Registered Nurse - Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program (RRTP)

About the role

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) - a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program 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 application. Former EDRP participants are ineligible to apply.

Qualifications

Basic Requirements: English Language Proficiency, 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). 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 Columbia.

Preferred Experience: Previous psychiatric nursing experience of 2-3 years preferred, Previous nursing experience working with dually diagnosed individuals in the inpatient and/or ambulatory and residential care settings strongly preferred, Psychiatric mental health nursing certification (PMH-BC) preferred but not required.

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.

• Nurse I - Level I: Delivers fundamental, knowledge-based care to assigned clients while developing technical competencies. An Associate Degree (ADN) or Diploma in Nursing, with no additional professional nursing required.
• Nurse I - Level II: Demonstrates integration of biopsychosocial concepts, cognitive skills and technically competent practice in providing care to clients with basic or complex. An 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 required.
• Nurse I - Level III: Demonstrates proficiency in practice based on conscious and deliberate planning. Self-directed in goal setting for managing complex client situations. An ADN or Diploma in Nursing AND 2 years of professional nursing experience in which one year is equivalent to Nurse I - Level 2; OR a BSN and 1 year of professional nursing experience equivalent to the Nurse I - Level 2; OR a Master's degree in nursing (MSN) and no additional professional nursing experience; OR a Master's degree in a related field with a BSN and no additional professional nursing experience.
• Nurse II: Demonstrates leadership in delivering and improving holistic care through collaborative strategies with others. A BSN with 2 years of professional nursing equivalent to Nurse I - Level 3; OR an MSN with one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I - Level 3; OR a Master's degree in a related field with a BSN and one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I - Level 3; 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 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 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.

Responsibilities

This Registered Nurse, Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program position is located in Mental Health Service located at the Togus location. This position is full-time at 40 hours per week. Included but are not limited to:

• Establish therapeutic relationships to enhance a trauma-sensitive experience using therapeutic interventions and help eliminate barriers to recovery services by incorporating person-first language.
• Create and maintain a safe, therapeutic, recovery-oriented environment in collaboration with Veterans and other healthcare providers.
• Assess and identify health-related illness using nursing assessments which follow the national standards for nursing assessments.
• Provide education and health teaching (individual or group settings) to Veterans regarding healthcare needs, recovery goals, mental health and substance use problems, treatment regimens, coping skills, stress management and relaxation techniques, crisis management, and medications.
• Play a key role in medication management in Mental Health RRTPs and administer medications as ordered by the credentialed provider for monitoring the effectiveness of those medications.
• Nursing staff must consistently assess and monitor the physical environment to ensure the safety and security of medications.
• Develop and monitor nursing outcomes. The Registered Nurse is responsible for providing nursing objectives, interventions, and outcomes to help Veterans achieve their treatment goals.
• Responsible for providing and leading the provision of competent, evidence-based care to assigned patients.
• Provide patient-centered and recovery-oriented care and maintain self-awareness while caring for patients living with substance use disorder and/or Mental Health conditions.
• Facilitate shift report, warm hand-offs, and nurse-led psychoeducational groups, use therapeutic communication techniques, practice de-escalation techniques, utilize recovery-oriented language, and provide oversight of the patient safe medication management program.
• Actively participate in Mental Health interdisciplinary treatment team, patient safety, and environment of care rounds, and respond to psychiatric and medical care needs and emergencies as directed.
• Report safety concerns, and document nursing assessments, risk screens, nursing plan of care, patient safety rounds, and environment of care rounds 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.

Benefits

VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Nurse Total Rewards, including:

• 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.

Pay and Schedule

Full-Time, 40 hours per week, various tours of duty. Telework: Not Authorized. Virtual: This is not a virtual position.