Registered Nurse- Outpatient Mental Health (Chattanooga)

Veterans Health Administration • Chattanooga, TN

5d • Onsite

About The Position

The Registered Nurse provides outpatient mental health care at the Chattanooga, Tennessee VA Clinic. The nurse delivers patient-centered, recovery-oriented care to Veterans living with mental health conditions and contributes to patient and organizational outcomes. The role includes coordinating care with inpatient mental health units and interdisciplinary teams, facilitating hand-offs, and developing and leading nurse-run psychoeducational groups. The nurse uses therapeutic communication, de-escalation techniques, and recovery-oriented language, and educates Veterans and their families or significant others about illnesses, medications, and treatment plans.

The nurse assists with safety concerns, collaborates with program leadership to improve outcomes, and directs team responses to psychiatric and medical emergencies. The role also includes documenting triage assessments, risk screens, measurement-based care tools, clinical reminders, and plans of care in accordance with facility policy. The nurse maintains professional boundaries, provides constructive feedback, shares knowledge with colleagues, and supports a safe environment for professional development.

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to program requirements and approval. The role is not virtual; ad-hoc telework may be authorized at supervisory discretion. The work schedule is based on service needs. Relocation and recruitment incentives and permanent change of station benefits are not authorized.

Requirements

• Proficiency in basic written and spoken English.
• Graduation from an appropriately accredited school of professional nursing, or qualifying education under the stated bridge-program or foreign-education provisions.
• Current, full, active, and unrestricted registered nurse licensure in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia, subject to the Graduate Nurse Technician exception described in the posting.
• Meet the education and experience criteria for the applicable Nurse grade and level.
• Pass a pre-employment physical evaluation or examination.
• Meet VA employment conditions, including U.S. citizenship subject to the stated exception, applicable drug testing, background investigation, onboarding, and annual employee-health requirements.
• Ability to perform the position's physical demands, including visual acuity, keen hearing, clear speech, manual dexterity, extended periods of movement or standing, and lifting at least 50 pounds.
• Ability to work effectively in stressful situations, shift priorities according to organizational needs, and respond to potentially combative patients.
• Participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program and other annual Employee Health requirements.

Responsibilities

• Provide patient-centered, recovery-oriented mental health nursing care to Veterans.
• Coordinate care with inpatient mental health units and interdisciplinary teams, including huddles, meetings, and 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 significant others about illnesses, medications, and treatment plans.
• Report and assist with 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 feedback and support colleagues through knowledge sharing.
• Foster a safe, supportive environment for the professional development of health care professionals.

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to eligibility, application, and program approval, with an award of up to $200,000 and an eligibility period of one to five years.
• 50 days of paid time off per year, including 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 VA contributions of up to 5%.
• Federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long-term care insurance; many programs may be carried into retirement.
• Regular salary increases and potential performance awards.

What This Job Offers

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