Psychiatric Nurse Jobs in Illinois
Psychiatric nurse jobs in Illinois are in strong demand, with openings concentrated in inpatient behavioral health units, community mental health centers, and correctional and forensic settings, and hiring that runs from new-graduate RNs through senior clinical nurse specialists. Chicago, Rockford, and Peoria are the largest hiring metros, with well-established employers such as Rush University Medical Center, Northwestern Medicine, and Sinai Chicago consistently filling psychiatric nurse roles. The most in-demand specialties include adult inpatient psychiatry, child and adolescent behavioral health, and dual-diagnosis substance use programs. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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When you join the growing BILH team, you're not just taking a job, you’re making a difference in people’s lives.
In this unique role as the endowed Mikki Kane Donovan Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, you will provide comprehensive psychiatric assessment, diagnosis, treatment and ongoing behavioral health management for patients within our obstetrics-gynecology department. This position will be particularly focused on conditions including perimenopausal/menopausal mental health, perinatal depression and anxiety, premenstrual dysphoric disorder and chronic pain or anxiety related to other gynecologic diagnoses such as endometriosis and adenomyosis, recurrent pregnancy loss and traumatic birth.The ideal candidate is an experienced psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner with a specific focus in women’s health. The candidate will engage in a multidisciplinary fashion with Obstetrician-Gynecology physicians, certified nurse midwives, nurse practitioners, nurses and social workers in our community-based, obstetric-gynecologic offices to provide specialized, holistic care.
Job Description:
ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES (including but not limited to):
Conduct psychiatric assessments specifically tailored to women’s health life stages including perimenopause/menopause, perinatal depression and anxiety, premenstrual dysphoric disorder and chronic pain or anxiety related to other gynecologic diagnoses such as endometriosis, adenomyosis, urinary incontinence or fibroids, recurrent pregnancy loss and traumatic birth.
Medication management: safely prescribe, monitor and adjust psychotropic medications; experience in assessing any specific implications for women who are pregnant, anticipating pregnancy or breastfeeding.
Collaborate with obstetric-gynecologic physicians, midwives, nurses, specialists, social workers and other healthcare professionals to coordinate outpatient psychiatric patient care in-person and via telehealth at our 5 core community offices located in Waltham, Cambridge, Arlington and Watertown.
Participate in periodic education for students and learners rotating within obstetrics-gynecology.
Therapy and Psychoeducation: Provide short-term therapy, coping strategies and education to patients and their families regarding their diagnosis and treatment options.
QUALIFICATIONS:
Education: Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) with a specialization as a Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)
MA License as Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) is required
DEA registration is required
Bilingual in Spanish preferred but not required
OTHER REQUIREMENTS:
Consistently promote a culture of Wellbeing, Empathy, Collaboration, Accountability, Respect, and Equity as outlined in the organization's WE CARE values.
Demonstrated commitment and actions to valuing diversity and contributing to an inclusive working and learning environment.
Must be able to see patients in the ambulatory offices for office sessions.
Pay Range:
$133,515.20 USD - $200,158.40 USDThe pay range listed for this position is the annual base salary range the organization reasonably and in good faith expects to pay for this position at this time. Actual compensation is determined based on several factors, that may include seniority, education, training, relevant experience, relevant certifications, geography of work location, job responsibilities, or other applicable factors permissible by law.
As a health care organization, we have a responsibility to do everything in our power to care for and protect our patients, our colleagues and our communities. Beth Israel Lahey Health requires that all staff be vaccinated against influenza (flu) as a condition of employment.
More than 35,000 people working together. Nurses, doctors, technicians, therapists, researchers, teachers and more, making a difference in patients' lives. Your skill and compassion can make us even stronger.
Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled
See All 43 Psychiatric Nurse Jobs in Illinois
Find roles in Illinois that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Psychiatric Nurse JobsPsychiatric Nurse Jobs by City in Illinois
Where Illinois roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Psychiatric Nurse Job Market in Illinois
A snapshot from current Illinois openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring



Top Industries Hiring
- Healthcare & Medical Services
- Education
What Illinois Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in psychiatric nurse jobs across Illinois.
- Active Illinois Registered Nurse license issued by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation
- Current BLS certification and, for most inpatient roles, ACLS certification
- Graduate of an accredited associate or bachelor of science in nursing program with clinical psychiatric hours
- Experience conducting psychiatric assessments, de-escalation, and crisis intervention with adult or pediatric patients
- Familiarity with electronic health record systems used in behavioral health settings such as Epic or Cerner
- Ability to meet Illinois Department of Human Services background check and healthcare worker registry requirements
Psychiatric Nurse Jobs in Illinois: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a psychiatric nurse in Illinois?
To become a psychiatric nurse in Illinois, you must first earn an associate or bachelor of science in nursing degree from an accredited program, then pass the NCLEX-RN exam and obtain an active Registered Nurse license through the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Once licensed, most Illinois employers expect at least one clinical rotation or work placement in a behavioral health or psychiatric setting. Pursuing the Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing Certification credential through the American Nurses Credentialing Center strengthens your candidacy considerably for specialized roles.
How much do psychiatric nurses make in Illinois?
Psychiatric nurses in Illinois earn a median of about $95,990 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $69,170 for the lowest 10% to over $118,190 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire psychiatric nurses in Illinois?
Employers hiring psychiatric nurses in Illinois right now include Trio Health Partners, Compass Health Center, and Affect Therapeutics, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of October 2026. Illinois's dense network of academic medical centers, county behavioral health systems, and community mental health agencies means consistent openings well beyond the Chicago metropolitan area.
Which Illinois cities have the most psychiatric nurse jobs?
Chicago, Champaign, and Oak Brook have the most psychiatric nurse openings in Illinois right now. Chicago accounts for the largest share by far, driven by its concentration of academic medical centers, safety-net hospitals, and county behavioral health facilities, while Rockford and Peoria anchor hiring in their respective regions through large integrated health systems that operate inpatient psychiatric units and outpatient mental health clinics serving surrounding rural communities.
Are there remote psychiatric nurse jobs in Illinois?
Yes, but they're rare. Psychiatric nursing is fundamentally a hands-on clinical role requiring direct patient contact, so the vast majority of openings are fully on-site. About 58% of psychiatric nurse openings tied to Illinois are remote or hybrid as of October 2026, and those positions are almost exclusively in telepsychiatry triage, telephone crisis line support, or utilization review rather than direct bedside or unit-based care.
How can I get hired as a psychiatric nurse in Illinois with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is applying to a nurse residency or new-graduate program at a large Illinois health system such as Rush University Medical Center, Northwestern Medicine, or AMITA Health, which run structured behavioral health rotations for nurses with limited post-licensure experience. Candidates who completed clinical hours in a psychiatric or substance use setting during nursing school have a clear edge. Lateral moves from medical-surgical or emergency nursing are common, and holding an active Illinois RN license with a clean Illinois Department of Human Services healthcare worker registry record is essential before any offer can be extended.
Where can I find and apply to psychiatric nurse jobs in Illinois?
You can find and apply to psychiatric nurse jobs in Illinois on Migrate Mate, which lists current Illinois openings across inpatient psychiatric units, community mental health centers, correctional facilities, and outpatient behavioral health practices. Find roles that fit your experience level and credentials below and apply directly to the employers posting them.
See All 43 Psychiatric Nurse Jobs in Illinois
Find roles in Illinois that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Psychiatric Nurse Jobs