Registered Nurse (Mental Heath)

About the role

This Registered Nurse (RN) Mental Health position is within the Nursing‑Mental Health service at the Bedford VA Healthcare System in Bedford, MA. It is a permanent, full‑time role (40 hours per week). The position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student‑loan payment reimbursement program (up to $200,000 award, eligibility period one to five years, subject to VHA approval). Former EDRP participants are not eligible to apply.

Responsibilities

• Attends and observes nurse‑led psychoeducational groups
• Uses therapeutic communication techniques
• 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

Qualifications

Basic Requirements:

• English Language Proficiency – must be proficient in basic written and spoken English (38 U.S.C. 7403(f)).
• Graduate of a school of professional nursing accredited by ACEN or CCNE; or completion of a master’s‑level bridge program with coursework equivalent to a BSN, allowing state licensure prior to bridge program completion; after licensure may be appointed temporarily and later converted to permanent upon graduation.
• For graduates of foreign nursing schools – current full active unrestricted registration meets the requirement; foreign education above associate degree requires formal degree equivalency validation (e.g., ICD).
• Current full active unrestricted registration as a graduate professional nurse in a U.S. state, territory, Commonwealth, or District of Columbia.
• Graduate Nurse Technician (GNT) exception – candidates meeting basic education but lacking licensure may be appointed at the entry step of the applicable grade/level as a GNT on a 120‑day temporary appointment (extendable up to two years).
• Grandfathering provision – VHA