Inpatient Mental Health Registered Nurse

Veterans Health Administration • Hampton, VA

7d • Onsite

About The Position

The Inpatient Mental Health Registered Nurse provides and/or supervises direct patient care and is accountable for the nursing process, including assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation of care based on age-specific needs. The nurse coordinates care with a focus on patient education, self-management, and customer satisfaction, administers medications and procedures according to policy, and collaborates with the interdisciplinary team to influence patient outcomes.

The role supports patient-centered, recovery-oriented inpatient mental health care. Depending on proficiency, the nurse develops or applies psychiatric nursing knowledge and skills in areas such as milieu management, therapeutic communication, de-escalation, recovery-oriented language, psychoeducational groups, shift reporting and warm hand-offs, interdisciplinary treatment teams, Environment of Care rounds, and psychiatric emergencies. The nurse identifies safety concerns and hazardous items and documents assessments, plans of care, patient safety observations, and environmental safety rounds in accordance with facility policy. The position requires managing competing priorities, evidence-based decision-making, and ongoing development of mental health nursing practice.

Annual Employee Health requirements include items such as TB screening or testing, Basic Life Support (BLS), Resuscitation Quality Improvement (RQI), Prevention and Management of Disruptive Behaviors (PMDB), and Therapeutic Containment training. Care in home settings or other off-site locations may be required; driving and/or riding in General Services Administration (GSA) vehicles may therefore be necessary.

The position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to program eligibility and approval. The award may be up to $200,000, with an eligibility period of one to five years; former EDRP participants are ineligible. The position is not eligible for telework or virtual work, and compressed/flexible scheduling is unavailable. Relocation and recruitment incentives and permanent change of station are not authorized.

Requirements

• Proficiency in basic written and spoken English.
• Graduation from an appropriately accredited school of professional nursing, or an applicable qualifying nursing education pathway described in the announcement.
• Current, full, active, and unrestricted professional nurse registration in a U.S. State, Territory, or Commonwealth, or the District of Columbia; the announcement describes a temporary Graduate Nurse Technician exception for candidates pursuing licensure.
• Meet the education, experience, and practice-dimension criteria for the assigned Nurse grade and level.
• Complete required annual Employee Health requirements and training, including applicable TB screening or testing, BLS, RQI, PMDB, and Therapeutic Containment training.
• U.S. citizenship is required unless appointment of a non-citizen is permitted under VA policy.
• Selected applicants for testing-designated positions must undergo pre-appointment urinalysis.
• Meet applicable Selective Service registration, background/security investigation, onboarding, identification, influenza vaccination, and other employment conditions stated in the announcement.

Nice To Haves

• Mental health experience.

Responsibilities

• Provide and/or supervise direct patient care and carry out the nursing process, including assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation of care based on age-specific needs.
• Coordinate care focused on patient education, self-management, and customer satisfaction throughout the continuum of care.
• Administer medications and procedures in accordance with established policies and guidelines.
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary team members to influence patient care outcomes.
• Provide patient-centered, recovery-oriented mental health care and maintain self-awareness while caring for patients with mental health conditions.
• Use therapeutic communication, de-escalation techniques, and recovery-oriented language; participate in or facilitate nurse-led psychoeducational groups as appropriate to proficiency.
• Participate in shift reports and warm hand-offs, mental health interdisciplinary treatment team activities, Environment of Care rounds, and psychiatric emergencies as directed.
• Identify and report safety concerns and hazardous items to maintain a safe, therapeutic environment.
• Document nursing assessments, plans of care, patient safety observations, and environmental safety rounds in accordance with facility policy.
• Apply evidence-based practice and manage competing priorities; share mental health educational findings, experiences, and ideas with peers.
• Complete annual Employee Health requirements and required training, including applicable TB screening or testing, BLS, RQI, PMDB, and Therapeutic Containment training.
• Provide care in home settings or other off-site locations when required; drive and/or ride in GSA vehicles as necessary.

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to eligibility and approval, with an award of up to $200,000 and an eligibility period of one to five years.
• Competitive salary, regular salary increases, and potential performance awards.
• 50 days of paid time off per year: 26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, and 11 paid Federal holidays.
• Traditional federal pension, with five-year vesting.
• Federal 401(k), with up to 5% in contributions by VA.
• 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