Registered Nurse - Primary Care Mental Health Integration

About the role

This position is located at the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) - Veterans Health Administration (VHA) - Cumberland County VA Clinic - Fayetteville - NC.

Responsibilities

• Assesses, develops, implements, evaluates, and maintains and monitors Veteran specific plans of care, collaborating with the interdisciplinary team to ensure patient outcomes are reported and validated.
• Coordinates care focused on patient education, self-management, and customer satisfaction throughout the continuum of care.
• Fulfills responsibilities that demonstrate leadership, experience, and creative approaches to managing complex client care.
• Provides patient education, activation, behavior intervention, monitoring of medication adherence and response, and other protocol-driven services.
• Participates in patient outreach and engagement.
• Provides provider education and brief interventions using evidence-based techniques such as behavioral activation, motivational interviewing, and other focused treatment strategies.
• Conducts relapse prevention planning throughout care, including transition from active treatment to maintenance as goals are achieved.
• Communicates with patients, families, caregivers, VA leadership, and members of the interdisciplinary team using therapeutic communication and de-escalation techniques.
• Responds to psychiatric emergencies as needed and utilizes recovery-oriented language.
• Collaborates with PCMHI leadership and other team members to develop and enhance educational materials and marketing strategies for PCMHI services and ensure high quality, effective, Veteran-centered services at the patient and programmatic levels.
• Supports colleagues through knowledge sharing to provide safe, quality nursing care.
• Fosters a safe and supportive environment conducive to the professional development of healthcare professionals.

Requirements

Basic Requirements: Citizenship of the United States in accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(c); Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy; English Language Proficiency: In 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 English; Education: 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); 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 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 (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 program; Credit for foreign nursing education higher than 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); Licenses and Certifications: All nurses must possess and maintain an active, current, full, and unrestricted license as a Nurse to practice in a State, Territory, or Commonwealth of the United States, or in the District of Columbia; Exception to Licensure for Graduate Nurse Technician (GNT): 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); Physical Requirements: This position requires visual acuity, keen hearing, clear distinctive speech, and manual dexterity; This position requires potentially long periods of continued walking, standing, stooping, sitting, bending, pulling, and pushing; Transferring patients and objects may be required; Mechanical outpatient 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, operative/invasive procedures, or home settings; 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, able to shift priorities based on patient needs; Must complete annual Employee Health requirements, such as annual TB screening or testing, as a condition of employment; On-Going Education: Basic Life Support (BLS) is required for RNs in direct patient care positions per policy the supervisor may also direct BLS certification for other positions; Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) is required in specific specialty areas and assignments per policy; Incumbent will be self-directed in completing orientation and on-going mandatory education; Will actively participate in competency assessment and validation; Specialty assignments may require a scope of practice for procedures beyond basic education; Preferred Experience: 1 to 2 years of Behavioral Health experience; 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/certification; Grade 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 grade; The 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/12971792; Grade/Level Scope Education; Nurse I - Level I; Delivers fundamental, knowledge-based care to assigned clients while developing technical competencies; Nurse I - Level II; Demonstrates integration of biopsychosocial concepts, cognitive skills and technically competent practice in providing care to clients with basic or complex; Nurse I - Level III; Demonstrates proficiency in practice based on conscious and deliberate planning; Self-directed in goal setting for managing complex client situations; Nurse II; Demonstrates leadership in delivering and improving holistic care through collaborative strategies with others; Nurse III; Executes position responsibilities that demonstrate leadership, experience, and creative approaches to management of complex client care beyond the immediate practice setting; MSN and 2 years of specialized nursing experience - one of which is equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III; OR a Master's degree in a *related field with a BSN and no additional professional nursing experience; OR a Doctoral degree in Nursing with no professional nursing experience; OR a Doctoral degree in a *related field with a BSN with no additional professional nursing experience; Nurse IV; Executes position responsibilities that demonstrate leadership, experience, and creative approaches to management of complex client care beyond the immediate practice setting; MSN and 2 years of specialized nursing experience - one of which is equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III; OR 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 III; OR a Doctoral degree in Nursing with and one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III; OR 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 degrees;

Qualifications

Basic Requirements: Citizenship of the United States in accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(c); Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy; English Language Proficiency: In 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 English; Education: 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); 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 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 (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 program; Credit for foreign nursing education higher than 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); Licenses and Certifications: All nurses must possess and maintain an active, current, full, and unrestricted license as a Nurse to practice in a State, Territory, or Commonwealth of the United States, or in the District of Columbia; Exception to Licensure for Graduate Nurse Technician (GNT): 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); Physical Requirements: This position requires visual acuity, keen hearing, clear distinctive speech, and manual dexterity; This position requires potentially long periods of continued walking, standing, stooping, sitting, bending, pulling, and pushing; Transferring patients and objects may be required; Mechanical outpatient 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, operative/invasive procedures, or home settings; 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, able to shift priorities based on patient needs; Must complete annual Employee Health requirements, such as annual TB screening or testing, as a condition of employment; On-Going Education: Basic Life Support (BLS) is required for RNs in direct patient care positions per policy the supervisor may also direct BLS certification for other positions; Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) is required in specific specialty areas and assignments per policy; Incumbent will be self-directed in completing orientation and on-going mandatory education; Will actively participate in competency assessment and validation; Specialty assignments may require a scope of practice for procedures beyond basic education; Preferred Experience: 1 to 2 years of Behavioral Health experience; 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/certification; Grade 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 grade; The 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/12971792; Grade/Level Scope Education; Nurse I - Level I;