Registered Nurse - Inpatient Mental Health

About the role

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. To be eligible, you must meet specific requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment.

Qualifications

Basic Requirements include English Language Proficiency, graduation from a school of professional nursing approved by the appropriate accrediting agency, and current, full, active, and unrestricted registration as a graduate professional nurse in a State, Territory, or Commonwealth of the United States.

Graduate Nurse Technician (GNT) 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.

Grade Determinations are based on the Scope, Education, and Dimension criteria, which include Practice, Veteran/Patient Driven Care, Leadership, Professional Development, and Evidence-Based Practice/Research.

Requirements

• English Language Proficiency
• Graduation from a school of professional nursing approved by the appropriate accrediting agency
• Current, full, active, and unrestricted registration as a graduate professional nurse in a State, Territory, or Commonwealth of the United States
• Specific education and experience requirements for each grade and level, as detailed in the online assessment

Preferred Experience

1 year of mental health experience in any setting or 3 years of experience in a setting with mental health patients (e.g., Emergency Room or Primary Care)

Physical Requirements

Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for the occupation, including standing, lifting, carrying, sitting, stooping, bending, pulling, and pushing. May require wearing personal protective equipment and undergoing annual TB screening or testing as conditions of employment.

Work Environment

Work is performed in an office/clinic setting with minimal risks that requires normal safety precautions. The area is adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated. However, the work environment requires someone with the ability to handle several tasks at once in sometimes stressful situations.

Duties

• Executes position duties to improve patient and organizational outcomes by providing patient-centered and recovery-oriented care
• Facilitates shift reports, warm hand-offs, and develops content as well as facilitates nurse-led psychoeducational groups
• Utilizes therapeutic communication techniques, practice de-escalation techniques, and utilize recovery-oriented language
• Actively participates in MH interdisciplinary treatment team, MH Environment of Care rounds, directs team response to psychiatric emergencies, reports safety concerns, and assists in safety concern resolution
• Documents nursing assessments, nursing plan of care, patient safety observations, and environmental safety rounds according to facility policy
• Maintains professional boundaries to protect patient vulnerabilities and act in the best interest of the patient
• Collaborates in the development, implementation, evaluation, and revision of policies, procedures, and/or guidelines

Benefits

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

Pay and Schedule

Competitive salary, with variable and rotating 12-hour shifts, to include weekends and holidays, subject to change based on needs of the facility.