Registered Nurse Mental Health

Veterans Health Administration • Manchester, NH

3d • Onsite

About The Position

This full-time Registered Nurse position is based in Outpatient Mental Health at the Manchester, VA location and is scheduled for 40 hours per week, Monday through Friday, from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Telework is not available, and the position is not virtual. The role provides patient-centered, recovery-oriented nursing care to Veterans living with mental health conditions.

The nurse coordinates care with inpatient mental health units and interdisciplinary teams, supports continuity of care through huddles, meetings, and warm hand-offs, and develops and facilitates nurse-led psychoeducational groups. The nurse uses therapeutic communication, de-escalation techniques, and recovery-oriented language; educates Veterans and, where appropriate, their family members or significant others about illness, medications, and treatment plans; and helps address safety concerns and direct responses to psychiatric and medical emergencies.

The position also involves leadership and creative approaches to managing complex client care, documentation of nursing triage assessments, risk screens, measurement-based care tools, clinical reminders, and patient care plans in accordance with facility policy, and assisting with triage and first review of mental health consults. The nurse maintains professional boundaries and acts in the patient's best interest.

The role is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to program eligibility and approval. The program may provide up to $200,000 in student loan reimbursement over an eligibility period of one to five years. Applications must be submitted within four months of appointment; former EDRP participants are ineligible.

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; an exception is described for Graduate Nurse Technicians pursuing licensure.
• Must be physically able to satisfactorily perform the duties and pass a pre-placement examination.
• Meet the applicable education and experience requirements for the assigned nurse grade and level.
• U.S. citizenship is required, except that non-citizens may be appointed when qualified citizens cannot be recruited in accordance with VA policy.
• Selected applicants are subject to pre-employment urinalysis, background/security investigation, onboarding and credentialing requirements, and seasonal influenza vaccination requirements.
• Selective Service registration is required for males born after December 31, 1959.
• EDRP applicants must meet program eligibility requirements and submit an application within four months of appointment; former EDRP participants are ineligible.

Nice To Haves

• Three or more years of psychiatric nursing experience.
• Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing Board Certification (PMH-BC) or Certified Addiction Registered Nurse (CARN) certification; strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide patient-centered, recovery-oriented care to patients living with mental health conditions.
• Coordinate care with inpatient mental health units to support continuity of care.
• Participate in mental health interdisciplinary treatment team huddles and meetings, and facilitate warm hand-offs.
• Develop content for and facilitate nurse-led psychoeducational groups.
• Use therapeutic communication, de-escalation techniques, and recovery-oriented language.
• Educate Veterans and, as appropriate, family members or significant others about illness, medications, and treatment plans.
• Report and assist with or direct resolution of safety concerns, collaborating with program leadership to improve patient and program outcomes.
• Direct team responses to psychiatric and medical emergencies.
• Demonstrate leadership and creative approaches to managing complex client care.
• Document nursing triage assessments, risk screens, measurement-based care tools, clinical reminders, and patient plans of care according to facility policy.
• Assist in triaging and conducting the nurse first review of mental health consults.
• Maintain professional boundaries and act in the best interest of patients.

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program student loan reimbursement, subject to eligibility and approval, up to $200,000 over 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