Registered Nurse- Inpatient Mental Health

Department of Veterans Affairs • Iowa City, IA

45d • Onsite

About The Position

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. The Inpatient Mental Health (MH) Registered Nurse (RN) provides and leads the provision of competent, evidence-based care, the psychiatric MH nurse independently provides patient-centered and recovery-oriented care, milieu management, and maintains self-awareness while caring for patients living with MH conditions. The VA Midwest Health Care Network advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers. This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest. As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care, you will operate in a model with three core elements, seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran. This is done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran's community. This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being.

Requirements

• Licensure: 1 full and unrestricted license from any US State or territory

Responsibilities

• Facilitate shift reports, warm hand-offs, and nurse-led psychoeducational groups; use therapeutic communication techniques, practice de-escalation techniques, and utilize recovery-oriented language.
• The nurse actively participates in MH interdisciplinary treatment team, MH Environment of Care rounds, assumes team lead for psychiatric emergencies, reports and assists in resolving safety concerns, and documents nursing assessments, nursing plan of care, patient safety observations, and environmental safety rounds according to facility policy.
• The nurse maintains professional boundaries to protect patient vulnerabilities and act in the best interest of the patient.
• Has oversight of licensed vocational nurses/nursing assistants, as appropriate to the setting.
• The nurse will assist in directing the provision of nursing education, orientation, competencies and providing quality improvement and outcomes utilization consultation.
• Provides peers with informal constructive feedback for improvement.
• Fosters a safe and supportive environment conducive to the professional development of healthcare professionals.
• Contributes professional nursing perspective in discussions with the MH interdisciplinary team.
• Supports colleagues through MH knowledge sharing to provide safe, quality nursing care.
• Shares MH educational findings, experiences, and ideas with peers.
• Questions clinical practices for the purpose of providing evidence-based care.
• Participates in activities and strategies to sustain an evidence-based MH practice culture

Benefits

• 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)

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Industry: Administration of Human Resource Programs
• Education Level: No Education Listed
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees