Registered Nurse - Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP)

Veterans Health Administration • Elizabeth City, NC

22h • Onsite

About The Position

The Hampton VA Medical Center’s Albemarle Community Based Outpatient Clinic in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, is hiring a Registered Nurse for its Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP) outpatient mental health team. The nurse reports directly to the Nurse Manager or designee and provides independent, patient-centered, recovery-oriented care to Veterans with behavioral health disorders, including depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, substance dependence, and related medical conditions.

The nurse administers medications as ordered and in accordance with facility policy, participates in interdisciplinary team meetings, coordinates care and referrals, performs triage and risk screening, and provides education to Veterans and their families about illness, medications, and treatment plans. The role includes outreach to high-risk Veterans, suicide screening and safety planning, walk-in clinic coverage, responding to Veteran messages and calls, and supporting continuity of care with inpatient services and specialty clinics.

The position is scheduled 08:00–16:30, Monday through Friday. Telework, relocation incentives, and permanent change-of-station benefits are not available. The position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to program eligibility and approval; award amounts may be up to $200,000 for an eligibility period of one to five years. Former EDRP participants are ineligible.

Applicants must meet the applicable nursing education and licensure requirements, including a current, full, active, and unrestricted U.S. nursing registration, except where the stated Graduate Nurse Technician exception applies. English proficiency is required. A pre-employment physical examination and other employment screening requirements apply. The role requires the ability to work effectively in stressful situations and to shift priorities as organizational needs change.

Requirements

• Graduate from an appropriately accredited school of professional nursing, or meet the stated alternative education provisions for qualifying bridge-program or foreign-educated candidates.
• Current, full, active, and unrestricted registration as a graduate professional nurse in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia, except where the Graduate Nurse Technician exception applies.
• Proficiency in basic written and spoken English.
• Meet the education and experience criteria applicable to the assigned Nurse grade and level.
• Ability to meet the physical requirements of the position, including visual acuity, keen hearing, clear distinctive speech, manual dexterity, prolonged periods of walking, standing, stooping, sitting, bending, pulling, and pushing, and lifting at least 50 pounds; patient and object transfers may be required.
• Ability to work effectively in stressful situations and shift priorities based on organizational needs.
• Complete a pre-employment physical examination and required employment screening, including applicable drug testing, background/security investigation, onboarding, and annual Employee Health requirements.
• U.S. citizenship is required unless appointment of a non-citizen is permitted under VA policy.
• Comply with the seasonal influenza vaccination program and other applicable Employee Health requirements.

Nice To Haves

• At least 2–3 years of recent direct patient care experience as a Registered Nurse in mental health.
• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).

Responsibilities

• Administer medications as ordered by the provider and in accordance with facility policies and procedures.
• Attend and participate in mental health interdisciplinary team huddles and meetings.
• Use therapeutic communication, de-escalation techniques, and recovery-oriented language when working with Veterans.
• Educate Veterans, family members, and significant others about illnesses, medications, and treatment plans.
• Participate in warm hand-offs and care coordination, and liaise with inpatient mental health units to support continuity of care.
• Respond to psychiatric and medical emergencies as directed.
• Document nursing triage assessments, risk screens, clinical reminders, and patient plans of care in accordance with facility policy.
• Maintain professional boundaries and act in the best interests of patients; report and address safety concerns.
• Support colleagues through knowledge sharing and foster a safe, supportive environment for healthcare professionals.
• Question clinical practices as appropriate to support evidence-based care.
• Review scheduled Veterans to identify high-risk patients, needed follow-up appointments, and pending behavioral health consults.
• Track and follow up with Veterans with high-risk behavioral or suicide flags and those identified for Reach Vet, in collaboration with Suicide Prevention.
• Complete suicide screens and safety plans as appropriate.
• Contact high-risk Veterans who miss appointments or have not scheduled indicated follow-up care.
• Coordinate with specialty clinics, including HUD/VASH, CWT, PRRC, PTSD Clinic, and STAR, to help Veterans establish needed care.
• Provide walk-in clinic coverage for Veteran same-day access requests.
• Conduct Veteran outreach to provide support, gather treatment-related information, and report it to treatment providers.
• Identify Veterans who frequently use emergency services and help connect them to appropriate care, including regular providers or CCICM referrals.
• Respond to My HealtheVet messages and Veteran phone calls, triage concerns, and address matters within scope or refer them to the appropriate team member.
• Track and complete clinical reminders and mental health screenings within scope, and alert providers to items requiring completion.
• Place consults as appropriate and within scope, and follow up on community care referral progress.
• Cover mental health nursing staffing.

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, comprising 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.
• One full and unrestricted nursing license from any U.S. state or territory is accepted.

What This Job Offers

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