Registered Nurse-Mental Health

Veterans Health Administration • Northport, NY

8d • 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, care planning, implementation, and evaluation. The nurse delivers age-specific, patient-centered, recovery-oriented care; 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 care outcomes.

The role includes managing the inpatient mental health milieu, facilitating shift reports and warm hand-offs, and developing and leading nurse-led psychoeducational groups. The nurse uses therapeutic communication, de-escalation techniques, and recovery-oriented language; participates in interdisciplinary treatment team and Environment of Care rounds; directs team responses to psychiatric emergencies; and reports and helps resolve safety concerns. The nurse documents assessments, plans of care, safety observations, and environmental safety rounds in accordance with facility policy, while maintaining professional boundaries that protect patients.

The nurse also contributes to policy and guideline development, provides constructive feedback and professional support to peers, and demonstrates leadership that improves mental health care. The position evaluates the outcomes of evidence-based decisions and practice changes and is accountable for documented outcomes at the program or service level. The position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program, subject to eligibility and approval; the program may provide up to $200,000 in loan repayment over a one-to-five-year eligibility period.

Requirements

• Proficiency in basic written and spoken English.
• Graduation from an appropriately accredited school of professional nursing, or qualifying nursing education under the stated VA provisions.
• Current, full, active, and unrestricted registered nurse license in a U.S. State, Territory, Commonwealth, or the District of Columbia; a temporary Graduate Nurse Technician appointment may be available to eligible candidates pursuing licensure.
• Meet the education, experience, and dimension criteria for the assigned VA Nurse grade and level.
• U.S. citizenship, except where non-citizens may be appointed under VA policy when qualified citizens cannot be recruited.
• Pass required pre-employment urinalysis, background/security investigation, and physical evaluation; comply with seasonal influenza vaccination requirements.
• Complete required onboarding and application documentation; males born after December 31, 1959 must meet Selective Service registration requirements.

Nice To Haves

• Mental health experience.

Responsibilities

• Provide and supervise direct patient care and be accountable for all elements of the nursing process.
• Assess, plan, implement, and evaluate age-specific patient care.
• Coordinate care focused on patient education, self-management, and customer satisfaction throughout the continuum of care.
• Administer medications and procedures according to established policies and guidelines.
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary team members to influence care outcomes.
• Provide patient-centered, recovery-oriented inpatient mental health care and manage the milieu.
• Facilitate shift reports and warm hand-offs; develop and facilitate nurse-led psychoeducational groups.
• Use therapeutic communication, de-escalation techniques, and recovery-oriented language.
• Participate in mental health interdisciplinary treatment team activities and Environment of Care rounds.
• Direct team responses to psychiatric emergencies, report safety concerns, and assist in resolving them.
• Document nursing assessments, plans of care, patient safety observations, and environmental safety rounds according to facility policy.
• Maintain professional boundaries and act in the patient's best interest.
• Collaborate in developing, implementing, evaluating, and revising policies, procedures, and guidelines.
• Provide peers with constructive feedback and foster a safe, supportive environment for professional development.
• Evaluate mental health outcomes of evidence-based decisions and practice changes, and document program- or service-level outcomes.

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to eligibility and approval, with potential loan repayment 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 and 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