Registered Nurse - Inpatient Mental Health

Veterans Health Administration • Seattle, WA

15h • Onsite

About The Position

The Registered Nurse provides patient-centered, recovery-oriented care to patients receiving inpatient mental health services. The nurse manages the milieu, uses therapeutic communication and de-escalation techniques, and maintains professional boundaries while supporting patients living with mental health conditions. The role includes facilitating shift reports and warm hand-offs, developing and leading nurse-led psychoeducational groups, participating in interdisciplinary treatment teams and Environment of Care rounds, and directing team responses to psychiatric emergencies. The nurse documents assessments, plans of care, safety observations, and environmental rounds in accordance with facility policy, and participates in improving policies, procedures, and guidelines. The position also involves supporting colleagues’ development and evaluating mental health outcomes from evidence-based practice and service-level changes.

The position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to program eligibility and approval. The schedule is a day shift consisting of six 12-hour shifts and one 8-hour shift, with rotating weekends and holidays. Compressed or flexible scheduling is available; telework is not available. This is not a virtual position. Relocation and recruitment incentives are not authorized.

Requirements

• Proficiency in basic written and spoken English.
• Graduation from an appropriately accredited school of professional nursing, subject to the stated provisions for bridge-program candidates and graduates of foreign nursing schools.
• Current, full, active, and unrestricted registered nurse licensure in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia.
• New graduates must obtain RN licensure by the time of appointment.
• Must meet the education and experience criteria for the grade and level assigned; these vary by grade and include nursing degrees and, for some levels, specified professional or specialized nursing experience.
• U.S. citizenship, except that non-citizens may be appointed when qualified citizens cannot be recruited in accordance with VA policy.
• Selected applicants in testing-designated positions must complete urinalysis screening for illegal drug use; refusal results in denial of employment.
• Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must meet Selective Service registration requirements.
• Must undergo a background/security investigation and pre-employment medical evaluation.
• Must participate in the Department of Veterans Affairs seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• May be required to serve a probationary period.
• Must complete the application and onboarding requirements specified in the announcement.
• Must meet the position’s physical demands, including direct patient care and potentially prolonged walking, standing, or sitting; moderate lifting; repeated bending or kneeling; and use of safe patient-handling and mobility protocols.

Nice To Haves

• Board certification in Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing (PMH-BC) or another relevant nursing specialty.
• One to two years of RN experience in mental health, inpatient psychiatry, or another behavioral health setting.
• Experience managing acute psychiatric conditions, including suicidality, severe mood disorders, psychosis, substance use disorders, or trauma-related conditions.
• Demonstrated therapeutic communication and de-escalation skills, and use of recovery-oriented language.
• Experience contributing to psychiatric emergency response, milieu management, and a safe therapeutic environment.
• Familiarity with interdisciplinary teamwork involving psychiatry, psychology, social work, pharmacy, and vocational rehabilitation partners.
• Strong clinical documentation skills, including assessments, safety checks, care plans, and group notes aligned with VA policy.
• Ability to lead or co-facilitate psychoeducational or therapeutic groups.
• Prior VA experience or familiarity with VA mental health systems.
• For new graduates, a strong interest in psychiatric nursing and recovery-oriented care; a psychiatric or mental health clinical rotation is preferred but not required; willingness to participate in structured onboarding, mentorship, and competency development for acute inpatient psychiatry.

Responsibilities

• Provide patient-centered, recovery-oriented care to patients with mental health conditions and manage the inpatient milieu.
• Facilitate shift reports and warm hand-offs.
• Develop content for and facilitate nurse-led psychoeducational groups.
• Use therapeutic communication, de-escalation techniques, and recovery-oriented language.
• Participate in mental health interdisciplinary treatment teams 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 best interest of patients.
• 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 outcomes of evidence-based decisions and practice changes for individuals, groups, and populations.
• Be responsible for documented mental health outcomes at the program or service level.

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, 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