Registered Nurse- Inpatient Mental Health (Intermittent)

Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs; West Haven (CT); On-site; USD 55,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Veterans Health Administration (VA Connecticut Healthcare System) in West Haven, CT seeks an Registered Nurse for Inpatient Mental Health (Intermittent) in the Psychiatric Emergency Department Nursing - Mental Health service. The role involves delivering evidence-based psychiatric nursing care, patient education, and leadership in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities include medication administration, care coordination with the interdisciplinary team, de-escalation, and participation in MH

Qualifications

• Graduate of a school of professional nursing approved by ACEN or CCNE at time of program completion.
• State license obtained and unrestricted to practice nursing in US territories.
• Foreign educated nurses require degree equivalency validation (ICD or similar).
• Nurse with bridge program eligibility may be appointed temporarily prior to licensure.

Responsibilities

• Promote growth in inpatient MH nursing practice and patient education.
• Assess, plan, implement, and evaluate care with age-specific considerations.
• Coordinate care focusing on patient education, self-management, and satisfaction.
• Administer medications and procedures per policies.
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary team to improve care outcomes.
• Participate in MH groups, de-escalation, and recovery-oriented language.
• Attend shift reports, hand-offs, and environment of care rounds.
• Maintain patient safety and professional boundaries.

Skills

English proficiency

Education

ADN or Diploma in Nursing

BSN degree

Master's degree in Nursing (MSN)

State license to practice nursing

Foreign education degree equivalency validation

Job description

Summary

This Registered Nurse- Inpatient Mental Health (Intermittent) position is located in the Psychiatric Emergency Department Nursing - Mental Health service at the VA Connecticut Healthcare Systems - located in West Haven - CT. This position is an intermittent position.

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
• Preferred Experience: Recent Mental Health Experience preferably in an Emergency or Inpatient setting
• 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/13100784
• 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
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: Position is subject to a pre-employment physical and medical examination
• This position requires: lifting - carrying
• reaching above shoulder
• use of fingers
• walking (8 hours)
• standing (8 hours)
• repeated bending
• working alone
• protracted or irregular hours of work and occasional emotional strain.

Duties

• The Registered Nurse- Inpatient Mental Health promotes personal growth and development of psychiatric MH nursing practice
• The nurse gains awareness of the principles and goals of inpatient MH treatment by understanding practices related to patient-centered care - recovery-oriented principles - and self-awareness related to caring for patients living with MH conditions
• Duties include but are not limited to: Delivers fundamental knowledge-based care to assigned clients while developing technical skills
• Assesses - plans - implements - and evaluates care based on age-specific components
• Assumes responsibility for the coordination of care focused on patient education - self-management - and customer satisfaction throughout the continuum of care
• Administers medications and procedures per established policies and guidelines
• Influences care outcomes by collaborating with members of the interdisciplinary team
• Attends and observes nurse-led psychoeducational groups - uses therapeutic communication techniques - practices de-escalation techniques - and utilizes recovery-oriented language
• Participates in shift report and warm hand-off - MH interdisciplinary treatment team - MH Environment of Care rounds - and responds to psychiatric emergencies as directed
• Identifies safety concerns and hazardous items to maintain a safe and therapeutic environment of care - and documents nursing assessments - nursing plan of care - patient safety observations - and environmental safety rounds in accordance with facility policy
• Maintains professional boundaries to protect patient vulnerabilities and act in the best interest of the patient
• Seeks guidance on how to improve MH care provided to patients and families
• Brings MH principles and theory with limited application of critical thinking skills
• Work Schedule: Intermittent
• Requires a minimum commitment of 24 hours per month
• Days and hours will be variable
• Days - Evenings - Nights based on need
• Telework: Not Available
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
• Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
• Notifications: Current and former Federal employees must submit copies of their most recent 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
• This position is in the Excepted Service
• The salary is based on the grade and step approved for the selected candidate
• Pay: Competitive salary - regular salary increases - potential for performance awards Licensure: 1 full and unrestricted license from any US State or territory VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Nurse Total Rewards