Nurse Manager- Mental Health

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Columbia (SC); On-site; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off

Health/dental/vision insurance

Federal retirement/401K

Job summary

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs seeks a Nurse Manager to provide leadership and oversee all aspects of the nursing process, ensuring safe and age-appropriate patient care.

The role includes supervising staff, assessing and planning care, implementing and evaluating care delivery, and coordinating patient education and self-management support. It emphasizes evidence-based practice, shared governance, and continuous improvement, with a focus on Veteran-centered care and collaboration

Qualifications

• English language proficiency for direct patient care.
• Current, full, active, unrestricted RN license in the US.
• Graduate of an approved nursing program (ADN/BSN/ MSN) with licensure eligibility.

Responsibilities

• Provide 24/7 supervisory leadership for assigned units.
• Direct and supervise orientation, training, and staff development.
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams to improve care quality.
• Promote evidence-based practice and shared governance.

Skills

English language proficiency

Education

RN licensure (unrestricted)

BSN or higher

Nursing degree approved by accrediting bodies

Job description

Summary

The Nurse Manager provides leadership and oversight for all aspects of the nursing process - ensuring safe - age-appropriate patient care. Key responsibilities include supervising nursing staff - assessing and planning care - implementing and evaluating care delivery - and coordinating patient education and self-management support. The role also promotes customer satisfaction and upholds evidence-based practice - shared governance - and continuous improvement.

The Nurse Manager provides leadership and oversight for all aspects of the nursing process - ensuring safe - age-appropriate patient care. Key responsibilities include supervising nursing staff - assessing and planning care - implementing and evaluating care delivery - and coordinating patient education and self-management support. The role also promotes customer satisfaction and upholds evidence-based practice - shared governance - and continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• 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/13054534
• 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 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 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
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: The population of male and female veterans served ranges from the adult - age 18 - to the elderly adult - age 65 and over
• 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
• The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations or operative/invasive procedures
• 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
• Preferred Experience/Other: Master's Degree in Nursing Leadership Experience with leading recovery-oriented mental health programs and Veteran-centered care
• Experience leading quality improvement - patient safety - and performance improvement initiatives
• Experience with Joint Commission standards - and other regulatory requirements.

Duties

• The Nurse Manager (NM) is the designated first-line supervisory authority and is responsible and accountable for the 24/7 operation of their assigned units and provides coverage for other NMs as needed
• Duties include - but are not limited to: Responsible and accountable for the direction and supervision of specific orientation - training - development of staff - and evaluation of individual staff performance
• Function as a role model - educator - practitioner - and supervisor providing leadership to the team
• Enhance care outcomes by collaborating with members of the interdisciplinary team to remove barriers and implement new evidence-based cutting-edge programs/processes
• Analyzing operational and quality metrics to improve clinical outcomes and efficiency
• Seeks knowledge from professional organizations to enhance leadership and career growth
• Adhere to ethical principles in decision-making - fostering accountability at personal - organizational - and staff levels
• Equip staff with tools for culturally competent care and promotes a culture of accountability for high-quality - cost-effective outcomes
• Cultivate alliances across the care continuum - building trust through active listening - engagement - and emotional intelligence
• VA 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: 7 a.m
• to 3:30 p.m
• Monday to Friday - Work schedule is subject to change based on agency needs
• Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized