Inpatient Mental Health Registered Nurse

Veterans Health Administration • Brockton, MA

1d • Onsite

About The Position

The Inpatient Mental Health Registered Nurse works in the Nursing, Mental Health service at the VA Boston Healthcare System’s Brockton, Massachusetts location. This full-time position provides and leads competent, evidence-based nursing care for patients living with mental health conditions. The nurse independently delivers patient-centered, recovery-oriented care and supports a safe therapeutic milieu. The role includes oversight of licensed vocational nurses and nursing assistants as appropriate to the setting, and may involve travel to other VA campuses and community-based outpatient clinics.

The position has evening and night tour openings. Each is a five-day, eight-hour schedule, with rotation to weekends and holidays. Compressed or flexible scheduling may be available; telework is not available. The role is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program, subject to program eligibility and approval. The VA describes a compensation and benefits package that includes competitive salary, potential salary increases and performance awards, paid time off, federal retirement and insurance programs.

Requirements

• Proficiency in basic written and spoken English.
• Graduation from an appropriately accredited school of professional nursing, or an eligible alternative education pathway described in the announcement.
• Current, full, active, and unrestricted professional nurse registration in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia; an entry-level Graduate Nurse Technician exception is described for eligible candidates pursuing licensure.
• Meet the education and experience criteria for the applicable VA nurse grade and level. Criteria vary by grade and may require an ADN, BSN, MSN, or doctoral degree and specified professional or specialized nursing experience.
• Be physically able to satisfactorily perform the duties of the position.
• U.S. citizenship is required, except that non-citizens may be appointed when qualified citizens cannot be recruited in accordance with VA policy.
• Applicants tentatively selected for a testing-designated position must undergo urinalysis; refusal results in denial of employment.
• Meet applicable Selective Service registration requirements for males born after December 31, 1959.
• Submit to a background/security investigation and pass a pre-employment examination.
• Participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Complete onboarding and application requirements; a probationary period may be required.
• Provide required education accreditation documentation, and foreign education equivalency documentation when applicable.

Responsibilities

• Provide and lead competent, evidence-based psychiatric mental health nursing care.
• Deliver patient-centered and recovery-oriented care and manage the therapeutic milieu.
• Facilitate shift reports, warm hand-offs, and nurse-led psychoeducational groups.
• Use therapeutic communication, de-escalation techniques, and recovery-oriented language.
• Participate actively in the mental health interdisciplinary treatment team and Mental Health Environment of Care rounds.
• Assume team lead responsibilities during psychiatric emergencies.
• Report and help resolve safety concerns.
• Document nursing assessments, plans of care, patient safety observations, and environmental safety rounds according to facility policy.
• Maintain professional boundaries and act in the best interests of patients.
• Provide oversight of licensed vocational nurses and nursing assistants as appropriate to the setting.
• Assist in directing nursing education, orientation, and competency activities, and provide quality-improvement and outcomes-utilization consultation.
• Provide peers with informal, constructive feedback and support a safe environment conducive to professional development.
• Contribute a professional nursing perspective to interdisciplinary discussions and share mental health knowledge, educational findings, experiences, and ideas with colleagues.
• Question clinical practices and participate in activities that sustain an evidence-based mental health practice culture.

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to eligibility and approval, with a potential award of up to $200,000.
• Competitive salary, regular salary increases, and potential performance awards.
• 50 days of paid time off per year: 26 days annual leave, 13 days sick leave, and 11 paid federal holidays.
• Traditional federal pension, with five-year vesting.
• Federal 401(k), with VA contributions up to 5%.
• Federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long-term care insurance; many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Associate degree