Behavioral Health Aide, Emergency Department, Crisis Unit

Behavioral HealthFull-Time

Listed compensation

$20.92-$22.07/hr

The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed

Ask the employer about call expectations, weekend coverage, nights and shift pattern and time off.

Posted 1h ago · Verified live

Job Description

Responsibilities

The primary purpose of the Behavioral Health Aide position is to be under the direction and supervision of a Registered Nurse. Under this supervision she/he will provide direct patient care to the patient ages (18) to maturity, performs simple nursing procedures, transports patients to tests and procedures, and contributes to the overall orderliness and cleanliness of the unit.

Qualifications

High school diploma or equivalent certification program is required. Graduate of an accredited nursing assistant course or one (1) year of nursing assistant experience or experience in the role of a Behavioral Health Aide required.

Current CPR certification is required and must maintain valid certification by the American Heart Association. Behavioral health experience or crisis intervention and de-escalation experience preferred.

Applicants must be able to take temperatures, pulse, respirations, blood pressure and other simple procedures where indicated.

Must successfully complete Handle with Care training within one year of employment. Completion of “Handle with Care Training and Behavior Management” techniques course annually is mandatory. Ability to read, write, speak, understand, and communicate in English sufficiently to perform the duties of the job.

Staff will be expected to utilize de-escalation techniques and proper physical interventional techniques. Requires exceptional demonstration of patience and accommodation to the patients due to the nature of the patient population.

Must be able to demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary to provide care to adult and older adult patients. Must demonstrate knowledge of key principles of growth and development of the life span; possesses the ability to assess data reflective of the patient’s status, culture, and ethnicity.

Must be able to interpret the appropriate information needed to identify each patient’s needs relative to his/her age, culture, ethnicity, and disability (if applicable) in accordance with University Hospital’s policies and procedures.

University Hospital offers a competitive salary & comprehensive benefits package. Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer, M/F/D/V. For more information, visit uhnj.org.

Qualifications

Education
Professional certificate or licensure

Key Skills

Nursing assistant proceduresVital signs monitoringPatient transportCommunication

Behavioral Health Career Context

The cost-of-living index for New Jersey is 108.8 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$45k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $41k in an average-cost state. 63.8% of New Jersey clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

What does the Behavioral Health market look like in New Jersey?
MeasureThis jobMarket
Listed pay$44k–$46kBehavioral Health median $42k (middle half $37k–$47k)689 comparable listings, Nov 2026
Cost-of-living adjusted pay~$41k in purchasing powerNew Jersey index 108.8 (US = 100)BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)
Behavioral Health listings in New Jersey20 active796 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026
New Behavioral Health listings858 in the last 30 days562 the 30 days before (+53%)U.S., first seen on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026
Sources: WeekdayDoc live listing index, BEA Regional Price Parities (2024); as of Nov 2026. Same values as the Weekday Verdict and Market Insights on this page.

Work-life snapshot

1.5/ 10
Listing-based score
  • On-site
University Hospital, Newark NJ logo

About University Hospital, Newark NJ

Hospitals and Health Care
Newark, NJ
1,001-5,000 employees

Benefits & Perks

Competitive salary
Comprehensive benefits package

Living in Newark

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$450k
Typical market rent
$2,111/mo
Residents’ average commute
33 min
State income tax
Up to 10.8%
Sources & methodology

Sources: Zillow home values (Sep 2026), Zillow market rents (Sep 2026), U.S. Census ACS 2024 five-year.

City-level figures. Not a cost-of-living guarantee.