Registered Nurse

Veterans Health Administration • Poplar Bluff, MO

1d • Onsite

About The Position

The Registered Nurse Primary Care Mental Health Integration (PCMHI) Collaborative Care Manager (CoCM) delivers evidence-based, condition-focused, protocol-driven services to support Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT) providers in addressing common mental health and health behavior concerns in primary care. The CoCM works in an outpatient primary care environment as part of a collaborative, interdisciplinary team and applies the nursing process to patient care.

The position includes patient education, behavioral interventions, medication adherence and response monitoring, patient outreach, support for engagement in appropriate treatment, development and monitoring of individualized care plans, and participation in caseload consultations. The nurse provides brief evidence-based interventions, including behavioral activation and motivational interviewing, and supports relapse prevention planning throughout treatment and transitions to maintenance care.

The CoCM communicates effectively with patients, families, caregivers, VA leadership, and interdisciplinary team members, using therapeutic techniques, de-escalation skills, and recovery-oriented language. In collaboration with PCMHI leadership, the nurse helps develop educational materials, promote the program, and ensure high-quality, Veteran-centered services at both patient and programmatic levels.

The position is scheduled Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. It is not virtual; ad-hoc telework is available. The position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to program eligibility and approval. The maximum award is $200,000, with an eligibility period of one to five years. Former EDRP participants are ineligible to apply.

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 registration as a graduate professional nurse in a U.S. State, Territory, or Commonwealth, or the District of Columbia; a Graduate Nurse Technician exception may apply to eligible candidates pursuing licensure.
• Meet the applicable VA Nurse grade and level requirements for education, experience, and dimensions.
• Ability to perform physical activities associated with nursing duties, including direct patient care, extended walking, standing and sitting, moderate lifting, and repeated bending or kneeling.
• U.S. citizenship, except that non-citizens may be appointed when qualified citizens cannot be recruited in accordance with VA policy.
• Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must meet Selective Service registration requirements.
• Selected applicants must undergo required screening, background/security investigation, and onboarding processes; testing-designated positions require urinalysis before appointment.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is required for VA Health Care Personnel.
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the announcement's Required Documents section.

Nice To Haves

• Two years of RN experience, including at least one year in mental health and outpatient care.

Responsibilities

• Deliver evidence-based, condition-focused, protocol-driven services supporting PACT providers in managing common mental health and health behavior concerns in primary care.
• Apply the nursing process in an outpatient primary care setting as part of a collaborative, interdisciplinary team.
• Provide patient education and behavioral interventions.
• Monitor medication adherence and response and conduct other protocol-directed activities.
• Conduct patient outreach and support engagement in appropriate treatment.
• Develop and monitor individualized care plans.
• Participate in caseload consultations.
• Provide brief evidence-based interventions, including behavioral activation and motivational interviewing.
• Support relapse prevention planning throughout treatment and during transitions to maintenance care.
• Communicate with patients, families, caregivers, VA leadership, and interdisciplinary team members using therapeutic techniques, de-escalation skills, and recovery-oriented language.
• Collaborate with PCMHI leadership to develop educational materials, support program promotion, and ensure high-quality, Veteran-centered services.

Benefits

• 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 a 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.
• Education Debt Reduction Program student loan reimbursement, subject to eligibility and approval, with awards up to $200,000 and an eligibility period of one to five years.

What This Job Offers

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