Registered Nurse - Allentown Outpatient Mental Health

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Allentown (Lehigh County); On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a dedicated Registered Nurse for their Outpatient Mental Health Clinic. This role offers the opportunity to provide compassionate, patient-centered care to veterans facing mental health challenges. As a key member of the healthcare team, you will utilize your skills in therapeutic communication and emergency response while supporting patient education and recovery. The position promises a rewarding work environment with a comprehensive benefits package, including generous paid time off and retirement options. If you are passionate about making a difference in the lives of others, this is the perfect opportunity for you.

Benefits

50 days of paid time off per year

Federal health/vision/dental insurance

Traditional federal pension

401K with up to 5% contributions

Long-term care insurance

Qualifications

• Graduate of an accredited nursing program with an active RN license.
• Proficient in English, both written and spoken.

Responsibilities

• Provide evidence-based nursing care to patients with mental health conditions.
• Conduct patient assessments and coordinate care with interdisciplinary teams.

Skills

Patient-Centered Care

Mental Health Nursing

Therapeutic Communication

Emergency Response

Nursing Education

Education

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)

Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN)

Tools

Electronic Health Records (EHR)

Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS)

Job description

The Wilkes Barre VA Medical Center is currently recruiting for a Registered Nurse - Outpatient Mental Health for our Allentown Outpatient Clinic. Located in Allentown, PA.
Duties

Functions or Scope of Assigned Duties:

The Outpatient Mental Health (MH) Registered Nurse (RN) is responsible for providing competent, evidence-based care to assigned patients. The MH RN will 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, telemental health 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. The MH RN 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. The MH RN reports and addresses safety concerns, document nursing triage assessments, risk screens, clinical reminders, and patient plan of care, according to facility policy. The MH RN 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.

The responsibilities of the Outpatient Mental Hygiene Clinic RN Unit include, but are not limited to:
- Maintains current/active Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) Certification.
- Travels to conferences/training off station.
- Administers medication and documents appropriately. Monitors lab data, diagnostic testing and reports findings to Physician.
- Functions as a patient educator with emphasis on preventative health and wellness topics, disease specific initiatives.
- Interviews patients, obtains vital signs, and prepares patient for visit with provider.
- Assesses and evaluates the patient's needs, latent abilities, and social networks; screens and identifies patients for appropriate case management, provides health assessments and facilitates access to health care based on patient's need.
- Conducts telephone triage and provides the necessary patient direction and education.
- Completes clinical reminders, assists with appointment scheduling, patient follow-up, discharge follow-up, as necessary on patients.
- Provides immediate nursing intervention in all emergency situations.
- Able to respond to emergent situations involving the suicidal or violent patient. Capable of making emergent decisions regarding the safety of the patient, staff, and others.
- Serves as liaison for medical/psychiatric concerns and initiates referrals.
- Effectively communicates and interacts with patients and their significant others to help them with problem solving and developing coping skills.
- Participates with interdisciplinary treatment planning process
- Responsible for ordering/maintaining supplies in the clinical area.
- Conducts Nursing clinics and group processes. Documents group process and patient response.
- Maintains and monitors expiration dates of supplies in clinical area, crash cart and informs ordering personnel if supplies need to be reordered.
- Assists with the operation of specialty clinics as appropriate.
- Exhibits leadership skills through charge nurse duties by directing patient care, patient flow, and staff assignments.


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
Preferred Experience: Mental Health experience preferred

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00 am to 4:30 pm
Telework: Not available
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized
PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not authorized

Requirements

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/12733604. 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.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

Physical Requirements: This clinical position includes a level of physicality normally associated with direct patient care duties performed by nurses such as potentially long periods of continued walking, standing, sitting, moderate lifting, repeated bending, or kneeling. Examples may include but are not limited to:
-Significant amounts of time standing assisting assigned patients
-Utilization of safe patient handling and mobility protocols.