Registered Nurse- Mental Health- Outpatient

About the role

The New York Harbor VA is looking to hire an Outpatient Mental Health Registered Nurse. This position will be located on the Manhattan Campus. The closing date for applications is 06/22/2026 or when 50 applications are received, whichever comes first.

Responsibilities

• Assess, plan, implement, and evaluate care based on age‑specific components.
• Assume responsibility for coordination of care focused on patient education, self‑management, and customer satisfaction throughout the continuum of care.
• Administer medications and procedures per established policies and guidelines.
• Influence care outcomes by collaborating with members of the interdisciplinary team.
• Demonstrate leadership, experience, and creative approaches to management of complex client care.
• Provide competent, evidence‑based care to assigned patients.
• Assist in directing the provision of nursing education, orientation, competencies, and provide quality improvement and outcomes utilization consultation.
• Independently provide patient‑centered and recovery‑oriented care while maintaining self‑awareness when caring for patients living with mental health conditions.
• Facilitate warm hand‑offs, telemental health care, and nurse‑led psychoeducational groups.
• Use therapeutic communication techniques, practice de‑escalation techniques, utilize recovery‑oriented language, and provide Veterans, their family members, and/or significant others with education regarding illness, medications, and treatment plan.
• Actively participate in care coordination — liaising with Inpatient MH Units to facilitate continuity of care, MH interdisciplinary treatment team huddles and meetings, and respond to psychiatric and medical emergencies as directed.
• Report and address safety concerns; document nursing triage assessments, risk screens, clinical reminders, and patient plan of care according to facility policy.
• Maintain professional boundaries to protect patient vulnerabilities and act in the best interest of the patient.
• Foster a safe and supportive environment conducive to the professional development of healthcare professionals.
• Support colleagues through knowledge sharing to provide safe, quality nursing care.
• Question clinical practices for the purpose of providing evidence‑based care.

Requirements

• English language proficiency (basic written and spoken English) per 38 U.S.C. 7403(f).
• Graduate of a school of professional nursing approved by the appropriate accrediting agency and accredited by either ACEN or CCNE at time of program completion.
• Or attendance at a master's level bridge program in nursing with coursework equivalent to a bachelor's degree in nursing; after obtaining state license may be appointed temporarily and later converted to permanent upon graduation.
• Or graduates of foreign schools of professional nursing possessing a current, full, active, and unrestricted registration; foreign nursing education higher than associate/entry level