Nurse

About the role

The Nurse Outpatient Mental Health (MH) Registered Nurse (RN) promotes personal growth and development of psychiatric-mental health nursing practice.

Responsibilities

• Gains awareness of the principles and goals of outpatient MH treatment by understanding practices related to patient-centered care - recovery-oriented principles - telemental health - community based care - and self-awareness related to caring for patients living with MH conditions
• Attends and participates in MH interdisciplinary team huddles and meetings
• Uses therapeutic communication techniques
• P Practices de-escalation techniques
• Utilizes recovery oriented language
• Provides Veterans - their family members - and/or significant others with education regarding their illness - medications - and treatment plan
• Participates in warm hand-off
• Care coordination
• Liaises with Inpatient MH Units to facilitate continuity of care
• Responds to psychiatric and medical emergencies as directed
• Documents nursing triage assessments - risk screens - clinical reminders - and patient plan of care in accordance with facility policy
• Maintains professional boundaries to protect patient vulnerabilities and act in the best interest of the patient

Requirements

• Basic Requirements: Graduate of a school of professional nursing approved by the appropriate accrediting agency and accredited by one of the following accrediting bodies at the time the program was completed by the applicant: The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) or The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
• English Language Proficiency: No person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English

Qualifications

• Basic Requirements: Possession of a current - full - active - and unrestricted registration as a graduate professional nurse in a State - Territory or Commonwealth (i.e. - Puerto Rico) of the United States - or the District of Columbia
• Exception: Candidates who otherwise meet the basic education requirements - but do not possess the required licensure - may be appointed at the entry step of the grade and level applicable to the completed nursing education as a GNT on a 120-day temporary appointment while actively pursuing licensure (may be extended up to two years on a case-by-case-basis.)
• Note: Grandfathering Provision - All persons currently employed in VHA in 0610 series and performing the duties as described in the qualification standard on the effective date of the standard (1/29/2024) are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held including positive education and licensure/certification

Skills

• Knowledge of psychiatric-mental health nursing practices
• Ability to communicate effectively with patients, families, and significant others
• Proficiency in de-escalation techniques and therapeutic communication
• Understanding of recovery-oriented principles and telemental health
• Ability to maintain professional boundaries and protect patient vulnerabilities

Benefits

• VA Nurse Total Rewards Pay: Competitive salary - regular salary increases - potential for performance awards
• Paid Time Off: 50 days of paid time off per year (26 days of annual leave - 13 days of sick leave - 11 paid Federal holidays per year)
• Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA
• Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement)

Pay

• Competitive salary - regular salary increases - potential for performance awards

Schedule

• 7:30am-4:00pm