Registered Nurse- Outpatient Mental Health

About the role

The position is eligible for the Summary Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. Eligibility requirements must be met and applications submitted within four months of employment.

Responsibilities

• Demonstrate proficiency in practice based on conscious and deliberate planning
• Self-directed in goal setting for managing complex client situations
• Assumes responsibility for the coordination of care focused on patient education, self-management, and customer satisfaction throughout the continuum of care
• Follows procedures per established policies and guidelines
• Influences outcomes by collaborating with members of the interdisciplinary team
• Psychiatric MH RN independently provides patient-centered and recovery-oriented care and maintains self-awareness while caring for patients living with MH conditions
• Facilitates warm hand-offs, telemental health care, and nurse-led psychoeducational groups
• Uses therapeutic communication techniques, practice de-escalation techniques, utilizes recovery-oriented language, and provides Veterans, their family members, and/or significant others with education regarding their illness, medications, and treatment plan
• Facilitates care coordination, liaises with Inpatient MH Units to facilitate continuity of care, MH interdisciplinary treatment team huddles and meetings, and responds to psychiatric and medical emergencies as directed
• Reports and addresses safety concerns, documents nursing triage assessments, risk screens, clinical reminders, and patient plan of care according to facility policy
• Maintains professional boundaries to protect patient vulnerabilities and act in the best interest of the patient
• Demonstrates competence in practice and decision-making, deliberate planning, and critical thinking skills
• Promotes patient scheduling activities to maximize availability and workload capture
• Provides accurate and timely documentation

Requirements

• English Language Proficiency
• Graduate of a school of professional nursing approved by the appropriate accrediting agency and accredited by ACEN or 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 a temporary basis and later converted to a permanent appointment upon successful completion and graduation from the bridge program
• 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 (may be extended up to two years on a case-by-case-basis)
• Grandfathering Provision: All persons currently employed in VHA in 0610 series and performing the duties as described in the qualification standard on the effective date of the standard (1/29/2024) are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held including positive education and licensure/certification

Qualifications

• Scope - Education and Dimension criteria must be met in determining the grade assignment of candidates and if appropriate, the level within a grade
• Dimension requirements (Practice - Veteran/Patient Driven Care - Leadership - Professional Development and Evidence-Based Practice/Research) are detailed for each grade and level within the online assessment

Physical Requirements

• This position may include a level of physicality normally associated with duties performed by nurses such as walking, bending, stooping, and some lifting
• Extended periods of sitting or standing may be required
• Utilization of safe patient handling and mobility protocols using mechanical lifts that are provided

Pay

Competitive salary - regular salary increases - potential for performance awards

Paid Time Off: 50 days of paid time off per year (26 days of annual leave - 13 days of sick leave - 11 paid Federal holidays per year)

Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA

Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement)

Benefits

• Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement)
• Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA
• Paid Time Off: 50 days of paid time off per year (26 days of annual leave - 13 days of sick leave - 11 paid Federal holidays per year)
• Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Schedule

Full-Time M-F 0730-1600 or 0800-1630. Tour subject to change depending on the needs of facility

Telework

Not Available

Virtual

This is not a virtual position

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives

Not Authorized

Permanent Change of Station (PCS)

Not Authorized