Registered Nurse - Outpatient Mental Health

Veterans Health Administration • Fayetteville, NC

8d • Hybrid

About The Position

This Registered Nurse position is located within the Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration, VA Mid-Atlantic Health Care Network (VISN 6), Fayetteville NC Coastal Health Care System in Fayetteville, North Carolina. The nurse provides patient-centered, recovery-oriented outpatient mental health care to Veterans while maintaining self-awareness in caring for people living with mental health conditions.

The nurse assesses, plans, implements, and evaluates care using age-specific components; coordinates care across the continuum, with an emphasis on patient education, self-management, and customer satisfaction; and administers medications as directed by the ordering provider. The role supports continuity with inpatient mental health units, interdisciplinary treatment team activities, warm hand-offs, and nurse-led psychoeducational groups. It also involves therapeutic communication, de-escalation, recovery-oriented language, and education for Veterans and their families or significant others about illness, medications, and treatment plans.

The nurse reports and helps resolve safety concerns, collaborates with program leadership to improve outcomes, and directs team responses to psychiatric and medical emergencies. The position also includes documenting triage assessments, risk screens, measurement-based care tools, clinical reminders, and plans of care according to facility policy; maintaining professional boundaries; providing constructive feedback and knowledge sharing; and fostering a safe, supportive environment for health care professionals.

The work schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Ad hoc telework may be authorized at supervisory discretion. This is not a virtual position.

Requirements

• Proficiency in basic written and spoken English.
• Graduation from an appropriately accredited school of professional nursing, or qualifying nursing education and licensure under the stated exceptions.
• Current, full, active, and unrestricted registration as a graduate professional nurse 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 and specialized nursing experience criteria applicable to the assigned Nurse grade and level.
• U.S. citizenship, except that non-citizens may be appointed when qualified citizens cannot be recruited in accordance with VA policy.
• Complete required pre-employment screening and onboarding, including drug testing for applicants selected for testing-designated positions, background/security investigation, and a pre-employment physical evaluation or examination.
• Meet applicable Selective Service registration requirements for males born after December 31, 1959.
• Participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Complete all application requirements listed in the announcement's Required Documents section.

Responsibilities

• Assess, plan, implement, and evaluate care using age-specific components.
• Coordinate care focused on patient education, self-management, and customer satisfaction throughout the continuum of care.
• Administer medications at the direction of the ordering provider.
• Coordinate with inpatient mental health units to support continuity of care, interdisciplinary treatment team huddles and meetings, and warm hand-offs.
• Develop content for and facilitate nurse-led psychoeducational groups.
• Use therapeutic communication and de-escalation techniques, recovery-oriented language, and provide Veterans and their family members or significant others with education about illness, medications, and treatment plans.
• Report and assist with or direct resolution of safety concerns, collaborate with program leadership to improve patient and program outcomes, and direct team responses to psychiatric and medical emergencies.
• Document nursing triage assessments, risk screens, measurement-based care tools, clinical reminders, and patient plans of care according to facility policy.
• Maintain professional boundaries and act in the patient's best interest.
• Provide peers with constructive feedback and support colleagues and other nurses through knowledge sharing to promote safe, quality care.
• Foster a safe and supportive environment conducive to the professional development of health care professionals.

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.
• 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