Registered Nurse-Inpatient Mental Health

Veterans Health Administration • White River Junction, VT

2d • Onsite

About The Position

This full-time Registered Nurse position provides inpatient mental health nursing care within the Nursing, Mental Health Service at the VA White River Junction Healthcare System in White River Junction, Vermont. The nurse provides competent, evidence-based, patient-centered, and recovery-oriented care; manages the inpatient milieu; and maintains self-awareness while caring for patients living with mental health conditions. The role includes facilitating shift reports, warm hand-offs, and nurse-led psychoeducational groups; using therapeutic communication and de-escalation techniques; and using recovery-oriented language.

The nurse participates in the mental health interdisciplinary treatment team, Environment of Care rounds, and psychiatric emergencies. The position reports and addresses safety concerns and documents nursing assessments, plans of care, patient safety observations, and environmental safety rounds in accordance with facility policy. The nurse coordinates care, administers medications and procedures, collaborates with the interdisciplinary team, and helps direct staff in identifying, implementing, and evaluating patient care needs. Work is scheduled across 12-hour and 8-hour shifts, with day/night rotations that include holidays and weekends; the schedule is determined during the interview process.

The position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to program requirements and approval. An approved award may be up to $200,000, with an eligibility period of one to five years. Former EDRP participants are ineligible to apply. The role requires a current, full, active, and unrestricted U.S. nursing registration, subject to the stated education and licensure provisions and exceptions. A pre-placement physical examination is required.

Requirements

• Proficiency in basic written and spoken English.
• Graduation from an appropriately accredited school of professional nursing, subject to the education pathways and exceptions described in the announcement.
• Current, full, active, and unrestricted registration as a graduate professional nurse in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia, subject to the Graduate Nurse Technician exception.
• Meet the education, experience, and dimension criteria for the applicable Nurse grade and level.
• Ability to satisfactorily perform the duties; a pre-placement physical examination is required.
• U.S. citizenship, except that non-citizens may be appointed when qualified citizens cannot be recruited in accordance with VA policy.
• Successful completion of applicable pre-employment requirements, including drug screening for selected applicants in testing-designated positions and a background/security investigation.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Male applicants born after December 31, 1959 must meet Selective Service registration requirements.

Nice To Haves

• Three to five years of mental health experience, preferably in inpatient mental health.
• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).

Responsibilities

• Provide competent, evidence-based, patient-centered, and recovery-oriented care to inpatient mental health patients.
• Manage the psychiatric milieu and maintain self-awareness while caring for patients with mental health conditions.
• Facilitate shift reports, warm hand-offs, and nurse-led psychoeducational groups.
• Use therapeutic communication, de-escalation techniques, and recovery-oriented language.
• Participate in the mental health interdisciplinary treatment team, Mental Health Environment of Care rounds, and psychiatric emergencies.
• Report and address safety concerns; document nursing assessments, plans of care, patient safety observations, and environmental safety rounds according to facility policy.
• Coordinate care focused on patient education, self-management, and customer satisfaction throughout the continuum of care.
• Administer medications and procedures in accordance with established policies and guidelines.
• Plan and deliver technically competent care to patients with complex needs in alignment with ANA Standards of Nursing Practice.
• Organize and prioritize patient care needs and ensure assigned tasks are completed.
• Collaborate with the interdisciplinary team to achieve the plan of care and influence patient outcomes.
• Provide direction to staff to identify, implement, and evaluate patient care needs.
• Provide and direct Veteran/patient-driven care that optimizes patient experience, satisfaction, and safety.
• Maintain professional boundaries, model ethical behavior, and follow established policies and the ANA Code of Ethics for Nurses.
• Apply and model evidence-based practice and research, considering patient preferences, to improve care quality and resource utilization.
• Model effective resource utilization through delegation of cost-effective care delivery and encourage peers to participate in unit-level performance improvement activities.
• Perform additional duties as assigned.

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: 26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, and 11 paid Federal holidays.
• Traditional federal pension with five-year vesting and federal 401(k) with up to 5% in VA contributions.
• 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