Registered Nurse - Mental Health

Voices for Voices; Fort Smith (AR); On-site; USD 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

EDRP eligibility

Job summary

VA is seeking a Registered Nurse to deliver patient-centered, recovery-oriented care across the continuum in a mental health setting. The nurse will coordinate with interdisciplinary teams, provide education, and support safety planning and crisis interventions.

Required are an approved nursing degree and active U.S. RN licensure; additional bridge programs or BSN/MSN pathways may be considered for advancement. EDRP participation is available with eligibility details and timelines.

Qualifications

• English language proficiency is required for direct patient care.
• Graduate of a school of professional nursing approved by accreditation bodies.
• Current, full, active, and unrestricted RN license in a U.S. state or territory.

Responsibilities

• Provide competent, evidence-based nursing care to patients.
• Coordinate care with VA mental health teams and other providers.
• Assist with nursing education, orientation, competencies, and quality improvement.

Skills

English proficiency

Nursing license

State nursing license

Education

RN license/degree (ADN/BSN/MSN)

Job description

Summary

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 ineligible to apply.

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/13068630
• 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: Experience providing behavioral health services with adult populations Experience providing behavioral health services through telehealth modalities Experience working as a member of a collaborative multidisciplinary care team Experience implementing evidence-based assessment and intervention practices Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: Heavy lifting 45 pounds and over - heavy carrying 45 pounds and over - straight pulling 1 hour - pushing 1 hour - reaching above shoulder - use of fingers - both hands required - walking 7 hours - standing 7 hours - kneeling 0.5 hours - repeated bending 7 hours - both legs required - ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously - near vision correctable at 13"" to 16"" to Jaeger 1 to 4 - Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other - ability to distinguish basic colors - ability to distinguish shades of colors - hearing without aid - mental and emotional stability - work with detergents and antiseptic solutions.

Duties

• VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Nurse Total Rewards The primary duties of the Registered Nurse may include but are not limited to: Responsible for providing competent - evidence-based care to patients
• They will assist indirecting the provision of nursing education - orientation - competencies and providing quality improvement and enhance outcomes utilization Independently provides patient-centered and recovery-oriented care and maintains selfawareness while caring for patients living with MH conditions Facilitates 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 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 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 Demonstrates competence in practice and decision-making - deliberate planning - and critical thinking skills Provides Veterans and their family members with education regarding their illness - medications - and treatment plan Provides outreach to clients who are having problems with treatment adherence and who may be relapsing Coordinates with other agencies and make referrals to provide patients with necessary community services Enters orders for laboratory and consults per policy Administers injections per order Delivers efficient - comprehensive - and continuous patient-driven holistic care through active collaboration - communication - and coordination of resources
• Refer to - consult with and coordinate care with other VA health care providers Assesses patients and provides additional support between visits with LIPs Provides Information regarding expected outcome of medications Act as liaison to Inpatient Psychiatric Unit to facilitate continuity of care Assists in scheduling - re-scheduling appointments cancellations
• Works closely with the advanced medical support assistant (AMSA) with appointments and scheduling Provides coverage as needed for other staff in the Outpatient Mental Health Clinic Demonstrates clinical knowledge in assessing - planning - implementing - documenting - and evaluating care for a designated group of patients across the continuum of care Provides crisis assessment/intervention Completes screenings/assessments/secure messages - alerts provider ASAP with any outliers Performs suicide risk assessments and/or mental status exams Identifies patients at high risk for harm to self or others related to mobility issues - disruptive behavior - suicidal/homicidal ideations - or withdrawal complications with appointments - phone call - and/or walk-ins Demonstrates a commitment to customer service and maintains a therapeutic and professional relationship with appropriate professional role boundaries Utilizes policy orders appropriately Maintains confidentiality of all patient information - including electronic - print - and conversations Promotes cost effective use of resources Promotes wellness by empowering the patient to self-management through education and patient-driven health care delivery Involves all members of both core and expanded teams in identifying problems -collecting - and analyzing data - and problem resolution Utilizes creativity and innovation and recommends changes that will improve patient care or clinical efficiency Promotes patient and personnel safety Follows infection control and VHSO policies - including reusable medical equipment 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: Monday - Friday 8:00am to 4:30pm - Subject to change per the needs of the facility
• Telework: Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact [e-mail] - the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance
• Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized