and into the future. Join us and discover how a little empathy changes everything.

Join our mission to inspire your best life by relentlessly caring, learning, and innovating while making a meaningful difference as a Registered Nurse on our Medical Psychiatric Unit.

Emplify Health, a partnership of Bellin Health and Gundersen Health System, is a leading not-for-profit, patient-centered healthcare network based in Green Bay and La Crosse, Wisconsin. With 11 hospitals and more than 100 clinics, we serve communities across Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota, and Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Join us in making a meaningful difference in the lives of our patients and communities.

Equal Opportunity Employer

I f you need assistance with any portion of the application or have questions about the position, please contact HR-Recruitment@gundersenhealth.org or call 608-775-0267.

We inspire your best life by relentlessly caring, learning and innovating. This is our purpose. Together with our values — belonging, respect, excellence, accountability, teamwork and humility — our pillars set our foundation and our future.

Equal Opportunity Employer

What's around it?

In La Crosse, WI

La Crosse, WIFrom Census ACS 2024.

Living costs about 8% below the US average

Median rent
$1,010/mo
Household income
$55,866/yr, all local households, not nurse pay

See La Crosse, WI

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