Registered Nurse (Mental Health)

About the role

This position is within the Nursing - Mental Health service at the Bedford VA Healthcare System located in Bedford - MA. It is a permanent and full-time role at 40 hours per week.

Responsibilities

• Attends and observes nurse-led psychoeducational groups
• Uses therapeutic communication techniques
• P Practices de-escalation techniques
• Utilizes recovery-oriented language
• Identifies safety concerns and hazardous items to maintain a safe and therapeutic environment of care
• Provides oversight of the patient safe medication management program
• Identifies and reports psychiatric and medical care needs and emergencies as directed
• Documents nursing assessments, risk screens, nursing plan of care, patient safety rounds, and environmental of care rounds in accordance with facility policy
• Maintains professional boundaries to protect patient vulnerabilities and act in the best interest of the patient
• Performs other duties as assigned

Requirements

This position requires visual acuity, keen hearing, clear distinctive speech, and manual dexterity. It involves potentially long periods of continued walking, standing, stooping, sitting, bending, pulling, and pushing. Mechanical inpatient lifts are provided. The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations. The incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium, dementia, or psychiatric disorders. The incumbent must be a mature, flexible, sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations and able to shift priorities based on patient needs.

Qualifications

• English Language Proficiency
• 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)
• Individuals attending a master's level bridge program in nursing who have completed coursework equivalent to a bachelor's level degree in Nursing may have opportunity to become registered as a nurse with a state licensing board prior to completion of the bridge program
• Upon achievement of a State license - the individual may be appointed on temporary basis and later converted to a permanent appointment upon successful completion and graduation from the bridge program
• Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply

Skills

The incumbent must be a mature, flexible, sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations and able to shift priorities based on patient needs.

Benefits

VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package including competitive salary, regular salary increases, potential for performance awards, paid time off, retirement, federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care, and insurance benefits. VA Nurse Total Rewards Pay, Paid Time Off, Retirement, Insurance, and Licensing are included.

Pay

Competitive salary - regular salary increases - potential for performance awards

Schedule

Permanent and full-time at 40 hours per week

Contact

Karen Chapman (Karen.Chapman@va.gov) - the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance