Registered Nurse - Outpatient Mental Health - Intensive Community Mental Health Recovery (ICMHR)

Summary The Greater Los Angeles VA Healthcare System (GLA) - West Los Angeles - is seeking a Registered Nurse for the Outpatient Mental Health - Intensive Community Mental Health Recovery (ICMHR) program. The RN provides recovery-oriented nursing care - community-based case management - mental health assessments - crisis intervention - and care coordination for Veterans with serious mental illness while promoting patient safety - recovery - and improved outcomes. Qualifications Basic Requirements: English Language ProficiencyIn accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7403(f) - no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken EnglishGraduate 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)OR 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 programUpon 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(Reference VA Handbook 5005 - Appendix G6)OR In cases of graduates of foreign schools of professional nursing - possession of a current - full - active - and unrestricted registration will meet the requirement for graduation from an approved school of professional nursing to warrant an appointment as a Nurse who has completed an associated degree/entry level Nursing education programCredit for foreign nursing education higher that associate degree/entry level requires a formal degree equivalency validation from a recognized equivalency evaluation accepted by VA such as International Consultants of Delaware (ICD)Current - full - active - and unrestricted registration as a graduate professional nurse in a State - Territory or Commonwealth (i.e. - Puerto Rico) of the United States - or the District of ColumbiaGraduate 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.) NOTE: 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/certificationGrade Determinations: The following Scope - Education and Dimension criteria must be met in determining the grade assignment of candidates - and if appropriate - the level within a gradeThe 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: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13093745Grade/Level Scope Education Nurse I - Level I Delivers fundamental - knowledge-based care to assigned clients while developing technical competenciesAn Associate Degree (ADN) or Diploma in Nursing - with no additional professional nursing requiredNurse I - Level II Demonstrates integration of biopsychosocial concepts - cognitive skills and technically competent practice in providing care to clients with basic or complexAn ADN or Diploma in Nursing AND 1 year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I - Level 1 ;OR a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) with no additional professional nursing experience requiredNurse I - Level III Demonstrates proficiency in practice based on conscious and deliberate planningSelf-directed in goal setting for managing complex client situationsAn ADN or Diploma in Nursing AND 2 years of professional nursing experience in which one year is equivalent to Nurse I - Level 2OR a BSN and 1 year of professional nursing experience equivalent to the Nurse I - Level 2OR a Master's degree in nursing (MSN) and no additional professional nursing experienceOR a Master's degree in a *related field with a BSN and no additional professional nursing experienceNurse II Demonstrates leadership in delivering and improving holistic care through collaborative strategies with othersA BSN with 2 years of professional nursing equivalent to Nurse I - Level 3OR an MSN with one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I - Level 3OR a Master's degree in a *related field with a BSN and one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I - Level 3OR a Doctoral degree in Nursing with no professional nursing experienceOR a Doctoral degree in a *related field with a BSN with no additional professional nursing experienceNurse III Executes position responsibilities that demonstrate leadership - experience and creative approaches to management of complex client care beyond the immediate practice settingMSN and 2 years of specialized nursing experience - one of which is equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse IIIOR a Master's degree in *related field with BSN and two years of specialized nursing experience - one of which is equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse IIIOR a Doctoral degree in Nursing with and one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse IIIOR a Doctoral degree in a *related field with a BSN and one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III*Note: Foreign education programs/degrees are not creditable as related degreesPreferred Experience: At least 2 years of experience providing direct nursing care to patients with serious mental illness or complex behavioral health conditionsAt least 1 year of experience providing community-based mental health services - case management - or home-based patient careExperience conducting and documenting mental health assessments - suicide risk screenings - crisis interventions - and medication managementExperience coordinating patient care with interdisciplinary teams - including psychiatrists - social workers - psychologists - and other healthcare professionalsExperience serving in a nursing leadership role - such as charge nurse - nurse supervisor - team lead - or preceptor - including mentoring staff or participating in quality improvement projectsReference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/Physical Requirements: The position requires lifting - pushing - and pulling up to 35 pounds - as well as standing - walking - stooping - bending - and kneeling intermittently for 4-6 hours and pushing intermittently for 4-5 hoursThe incumbent must possess the manual dexterity needed to perform tasks such as starting IVs and palpating pulsesThe position also requires near and far visual acuity - color discrimination - adequate hearing - and rapid mental and muscular coordinationAdditionally - the incumbent must be able to use computers and medical equipment for extended periodsPhysical requirements are further outlined in VA Directive and Handbook 5019 Duties Duties and Responsibilities include - but are not limited to: Provides patient-centered - recovery-oriented mental health nursing care to Veterans with pervasive mental illness (PMI) - severe functional impairments - and complex mental health needsProvides community-based case management services - including home visits - community outreach - medication management - and ongoing assessment of Veterans' mental health needsCoordinates care with inpatient mental health units - outpatient clinics - community providers - and other VA services to ensure continuity of care and reduce unnecessary hospitalizationsConducts nursing assessments - risk screenings - medication reviews - and ongoing evaluations to identify changes in Veterans' mental health conditions and treatment needsDevelops - implements - and evaluates individualized treatment plans in collaboration with Veterans - caregivers - and interdisciplinary treatment teamsProvides education to Veterans - families - and caregivers regarding mental health conditions - medications - treatment plans - symptom management - and recovery goalsResponds to psychiatric and medical emergencies - utilizes therapeutic communication and de-escalation techniques - and directs team responses to ensure patient and staff safetyParticipates in interdisciplinary team meetings - daily huddles - and care coordination activities to address patient needs - safety concerns - and barriers to treatmentProvides leadership and guidance to nursing staff and interdisciplinary team members in managing complex mental health cases and improving patient outcomesCollaborates with program leadership to identify safety concerns - improve clinical processes - and implement strategies that support quality patient care and program effectivenessPerforms Mental Health Treatment Coordinator (MHTC 2.0) functions - including panel management - targeted outreach - needs assessments - and coordination of care across BHIP and specialty mental health clinicsCoordinates post-discharge and post-consult follow-up activities - supports the FLOW initiative - and assists Veterans with accessing appropriate mental health services and resourcesIncorporates measurement-based care tools - including PHQ-9 and C-SSRS - to monitor symptoms - assess risk - and support treatment planning and clinical decision-makingMaintains accurate and timely documentation of nursing assessments - risk screenings - clinical reminders - treatment plans - and care coordination activities using approved VA systems and standardized templatesSupports professional development through mentoring - knowledge sharing - and constructive feedback while promoting a safe - supportive - and collaborative work environment focused on improving Veteran careVA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Nurse Total Rewards 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) Licensure: 1 full and unrestricted license from any US State or territory Work Schedule: Monday - Friday - 8:00am-4:30pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual positionRelocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentiveContact VHA.ELRSProgramSupport@va.gov - the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistanceLearn more This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) - a student loan payment reimbursement programYou must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointmentProgram Approval - award amount (up to $200 -000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP applicationFormer EDRP participants ineligible to apply Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized