Registered Nurse (Outpatient - Primary Care Mental Health Integration)

Veterans Health Administration • San Antonio, TX

2d • Onsite

About The Position

VA South Texas Health Care System's Office of Nursing/Mental Health Service is hiring an Outpatient Registered Nurse for Primary Care Mental Health Integration at Audie L. Murphy Memorial Veterans' Hospital. The RN is accountable for the nursing process in direct patient care, including assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation of age-specific care. The role coordinates care with an emphasis on patient education, self-management, customer satisfaction, and collaboration with the interdisciplinary team. It also calls for leadership and creative approaches to managing complex client care.

The nurse serves as a Collaborative Care Manager and provides patient-centered, recovery-oriented care to Veterans with mental health conditions. The position includes coordination with inpatient mental health units, participation in interdisciplinary huddles and meetings, warm hand-offs, and developing or facilitating nurse-led psychoeducational groups. The RN educates Veterans and their families or significant others about illness, medications, and treatment plans; documents assessments and care; addresses safety concerns and emergencies; and supports colleagues' professional development.

The work may involve infectious patients or contaminated materials, use of personal protective equipment, isolation precautions, potentially combative patients, loud noises, alarms, chaotic situations, and modified work environments. Work location and conditions may vary with patient-care, organizational, and safety needs. The schedule is to be determined; it is typically 0730–1600 CST, with possible nights, holidays, or weekends. Ad-hoc telework may be available; this is not a virtual position.

Requirements

• Proficiency in basic written and spoken English.
• Graduation from an appropriately accredited school of professional nursing, subject to the stated VA education provisions and exceptions.
• Current, full, active, and unrestricted professional nurse registration in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia; a Graduate Nurse Technician temporary appointment exception may apply.
• Meet the education and experience criteria for the assigned grade and level. Requirements vary by grade and may include an ADN or nursing diploma, BSN, MSN, doctoral degree, and specified professional or specialized nursing experience.
• U.S. citizenship; non-citizens may be appointed only when qualified citizens cannot be recruited in accordance with VA policy.
• Applicants selected for a testing-designated position must undergo urinalysis for illegal drug use before appointment.
• Register for Selective Service if applicable to males born after December 31, 1959.
• Complete required background/security investigation and online onboarding.
• Provide acceptable identification for pre-employment requirements; as of May 7, 2025, non-REAL ID-compliant driver's licenses or state identification cards cannot be used as acceptable identification.
• Pass a pre-employment physical evaluation/examination if required by organizational needs.
• Participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Complete all application requirements listed in the announcement's Required Documents section.
• A probationary period may be required.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a Collaborative Care Manager.
• Provide patient-centered, recovery-oriented care while maintaining self-awareness when caring for patients with mental health conditions.
• Coordinate care and link with inpatient mental health units to support continuity of care.
• Participate in mental health interdisciplinary treatment team huddles and meetings and conduct warm hand-offs.
• Develop content for and facilitate nurse-led psychoeducational groups.
• Use therapeutic communication, de-escalation techniques, and recovery-oriented language.
• Educate Veterans, family members, and/or significant others about illness, medications, and treatment plans.
• Report, assist with, and/or direct resolution of safety concerns; collaborate with program leadership to improve patient and program outcomes.
• Direct team responses to psychiatric and medical emergencies.
• Document nursing triage assessments, risk screens, measurement-based care tools, clinical reminders, and plans of care according to facility policy.
• Maintain professional boundaries and act in the patient's best interest.
• Provide peers with constructive formal or informal feedback and support colleagues through knowledge sharing.
• Foster a safe, supportive environment conducive to the professional development of health care professionals.
• Work with infectious patients and/or contaminated materials, including wearing appropriate personal protective equipment.
• Work in varied or modified environments, including caring for patients on isolation precautions, screening potentially infectious patients, and participating in labor pools as needed.
• Maintain professional composure while working with potentially combative patients and amid loud noises, alarms, chaotic situations, or other stressors.

Benefits

• Competitive salary with 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.
• Federal 401(k), with VA contributions of up to 5%.
• Federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long-term care insurance; many federal insurance programs may be carried into retirement.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Education Level: Associate degree