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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Showing 5 of 36+ Psychiatric Nurse jobs
About Behavioral Care Solutions
We are a GROWING COMPANY: Behavioral Care Solutions is the largest psychiatric and psycho-social services provider in long-term care in the Mid-West, supporting 900 long-term care facilities in Michigan, Ohio, Illinois, Wisconsin and Indiana...and expanding.
We have immediate openings for a Nurse Practitioner who specialize, or have interest, in geriatric psychiatry.
Location: Joliet, IL
Part-Time
Qualifications for the Nurse Practitioner:
- NP degree from an accredited University
- Must have Valid, FULL license and DEA# in the State.
- Demonstrated skills in communication with patients, families and staff.
- Demonstrated knowledge of mental health care delivery and interacting with other disciplines.
We offer the Nurse Practitioner:
- DAY TIME positions
- M-F: No weekends or on-call
- Flexible hours and autonomy
- More 1:1 time with your patients
- Dedicated Practice Manager
- Interdisciplinary team approach
- State of the art clinical systems
Responsibilities of the Nurse Practitioner include:
- Provide psychiatric services through the comprehensive evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of adult patients across a variety of clinic settings, including general adult populations with mood disorders, patients within a substance abuse clinic (managing psychiatric conditions, not substance abuse care), and individuals with intellectual disabilities and autism spectrum conditions residing in group homes, clinics, and similar settings.
- Prescribe or adjust psychotropic medications.
- Does not include psychological therapy.
- See 12 -15 patients per day.
- Collaboration with multiple disciplines and assure continuity of care.
- Knowledge of Medicare standards and documentation.
The Following is a Plus:
- 1+ years experience providing mental health services to the geriatric population.
- Experience with Medicare guidelines, standards of care and documentation.
Behavioral Care Solutions is an equal opportunity employer
www.behavioralcaresolutions.com
Pay: From $56.00 per hour
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- Dental insurance
- Flexible schedule
- Health insurance
- Health savings account
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Retirement plan
- Vision insurance
Education:
- Master's (Preferred)
Experience:
- NP or PA: 4 years (Required)
License/Certification:
- DEA License (Preferred)
- NP or PA License (Preferred)
Work Location: On the road
About Behavioral Care Solutions
We are a GROWING COMPANY: Behavioral Care Solutions is the largest psychiatric and psycho-social services provider in long-term care in the Mid-West, supporting 900 long-term care facilities in Michigan, Ohio, Illinois, Wisconsin and Indiana...and expanding.
We have immediate openings for a Nurse Practitioner who specialize, or have interest, in geriatric psychiatry.
Location: Joliet, IL
Part-Time
Qualifications for the Nurse Practitioner:
- NP degree from an accredited University
- Must have Valid, FULL license and DEA# in the State.
- Demonstrated skills in communication with patients, families and staff.
- Demonstrated knowledge of mental health care delivery and interacting with other disciplines.
We offer the Nurse Practitioner:
- DAY TIME positions
- M-F: No weekends or on-call
- Flexible hours and autonomy
- More 1:1 time with your patients
- Dedicated Practice Manager
- Interdisciplinary team approach
- State of the art clinical systems
Responsibilities of the Nurse Practitioner include:
- Provide psychiatric services through the comprehensive evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of adult patients across a variety of clinic settings, including general adult populations with mood disorders, patients within a substance abuse clinic (managing psychiatric conditions, not substance abuse care), and individuals with intellectual disabilities and autism spectrum conditions residing in group homes, clinics, and similar settings.
- Prescribe or adjust psychotropic medications.
- Does not include psychological therapy.
- See 12 -15 patients per day.
- Collaboration with multiple disciplines and assure continuity of care.
- Knowledge of Medicare standards and documentation.
The Following is a Plus:
- 1+ years experience providing mental health services to the geriatric population.
- Experience with Medicare guidelines, standards of care and documentation.
Behavioral Care Solutions is an equal opportunity employer
www.behavioralcaresolutions.com
Pay: From $56.00 per hour
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- Dental insurance
- Flexible schedule
- Health insurance
- Health savings account
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Retirement plan
- Vision insurance
Education:
- Master's (Preferred)
Experience:
- NP or PA: 4 years (Required)
License/Certification:
- DEA License (Preferred)
- NP or PA License (Preferred)
Work Location: On the road
See All 36 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 WP Psych, Rosecrance, and Fort Health, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 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, Illinois, and Aledo 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 60% of psychiatric nurse openings tied to Illinois are remote or hybrid as of August 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 36 Psychiatric Nurse Jobs in Illinois
Find roles in Illinois that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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