RN- Intensive Community Mental Health Recovery- Case Management

Pennsylvania Psychological Association; Illinois; On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

The Intensive Community Mental Health Recovery (ICMHR) Registered Nurse (RN) at Edward Hines - Jr. VA Hospital delivers patient-centered, recovery-oriented care to Veterans with mental health conditions, coordinating with the MH unit and community teams.

The role emphasizes adherence to VA standards, ongoing education, risk assessment, and leadership in complex MH cases, with a schedule Monday–Friday, and opportunities to support care across inpatient and outpatient settings.

Qualifications

• English proficiency required for direct patient care.
• Graduate of ACEN/CCNE accredited nursing program.
• Current, full, active RN license in a US state/territory/DC.
• Bridge program candidates may become licensed before completion.
• Foreign nursing graduates need degree equivalency validation.

Responsibilities

• Provide MH-focused, recovery-oriented nursing care.
• Coordinate care with interdisciplinary teams across MH services.
• Document nursing assessments, care plans and risk screens.
• Educate Veterans and families about illness, medications and treatment plans.
• Maintain professional boundaries and support safe, high-quality MH nursing care.

Skills

English proficiency

Clinical nursing skills

Patient-centered care

Education

Nursing degree or diploma

ACEN/CCNE accredited program

RN license in US (state)

Bridge program eligibility (master's level)

Foreign degree equivalency validation

Job description

Summary

The Intensive Community Mental Health Recovery (ICMHR) Registered Nurse (RN) executes position responsibilities to improve patient and organizational outcomes. The ICMHR RN executes their position duties by providing patient-centered and recovery-oriented care and maintaining self-awareness while caring for patients living with MH conditions. This position is located in the Mental Health unit at the Edward Hines - Jr. VA Hospital.

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/13088031
• 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: 3-5 years of Mental Health Nursing experience
• Masters degree preferred
• Able to work independently
• 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: - Significant amounts of time standing assisting assigned patients - Utilization of safe patient handling and mobility protocols Other Significant Information: In carrying out responsibilities - it is necessary for the incumbent to travel into the community where they provide services to Veterans and Caregivers
• Services provided in homes or other community locations may require the use of stairs - walking on uneven terrain and reasonable exposure to the elements.

Duties

• Responsible and accountable for all elements of the nursing process when providing and/or supervising direct patient care
• Assesses - plans - implements - and evaluates care based on Mental Health (MH) specific components
• Assumes responsibility for the coordination of care focused on patient education - self-management - and customer satisfaction throughout the MH continuum of care
• Follows procedures per established policies and guidelines
• Influences care outcomes by collaborating with members of the interdisciplinary team
• Executes position responsibilities that demonstrate leadership - experience - and creative approaches to management of complex client care
• The ICMHR program provides clinical community-based case management services to Veterans with pervasive mental illness (PMI) - severe functional impairment - and high Inpatient MH unit utilization - in coordination with existing community and Veterans Affairs (VA) services
• The ICMHR RN gains awareness of the principles and goals of outpatient MH treatment by understanding practices related to patient-centered care - recovery-oriented principles - telemental health - community-based care - and self-awareness related to caring for patients living with MH conditions
• The ICMHR RN facilitates care coordination - linking with the Inpatient MH units to facilitate continuity of care attends and participates in MH interdisciplinary team huddles and meetings - uses therapeutic communication techniques - practices de-escalation techniques - utilizes recovery-oriented language - and provides Veterans - their family members - and/or significant others with education regarding their illness - medications - and treatment plan
• The ICMHR RN clinically provides outpatient - community based MH services for a subgroup of Veterans with PMI
• including but not limited to transportation - medication management - in home/community consultation and responds to psychiatric and medical emergencies as directed
• The ICMHR RN documents nursing triage assessments - risk screens - clinical reminders - and patient plan of care in accordance with facility policy
• Maintains professional boundaries to protect patient vulnerabilities and act in the best interest of the patient
• The ICMHR RN reports and assists and/or directs safety concern resolution and collaborates with program leadership to help improve patient and program outcomes
• and directs team response to psychiatric and medical emergencies
• The ICMHR RN executes position responsibilities that demonstrate leadership - experience - and creative approaches to management of complex MH client care
• Provides peers with formal or informal constructive feedback for improvement
• Supports colleagues and other nurses through knowledge sharing to provide safe - quality MH nursing care
• Fosters a safe and supportive environment conducive to the professional development of health care professionals
• The ICMHR RN collaborates and supports MH nursing along with other disciplines
• 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: Monday-Friday 7:30am- 4:00pm Telework: May be Authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized