Registered Nurse (Mental Health)

MePA; Salisbury (NC); On-site; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off

Health insurance

Retirement savings plan

Job summary

Veterans Affairs seeks an Experienced Registered Nurse for the Inpatient Mental Health unit, delivering comprehensive nursing care and coordinating with an interdisciplinary team. EDRP eligibility enhances educational loan support for qualified applicants.

Responsibilities include medication administration, patient education, and leadership in safety and de-escalation within a dynamic psychiatric environment. Licensure in good standing is required, with options for bridge program advancement.

Qualifications

• English language proficiency required by VA policy.
• Graduate of an approved nursing program with ACEN/CCNE accreditation or equivalent.
• State licensure as a registered nurse (RN) upon appointment or during bridge program completion.
• GNT exception possible with temporary appointment while pursuing licensure.
• Preferred 2–3 years of clinical mental health nursing experience.

Responsibilities

• Provide patient-centered nursing care on the Mental Health Inpatient Unit.
• Administer medications and treatments per policies; document care.
• Coordinate with interdisciplinary team; lead shift reports and psychoeducational groups.
• Ensure safety and de-escalation in psychiatric emergencies and milieu management.
• Meet VA Nurse Total Rewards criteria and maintain licensure requirements.

Skills

English proficiency

Nursing licensure

Mental health nursing

Critical thinking

Education

BSN or higher

ADN or Diploma in Nursing

Tools

Electronic Health Records

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 & 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
• Preferred Experience: 2 - 3 years clinical nursing Mental Health work experience
• 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/13098724
• 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: This position includes a level of physicality normally associated with duties performed by nurses such as direct patient care - and potentially long periods of walking - standing - sitting - moderate lifting - repeated bending - or kneeling
• Examples may include but are not limited to: (1) Significant amounts of time standing assisting assigned patients
• (2) Utilization of safe patient handling and mobility protocols
• This position potentially requires flexibility in schedule and assignments
• 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
• Must complete- annual Employee Health requirements - such as annual TB screening or testing - as a condition of employment.

Duties

• The Registered Nurse (Inpatient Mental Health) is responsible and accountable for all elements of the nursing process when providing and/or supervising direct patient care on the Mental Health Inpatient Unit
• Executes position duties to improve patient and organizational outcomes by providing patient-centered and recovery-oriented care - maintaining self-awareness while caring for patients living with mental health conditions - and managing the milieu
• Other related duties and responsibilities include - but are not limited to the following: Assesses - plans - implements - and evaluates care based on age specific components
• Responsible 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
• Facilitates shift reports - warm hand-offs - and develops content as well as facilitates nurse-led psychoeducational groups
• Utilize therapeutic communication techniques - practice de-escalation techniques - and utilize recovery-oriented language
• Participates in Mental Health (MH) interdisciplinary treatment team - MH Environment of Care rounds - directs team response to psychiatric emergencies - reports safety concerns - and assists in safety concern resolution
• Documents nursing assessments - nursing plan of care - patient safety observations - and environmental safety rounds according to facility policy
• Maintains professional boundaries to protect patient vulnerabilities and act in the best interest of the patient Executes position responsibilities that demonstrate leadership - experience - and creative approaches to management of complex client care
• Perform other related duties listed in functional statement
• 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: Full time - various 12 hour shifts/tours of duty to include rotating weekends and holidays
• Telework: No Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact James Grimm - [e-mail] - EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance
• Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized