Case Manager/Care Coordinator- Registered Nurse

Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs; Hartford (VT); On-site; USD 90,000 - 115,000; Full time

Job summary

Veterans Health Administration (Department of Veterans Affairs) seeks an RN Case Manager/Care Coordinator for the Mental Health Service at the White River Junction Healthcare System in White River Junction, VT. This full-time position (40 hours/week) focuses on coordinating comprehensive psychiatric-mental health care for Veterans.

The role requires a nursing degree, a state RN license, and MH experience. The incumbent will work within an interdisciplinary team, provide patient-centered care,

Qualifications

• English Language Proficiency is required.
• Graduate of a school of professional nursing approved by accrediting bodies (ACEN/CCNE).
• RN with state license and active registration required.
• Bridge program pathway for BSN to RN eligibility is described.
• Foreign nursing graduates must have current unrestricted registration.
• State licensure and certification requirements are outlined in VA standards.
• 3–5 years inpatient/outpatient MH experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide MH nurse case management and care coordination.
• Engage in MH interdisciplinary team huddles and planning.
• Perform triage assessments, risk screens, and patient plan documentation.
• Coordinate care with inpatient MH units and telehealth services.
• Support education, orientation, and quality improvement efforts.
• Rotational coverage for MH injection clinic and ECT scheduling as needed.

Skills

English proficiency

Case management

Interdisciplinary teamwork

Patient education

Education

BSN

RN license (US)

MSN or related field

Job description

Summary

This RN Case Manager/Care Coordinator position is in the Mental Health service at the VA White River Junction Healthcare System - located at the White River Junction - VT location. This position is full-time at 40 hours per week. NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information - refer to Required Documents below.

Qualifications

Basic Requirements:

• 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
• 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 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 Columbia
• 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.) 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/13088949
• Grade/Level Scope Education 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
• *Note: Foreign education programs/degrees are not creditable as related degrees
• Preferred Experience: 3-5 years of inpatient and outpatient mental health experience 3-5 years of Case Management experience BSN Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: All applicants must be physically able to satisfactorily perform the duties of the position
• A pre-placement evaluation shall be completed prior to appointment.

Duties

• This RN Case Manager/Care Coordinator position is in the Mental Health service at the VA White River Junction Healthcare System - located at the White River Junction - VT location
• This position is full-time at 40 hours per week
• Included but are not limited to: Mental Health (MH) Registered Nurse (RN) promotes personal growth and development of psychiatric-mental health nursing practice
• The MH RN gains awareness of the principles and goals of outpatient MH treatment by understanding practices related to patient-centered care - recovery-oriented principles - telehealth - community based care - and self-awareness related to caring for patients living with MH conditions
• Participates in MH interdisciplinary team huddles and meetings - uses therapeutic communication techniques - practices 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
• Participates in warm hand-off - care coordination - liaising with Inpatient MH Units to facilitate continuity of care - and responds to psychiatric and medical emergencies as directed
• Documents nursing triage assessments - risk screens - clinical reminders - and patient plan of care in accordance with facility policy
• Provided triage for walk in patients and urgent electronic requests from veterans Maintains professional boundaries to protect patient vulnerabilities and act in the best interest of the patient
• Responsible for providing competent - evidence-based care to assigned patients
• Assist in directing the provision of nursing education - orientation - competencies and providing quality improvement and outcomes utilization consultation
• The psychiatric MH RN independently provides patient centered and recovery-oriented care and maintains self-awareness while caring for patients living with MH conditions
• They facilitate warm hand-offs - telehealth care - and nurse-led psychoeducational groups
• use therapeutic communication techniques - practice de-escalation techniques - utilize recovery-oriented language - and provide Veterans - their family members - and/or significant others with education regarding their illness - medications - and treatment plan
• Actively participates in care coordination - liaising 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
• Duties included being Staff RN for the BHIP (Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program) team and MHTC (Mental Health Treatment Coordinator) to manage a complex caseload of veterans
• Provide coverage as TMS (Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation) coordinator and assist with ECT (Electro convulsant Therapy) Scheduling
• Maintains clinical competency as the primary back up nurse for mental health injection clinic Reports and addresses safety concerns - document 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
• Fosters a safe and supportive environment conducive to the professional development of healthcare professionals
• Supports colleagues through knowledge sharing to provide safe - quality nursing care
• Questions clinical practices for the purpose of providing evidence-based care
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 7:30am - 4:00pm - No Weekends - No Holidays Compressed/Flexible: Not Available Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized 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 Notifications: This position is in the Excepted Service Current and former Federal employees must submit copies of their 2026 SF-50 - (Notice of Personnel Action)
• The SF-50 must identify the position title - series - grade - step - tenure and type of service (Competitive or Excepted)
• In some cases - more than one SF-50 may be required to show a higher grade previously held
• VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Nurse Total Rewards