Registered Nurse Mental Health (PTSD Domiciliary)

Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs; Topeka (KS); On-site; USD 80,000 - 105,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

PTO

Health Insurance

Retirement Plan

Federal Holidays

Job summary

The Veterans Health Administration in Topeka, KS is seeking a Registered Nurse to deliver patient-centered, evidence-based care in a Domiciliary Mental Health setting. You will play a key role in treatment planning and collaborate with an interdisciplinary team to support recovery and safety.

Qualifications include English proficiency, an approved nursing degree, active state licensure or eligibility for VA appointment, and a commitment to professional development.

Qualifications

• English language proficiency required for direct patient care.
• Graduate of an approved nursing program with ACEN/CCNE accreditation.
• State license in good standing; eligibility for VA appointment and licensure.
• GNT exception allows entry-level appointment while pursuing licensure.
• Grade determinations emphasize leadership, professional development, and evidence-based practice.
• Preferred psychiatric nursing experience and BSN when available.
• Reference VA Qualification Standards for nursing roles.
• Physical requirements include substantial walking, lifting, and mobility tasks.

Responsibilities

• Provide and lead evidence-based nursing care to assigned patients.
• Direct nursing education, orientation, and competency development.
• Deliver patient-centered care with recovery-focused approaches.
• Facilitate shift reports, safe handoffs, and nurse-led groups.
• Participate in interdisciplinary teams for patient safety and care planning.
• Document assessments, risk screens, and plans of care per policy.
• Support professional development and knowledge sharing among staff.
• Adhere to standards for safe medication management and environment of care.

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/13101765
• 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 MSN and no additional professional nursing experience
• OR a MSN in a *related field with a BSN and no additional professional nursing experience
• OR a MSN in a related field with a BSN and no additional professional nursing experience
• OR a Doctoral degree in Nursing with no professional nursing experience
• OR a Doctoral degree in a *related field with a BSN with no 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 and no professional nursing experience
• A BSN with 2 years of professional nursing equivalent to Nurse I - Level 3
• *Note: Foreign education programs/degrees are not creditable as related degrees
• Preferred Experience: Psychiatric Nursing Experience preferred - BSN preferred
• 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 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.

Duties

• The primary responsibilities of this Registered Nurse may vary by assignment
• Those duties may include but not limited to: The Domiciliary Mental Health (MH) Registered Nurse (RN) is responsible for providing and leading the provision of competent - evidence-based care to assigned patients
• Assists in directing the provision of nursing education - orientation - competencies and providing quality improvement and outcomes utilization consultation
• Provides patient-centered and recovery-oriented care and maintains self-awareness while caring for patients living with substance use disorder and/or MH conditions
• Facilitates shift report - warm hand-offs - and nurse-led psychoeducational groups
• use therapeutic communication techniques - practice de-escalation techniques - utilize recovery-oriented language - and provide oversight of the patient safe medication management program
• Actively participates in MH interdisciplinary treatment team - patient safety and environment of care rounds - and responds to psychiatric and medical care needs and emergencies as directed
• Reports safety concerns - and documents nursing assessments - risk screens - nursing plan of care - patient safety rounds - and environment of care rounds according to facility policy
• 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
• 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: 7:30AM-8:00PM weekends with rotation Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized