Registered Nurse - Mental Health (1 West)

Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs; Tucson (AZ); Presencial; USD 75.000 - 110.000; Jornada completa

Descripción de la vacante

Veterans Health Administration in the United States is seeking a Mental Health Registered Nurse to deliver patient-centered care for veterans. You will participate in rounds, education groups, and interdisciplinary treatment planning, while ensuring safety and quality standards.

The role requires active RN licensure, English proficiency, and adherence to VA nursing practice standards. This full-time position offers benefits and opportunities for professional growth in a VA environment.

Formación

• Graduate of a school of professional nursing with current RN license.
• English language proficiency for direct patient care.
• Licensure in good standing and ability to obtain state certification as RN.
• Commitment to veteran patient care and adherence to VA policies.

Responsabilidades

• Provide patient-centered nursing care in mental health settings.
• Lead shift reports, hand-offs, and group psychoeducation activities.
• Document assessments, plans of care, and safety rounds per policy.
• Collaborate with inter-disciplinary teams to improve MH outcomes.
• Maintain professional boundaries and participate in quality improvement.

Conocimientos

Nursing care

Mental health care

Patient safety

Clinical documentation

Communication

Team collaboration

Educación

Graduate of a professional nursing program

State RN licensure in the United States

Descripción del empleo

Summary

This position is eligible for EDRP - a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy & submit your EDRP application within 4 months of your start date. Approval award amount (up to $200 -000) & eligibility period (1 to 5 years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application. Contact [e-mail] for questions/assistance.

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/13105875
• 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: At least 1 year in a mental health setting Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: This position may include a level of physicality normally associated with duties performed by nurses such as walking - bending - stooping - and some lifting
• There may also be extended periods of sitting or standing
• Transferring patients and objects may be required
• Utilization of safe patient handling and mobility protocols using mechanical lifts that are provided.

Duties

• The Mental Health (MH) Registered Nurse (RN) executes their 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 MH conditions - and managing the milieu
• The nurse facilitates shift reports - warm hand-offs - and develops content as well as facilitates nurse-led psychoeducational groups
• The nurse possess thorough knowledge of psychiatric - suicidal patients - restraints - substance use disorder and PTSD
• They use therapeutic communication techniques - practice de-escalation techniques - and utilize recovery-oriented language
• The nurse actively participates in MH interdisciplinary treatment team - MH Environment of Care rounds - directs team response to psychiatric emergencies - reports safety concerns - and assists in safety concern resolution
• The nurse documents nursing assessments - nursing plan of care - patient safety observations - medication administration and environmental safety rounds according to facility policy
• The nurse maintains professional boundaries to protect patient vulnerabilities and act in the best interest of the patient
• Collaborates in the development - implementation - evaluation - and revision of policies - procedures - and/or guidelines
• The nurse will assist in directing the provision of nursing education - orientation - competencies and providing quality improvement and enhance outcomes utilization
• This nurse integrates MH knowledge - skills - abilities - and judgment and is self-directed in goal setting for managing complex situations
• Validates understanding of the rationale for care processes and decisions
• Demonstrates performance and leadership that is broad enough to improve the care for MH patients
• Questions MH clinical practices for the purpose of providing evidence-based care
• The nurse will demonstrate the ability to cope with and manage competing priorities
• The nurse demonstrates competence in MH practice and decision-making - deliberate planning - and critical thinking skills
• Provides peers with formal or informal constructive feedback for improvement
• Fosters a safe and supportive environment conducive to the professional development of health care professionals
• Evaluates MH outcomes of evidence-based decisions and practice changes for individuals - groups - and populations
• Responsible for the documented MH outcomes at the program or service level
• Program or service level outcomes must be broad and complex and can be demonstrated at any organizational level within a facility and sustain an evidence-based MH practice culture
• 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: Night Shift Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized