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Behavioral Health Rn Jobs in Indianapolis, IN (NOW HIRING)

A Home Health Registered Nurse develops and oversees nursing care plans that individually address each patient's needs. Our RNs go beyond that and care for the patient's mind, body and spirit while ...

RN - Psych

Indianapolis, IN · On-site

$1.7K - $2.3K/wk

RN - Psych About the Position Specialty: RN - Psych Experience: 1-2 years in psychiatric or behavioral health nursing preferred License: Active State or Compact RN License Certifications: BLS - AHA ...

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Behavioral Health Rn information

See Indianapolis, IN salary details

$15

$44

$77

How much do behavioral health rn jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 3, 2026, the average hourly pay for behavioral health rn in Indianapolis, IN is $44.76, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $31.92 and $54.66 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a behavioral health RN do?

The job duties of a behavioral health RN revolve around providing patient care in a mental health capacity. You work with psychologists, psychiatrists, and physicians to offer psychiatric and behavioral care. As a behavioral health nurse, you perform duties such as helping patients perform exercises to change thought patterns or habits. You may also assist with relaxation techniques for stress management or pain management. With specialized training, you may also employ biofeedback techniques or work with clients on long-term therapies such as personality development and behavior modification.

What is a behavioral health RN?

Behavioral Health Registered Nurses (RNs) are specialized nurses who care for patients experiencing mental health issues, emotional disorders, or substance abuse problems. They work in settings such as psychiatric hospitals, mental health clinics, and residential treatment centers. Their responsibilities include assessing patients’ mental health needs, administering medications, developing care plans, and providing support to patients and their families. Behavioral Health RNs collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to ensure comprehensive care and promote patient recovery.

What are some typical challenges a behavioral health RN might encounter when working with patients in a mental health setting?

Behavioral Health RNs often face challenges such as managing unpredictable patient behaviors, de-escalating crisis situations, and balancing the emotional demands of supporting individuals with complex mental health needs. They must also maintain clear and compassionate communication with both patients and interdisciplinary team members, while adhering to strict safety protocols. Successfully navigating these challenges requires resilience, adaptability, and strong teamwork skills within a supportive mental health care environment.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a behavioral health RN, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Behavioral Health RN, you need a nursing degree, RN licensure, and expertise in mental health assessment and crisis intervention. Familiarity with behavioral health documentation systems, de-escalation tools, and relevant certifications like BLS or PMH-BC is typically required. Strong communication, emotional resilience, and empathy are vital soft skills for supporting patients and collaborating with multidisciplinary teams. These skills and qualifications are essential for ensuring safe, effective care and fostering a therapeutic environment for individuals facing mental health challenges.

What is the difference between Behavioral Health Rn vs Psychiatric Nurse?

AspectBehavioral Health RnPsychiatric Nurse
CredentialsRegistered Nurse (RN) license, possibly additional behavioral health certificationsRegistered Nurse (RN) license, often with psychiatric or mental health certifications
Work EnvironmentHospitals, mental health clinics, community health settingsPsychiatric hospitals, mental health units, outpatient clinics
Employer & IndustryHospitals, mental health facilities, outpatient centersPsychiatric hospitals, mental health clinics, residential facilities
Common Search & ComparisonBehavioral Health Rn vs Psychiatric Nurse

Both roles involve providing mental health care, but Behavioral Health Rns often work in diverse settings with a focus on behavioral health interventions, while Psychiatric Nurses typically work specifically within psychiatric hospitals or units. The credentials and work environments overlap significantly, making them closely related roles in mental health care.

More about Behavioral Health Rn jobs

What cities near Indianapolis, IN are hiring for Behavioral Health Rn jobs?

Cities near Indianapolis, IN with the most Behavioral Health Rn job openings:

Infographic showing various Behavioral Health Rn job openings in Indianapolis, IN as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 78% Full Time, 11% Part Time, and 11% Contract. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $93,102 per year, or $44.8 per hour.

Behavioral Health Advocate - Crawfordsville, IN

UnitedHealth Group

Crawfordsville, IN • On-site

Full-time

Retirement

Re-posted 8 days ago


UnitedHealth Group rating

7.6

Company rating: 7.6 out of 10

Based on 146 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

192nd of 898 rated healthcare providers


Job description

Optum is a global organization that delivers care, aided by technology to help millions of people live healthier lives. The work you do with our team will directly improve health outcomes by connecting people with the care, pharmacy benefits, data and resources they need to feel their best. Here, you will find a culture guided by inclusion, talented peers, comprehensive benefits and career development opportunities. Come make an impact on the communities we serve as you help us advance health optimization on a global scale. Join us to start Caring. Connecting. Growing together.


The goal of the Behavioral Health Advocate is to help individuals live their lives to the fullest by promoting recovery and resiliency via coordination and collaboration with multiple internal and external partners including consumers and their families/caregivers, medical, behavioral health and clinical network teams. Behavioral Health Advocates work with complex and high-risk members with diagnosis of Behavioral Health and Substance Use Disorder (SUD) needs with a goal of engaging the consumer in the treatment process, decreasing their reliance on higher levels of care, helping them to access appropriate community services, and assisting them in improving community tenure.  


***Up to 25% of the week is spent in the community, meeting with members in hospitals, facilities, or homes. The remainder of the week is spent working remotely at home. Typical hours are Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 5:00pm.  Licensure and residency in the State of Indiana is required.***


If you are located in Crawfordsville, IN, you will have the flexibility to work remotely* as you take on some tough challenges.


Primary Responsibilities:

  • Utilize advanced clinical skills to engage and motivate Consumers via a recovery, health and wellness-oriented approach
  • Assist consumers and their families/caregivers with connections to appropriate psychiatric, medical, and psychosocial referrals and services
  • Identify and remove barriers to procurement, delivery, participation in and success of services
  • Provide supportive follow-up, monitoring and education as indicated, in-person and telephonically
  • Meet with consumers in-person at facilities, provider offices, and in homes as appropriate
  • Partner with designated external providers, programs, entities to address the needs, gaps in care, and recovery goals of complex and high-risk consumers
  • Identify and address the needs of members who are consistently high utilizers of services through case conferences and informal communications
  • Participate in standing meetings to review performance, identify areas of opportunity, and oversee course for improvements
  • Establish and foster positive relationships with medical team, participate in medical-behavioral integration activities and discussions
  • Identify high-risk, co-morbid needs of consumers
  • Accept referrals via designated processes, collaborate in evaluating available services, and coordinate necessary psychiatric and community referrals, as needed
  • Contribute to treatment plan discussions; routinely attend clinical rounds and other meetings with medical partner or external entities, when applicable
  • Partner with internal Optum Behavioral Health Services Teams to coordinate a seamless transition for consumers from an inpatient setting to community-based services
  • Meet all contractual requirements; collaborate early and frequently with other teams in the management of cases stratified as having intensive, complex, and high-risk needs
  • Assist in the development of a relevant and consumer-specific aftercare plan
  • Comply with all policies, procedures and documentation standards in appropriate systems, tracking mechanisms and databases
  • Collaborate with providers to determine acuity of mental health concerns, barriers and progress; coordinate appropriate services


You'll be rewarded and recognized for your performance in an environment that will challenge you and give you clear direction on what it takes to succeed in your role as well as provide development for other roles you may be interested in.

Required Qualifications:

  • Have 1 of the following licenses: 
    • Independently Licensed Mental Health Clinician with a Master's degree in psychology, social work, counseling or marriage, or family counseling, or related mental health discipline
    • A registered nurse (RN) who is certified by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (a subsidiary of the American Nurses Association) as a psychiatric nurse or mental health clinical nurse specialist 
    • A registered nurse (RN) who has a master's degree in nursing with a specialization in psychiatric/mental health and 2 years of supervised clinical experience and is licensed to practice as a psychiatric or mental health nurse if required by the state of practice
  • License must be active and unrestricted in the State of Indiana
  • 2+ years of post-licensure experience in a related mental health setting
  • Computer and typing proficiency to enter and retrieve data in electronic clinical records. Experience with email, internet research, use of online calendars, and other software applications
  • Access to install secure, high-speed internet and a dedicated, distraction-free workspace at home
  • Access to reliable transportation and ability to travel as needed within the designated service delivery area (up to 25%)
  • Live in or near Crawfordsville, IN


Preferred Qualifications:

  • BCBA
  • Dual diagnosis experience with mental health and substance abuse
  • Experience working in community/county mental health
  • Experience working with individuals with Autism
  • Experience working in an environment that required coordination of benefits and utilization of multiple groups and resources for patients
  • Experience working with low-income populations
  • Experience working with either Medicaid or Medicare funded programs
  • Clinical training experience


*All employees working remotely will be required to adhere to UnitedHealth Group's Telecommuter Policy


Pay is based on several factors including but not limited to local labor markets, education, work experience, certifications, etc. In addition to your salary, we offer benefits such as, a comprehensive benefits package, incentive and recognition programs, equity stock purchase and 401k contribution (all benefits are subject to eligibility requirements). No matter where or when you begin a career with us, you'll find a far-reaching choice of benefits and incentives. The salary for this role will range from $60,200 - $107,400 annually based on full-time employment. We comply with all minimum wage laws as applicable.


Application Deadline: This will be posted for a minimum of 2 business days or until a sufficient candidate pool has been collected. Job posting may come down early due to volume of applicants.


At UnitedHealth Group, our mission is to help people live healthier lives and make the health system work better for everyone. We believe everyone-of every race, gender, sexuality, age, location and income-deserves the opportunity to live their healthiest life. Today, however, there are still far too many barriers to good health which are disproportionately experienced by people of color, historically marginalized groups and those with lower incomes. We are committed to mitigating our impact on the environment and enabling and delivering equitable care that addresses health disparities and improves health outcomes - an enterprise priority reflected in our mission.

UnitedHealth Group is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer under applicable law and qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, national origin, religion, age, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by local, state, or federal laws, rules, or regulations.


UnitedHealth Group is a drug-free workplace. Candidates are required to pass a drug test before beginning employment.


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