Registered Nurse - Primary Care Mental Health Integration

Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs; Auburn (WA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

EDRP eligible

Job summary

Veterans Health Administration is seeking a Registered Nurse to support Primary Care Mental Health Integration within the Patient Aligned Care Team. This role focuses on treating common mental health and health behavior concerns in primary care settings.

The position emphasizes care coordination, patient education, and evidence-based behavioral health interventions, with opportunities for professional development and within a federal pay framework.

Qualifications

• Graduate of an approved nursing program and current RN license.
• State license as a registered nurse in the United States.
• Knowledge of Primary Care Mental Health Integration (PCMHI) and care coordination processes.

Responsibilities

• Provides evidence-based behavioral health and health behavior interventions within PCMHI.
• Collaborates with PACT/PCMHI team to coordinate care and monitor patient outcomes.
• Participates in education and care management activities for veterans and families.

Skills

Care coordination

Mental health assessment

Nursing leadership

Education

BSN or higher

Tools

Behavioral Health Lab

Job description

Summary

Primary Care Mental Health Integration (PCMHI) is a component of the interdisciplinary Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT). The PCMHI Collaborative Care Manager Registered Nurse assist PACT providers in treating common mental health & health behavior. Education Debt Reduction Program (Student Loan Repayment): APPROVED! Learn more. This is an open continuous announcement until September 30 - 2026. Qualified applicants will be considered & referred as vacancies become available.

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/13033018
• 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 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: Bachelor of Science in Nursing 2-3 years Psychiatric/Mental Health nursing experience National certification as Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Experience in care coordination/care management Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

Duties

• Duties will include - but are not limited to the following: Provides evidence-based - condition specific (e.g. - anxiety - depression) - protocol-driven services to collaboratively assist Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT) providers in treating common Mental Health (MH) and health behavior concerns in Primary Care (PC)
• Participates in PCMHI same day access clinic to facilitate patient outreach and engagement in mental health treatment
• Completes a functional assessment and initial 5-point screen
• Obtains a health history of referred patients: data collection includes lifestyle patterns - pain issues - sleep/activity levels - support systems - cultural - social - and ethnic factors - patient treatment preferences and goals
• Assess - reviews - develops - maintains - and monitors Veteran specific plans of care - collaborating with the interdisciplinary team to ensure patient outcomes are reported and validated
• Assess and screens for suicidal risk to ensure veterans at risk for suicide are provided appropriate suicide prevention interventions that ensure veteran safety
• Collaborates with PCMHI team members - other VA healthcare services - and community care services for veteran care coordination
• Participates in a weekly caseload consultation with PCMHI provider with prescribing privileges
• Entry of all Veterans receiving PCMHI CoCM into a registry (e.g. -Behavioral Health Lab software)
• Conducts assessments of mental health symptoms using a set of validated evidenced based assessment tools to measure progress toward treatment goals and outcomes
• Provides education and brief behavioral health interventions using evidence-based techniques such as behavioral health coaching - behavioral activation - motivational interviewing - and other focused treatment strategies
• Demonstrates knowledge of medications prescribed for patients with mental health conditions - including patient responses and possible adverse reaction
• Demonstrates knowledge of current treatment for mental and behavioral health conditions - including key symptoms and patient manifestations Conducts relapse prevention planning throughout care - including transition from active treatment to maintenance as goals are achieve
• Effectively communicate with patients - families - caregivers - VA leadership - and members of the interdisciplinary team using therapeutic communication techniques - practices de-escalation techniques - and utilizes recovery-oriented language
• Collaborates with PCMHI leadership/team members to develop/enhance educational materials and use marketing strategies to promote PCMHI CoCM services
• Continuously collaborate with the PCMHI team to ensure high quality - effective - Veteran-centered services at the patient and programmatic levels
• Knowledge of mental health/substance use long-acting injectable medications and procedures of administration-may provide injections infrequently
• Care management appointments with veterans may be conducted via telephone - video - or in person
• Assisting with triaging referrals for future scheduled appointments in PCMHI program via the E-consult process
• VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Nurse Total Rewards Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) Authorized: This position is eligible for EDRP - a student loan payment reimbursement program
• You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of your start date
• Approval - award amount (up to $200 -000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application
• Former EDRP Participants are ineligible to apply for the program
• Contact [e-mail] for questions/assistance
• Learn more 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 8:00a.m.- 4:30p.m
• or 7:30a.m
• - 4:00p.m Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized