Registered Nurse-Inpatient Mental Health

Veterans Health Administration • White River Junction, VT

2d • Onsite

About The Position

The Registered Nurse - Inpatient Mental Health position is in the Nursing, Mental Health Service at the VA White River Junction Healthcare System in White River Junction, Vermont. The role provides competent, evidence-based psychiatric nursing care, including patient-centered and recovery-oriented care, milieu management, and self-awareness while caring for patients living with mental health conditions. The nurse facilitates shift reports, warm hand-offs, and nurse-led psychoeducational groups; uses therapeutic communication and de-escalation techniques; and uses recovery-oriented language. The nurse participates in the mental health interdisciplinary treatment team, environment-of-care rounds, and psychiatric emergencies, addresses safety concerns, and documents nursing assessments, plans of care, patient safety observations, and environmental safety rounds according to facility policy.

This is a full-time position at 40 hours per week. The schedule includes 12-hour and 8-hour shifts, rotating days and nights, including holidays and weekends. The position is not eligible for telework or compressed/flexible scheduling.

The position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to program eligibility and approval. The potential award is up to $200,000 over an eligibility period of one to five years; applications must be submitted within four months of appointment. Former EDRP participants are ineligible to apply. Relocation and recruitment incentives are not authorized.

Requirements

• Proficiency in basic written and spoken English.
• Graduation from an accredited school of professional nursing, or an applicable qualifying nursing education pathway described in the announcement.
• Current, full, active, and unrestricted registered nurse licensure in a U.S. State, Territory, or Commonwealth, or the District of Columbia; an exception may allow qualifying candidates without licensure to serve temporarily as a Graduate Nurse Technician while pursuing licensure.
• Meet the education and experience criteria for the assigned Nurse grade and level. Requirements vary by grade and include qualifying nursing degrees and, for some levels, professional or specialized nursing experience.
• Be physically able to satisfactorily perform the duties; a pre-placement physical examination is required.
• Meet federal employment conditions, including U.S. citizenship subject to the stated exception, applicable Selective Service registration, background/security investigation, pre-employment drug testing for testing-designated positions, onboarding and identification requirements, and seasonal influenza vaccination.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

• Provide independent, technically competent, evidence-based psychiatric nursing care to patients with complex needs in alignment with ANA Standards of Nursing Practice.
• Provide patient-centered, recovery-oriented care and manage the therapeutic milieu.
• 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, and 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 perform procedures in accordance with established policies and guidelines.
• 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 in identifying, implementing, and evaluating patient care needs.
• Provide and direct Veteran/patient-driven care that optimizes patient experience, satisfaction, and safety.
• Maintain professional boundaries, model ethical behavior, and act in the patient's best interest in accordance with established policies and the ANA Code of Ethics for Nurses.
• Model high-reliability principles and I CARE values to improve patient outcomes.
• Apply evidence-based practice and research, considering patient preferences, to improve care quality and resource utilization.
• Model evidence-based practice and effective resource utilization, including delegation of cost-effective care.
• Encourage peers to participate in unit-level performance improvement activities and integrate individual preferences and goals into evidence-based decisions.
• Perform additional duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program reimbursement, subject to eligibility and approval, with a potential award of up to $200,000.
• 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 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
• Education Level: Associate degree