Registered Nurse - Domiciliary Mental Health

About the role

The Veterans Affairs Black Hills Healthcare System is seeking a compassionate Registered Nurse for the Domiciliary Mental Health Residential Rehabilitation and Treatment Program. This role supports Veterans living with mental health and substance use concerns through recovery-oriented nursing care — safe medication management, patient education, care coordination, and collaboration with an interdisciplinary treatment team.

Responsibilities

• Assess Veterans' physical, mental health, psychosocial, and health literacy needs to support individualized, recovery-oriented care planning
• Develop, update, and document nursing plans of care using realistic, measurable health goals and discharge planning priorities
• Coordinate admissions, discharges, transfers, and warm hand-offs to promote safe transitions across units and healthcare settings
• Facilitate communication among Veterans, families or caregivers, providers, and interdisciplinary team members to support shared decision-making
• Provide oversight of safe medication management, including medication reconciliation and assistance with prescribed inpatient medications
• Lead or support nursing education activities, including assigned weekly classes that promote patient understanding, self-management, and recovery
• Identify and respond to psychiatric, medical, environmental, and safety concerns to help maintain a safe therapeutic residential setting
• Serve in Charge RN responsibilities when assigned — coordinating shift assignments, hand-off communication, admissions, discharges, breathalyzers, urine drug screens, treatment plan updates, quality checks, chart reviews, and supply needs

Qualifications

Basic Requirements

• English Language Proficiency: In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7403(f), no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless proficient in basic written and spoken English
• Education: Graduate of a school of professional nursing approved by the appropriate accrediting agency and accredited by ACEN or CCNE at the time of program completion
• Alternative pathways:
  • Master's level bridge program graduates with coursework equivalent to a BSN may be appointed temporarily upon state licensure, converting to permanent after program completion
  • Graduates of foreign nursing schools: current, full, active, unrestricted registration meets the requirement for associate degree/entry-level programs; higher degrees require formal equivalency validation (e.g., ICD)
• Licensure: Current, full, active, unrestricted registration as a graduate professional nurse in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth, or D.C.
• Graduate Nurse Technician (GNT) Exception: Candidates meeting education requirements but lacking licensure may be appointed at entry step on a 120-day temporary appointment (extendable up to two years) while pursuing licensure
• Grandfathering Provision: All persons employed in VHA 0610 series performing described duties on 1/29/2024 are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held

Grade Determinations

Scope, Education, and Dimension criteria (Practice, Veteran/Patient Driven Care, Leadership, Professional Development, Evidence-Based Practice/Research) must be met for grade assignment. Dimension details are in the online assessment: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13097949

Grade/Level Scope Education & Experience Nurse I – Level I Delivers fundamental, knowledge-based care while developing technical competencies ADN or Diploma in Nursing; no additional experience required Nurse I – Level II Integrates biopsychosocial concepts, cognitive skills, technically competent practice for basic or complex clients ADN/Diploma + 1 year specialized experience equivalent to Nurse I Level I; or BSN with no experience required Nurse I – Level III Proficient practice based on conscious, deliberate planning; self-directed goal setting for complex situations ADN/Diploma + 2 years experience (1 year equivalent to Nurse I Level II); or BSN + 1 year equivalent to Nurse I Level II; or MSN with no experience; or Master's in related field with BSN, no experience Nurse II Leadership in delivering/improving holistic care through collaborative strategies BSN + 2 years equivalent to Nurse I Level III; or MSN + 1 year equivalent to Nurse I Level III; or Master's in related field with BSN + 1 year equivalent to Nurse I Level III; or Doctoral in Nursing, no experience; or Doctoral in related field with BSN, no experience Nurse III Leadership, experience, creative approaches to complex client care beyond immediate setting MSN + 2 years specialized experience (1 year equivalent to Nurse II, meets all Nurse III dimensions); or Master's in related field with BSN + 2 years (1 year equivalent to Nurse II, meets dimensions); or Doctoral in Nursing + 1 year equivalent to Nurse II (meets dimensions); or Doctoral in related field with BSN + 1 year equivalent to Nurse II (meets dimensions)

Note: Foreign education programs/degrees are not creditable as related degrees. Reference: https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/

Physical Requirements

Pre-employment examination/evaluation required. Questions about physical demands or environmental factors addressed at time of evaluation.

Benefits

VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package:

• Pay: Competitive salary, regular salary increases, potential for performance awards
• Paid Time Off: 50 days per year (26 days annual leave, 13 days sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays)
• Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5-year vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% VA contributions
• Insurance: Federal health, vision, dental, term life, long-term care (many programs portable into retirement)
• Licensure: One full, unrestricted license from any U.S. state or territory accepted

Schedule

• Tour of Duty: Six (6) 12-hour shifts (6:00 p.m. to 6:30 a.m.) and one (1) 8-hour shift (6:00 p.m. to 2:30 a.m.) each pay period
• Schedule includes rotating weekends and holidays
• Telework: Not available
• Virtual: Not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized
• Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized

The VA Midwest Health Care Network advocates