Registered Nurse (Domiciliary Mental Health)

Veterans Health Administration • Bath, NY

1d • Onsite

About The Position

The VA Finger Lakes Healthcare System is hiring a full-time Registered Nurse for the Domiciliary Mental Health Team at the Bath VA Medical Center. The Outpatient Mental Health Registered Nurse provides patient-centered, recovery-oriented care to patients living with mental health conditions and/or substance use disorders, while maintaining self-awareness and professional boundaries. The nurse contributes to a safe, supportive environment for patients and healthcare professionals, and supports colleagues through knowledge sharing and evidence-based practice.

The position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to program eligibility and approval. The application must be submitted within four months of appointment. The EDRP office determines approval, award amount (up to $200,000), and eligibility period (one to five years); former EDRP participants are ineligible.

This is a permanent, full-time federal position. The schedule is Monday through Friday, 07:30–16:00 EST. Telework and virtual work are not available. Relocation, recruitment incentives, and permanent change of station are not authorized. The position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.

Requirements

• Proficiency in basic written and spoken English.
• Graduation from an appropriately accredited school of professional nursing, or an allowed equivalent pathway described in the announcement.
• Current, full, active, and unrestricted professional nurse registration in a U.S. State, Territory, or Commonwealth, or the District of Columbia; a temporary Graduate Nurse Technician appointment may be available to eligible candidates pursuing licensure.
• Meet the education and experience requirements for the assigned Nurse grade and level; requirements vary by grade and may include an ADN, BSN, MSN, or doctoral degree and specified nursing experience.
• U.S. citizenship, except that non-citizens may be appointed when recruiting qualified citizens is not possible under VA policy.
• Complete required background/security investigation, onboarding, and pre-employment identification requirements.
• Pass a pre-employment physical evaluation/examination.
• Participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must be registered with Selective Service.
• Applicants tentatively selected for testing-designated positions must undergo urinalysis for illegal drug use; refusal results in denial of VA employment.
• May be required to serve a probationary period.
• Submit the EDRP application within four months of appointment if seeking program consideration and meeting eligibility requirements.

Nice To Haves

• Prior mental health or substance abuse/addictions treatment experience.

Responsibilities

• Provide and lead competent, evidence-based care for assigned patients.
• Assist in directing nursing education, orientation, and competency activities, and provide quality-improvement and outcomes-utilization consultation.
• Provide patient-centered, recovery-oriented care to patients with substance use disorders and/or mental health conditions while maintaining self-awareness.
• Facilitate shift reports, warm hand-offs, and nurse-led psychoeducational groups.
• Use therapeutic communication and de-escalation techniques and recovery-oriented language; oversee the patient safe medication management program.
• Participate in the mental health interdisciplinary treatment team and patient safety and environment-of-care rounds.
• Respond to psychiatric and medical care needs and emergencies as directed.
• Report safety concerns and document nursing assessments, risk screens, plans of care, patient safety rounds, and environment-of-care rounds according to facility policy.
• Maintain professional boundaries and act in the patient's best interest.
• Foster a safe, supportive environment conducive to healthcare professionals' professional development.
• Support colleagues through knowledge sharing and question clinical practices to promote safe, quality, evidence-based nursing care.
• Perform additional duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program eligibility, with a potential award of up to $200,000 subject to approval and eligibility.
• 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.
• One full and unrestricted 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