Registered Nurse - Outpatient Mental Health

Veterans Health Administration • Topeka, KS

8d • Onsite

About The Position

The Outpatient Mental Health Registered Nurse provides competent, evidence-based, patient-centered and recovery-oriented care to assigned patients with mental health conditions. The nurse supports nursing education, orientation, competency development, quality improvement, and outcomes utilization consultation. The role includes facilitating warm hand-offs, telemental health care, and nurse-led psychoeducational groups; using therapeutic communication and de-escalation techniques; and educating Veterans and their families or significant others about illnesses, medications, and treatment plans.

The nurse participates in care coordination and interdisciplinary treatment team huddles and meetings, works with inpatient mental health units to support continuity of care, and responds to psychiatric and medical emergencies as directed. The nurse documents triage assessments, risk screens, clinical reminders, and plans of care according to facility policy; addresses safety concerns; maintains professional boundaries; and supports colleagues and a safe environment for professional development. The position is not virtual and does not offer telework. The scheduled hours are Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Requirements

• Proficiency in basic written and spoken English.
• Graduation from an appropriately accredited school of professional nursing, or qualifying equivalent nursing education pathway described in the announcement.
• Current, full, active, and unrestricted professional nurse registration in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia; a temporary Graduate Nurse Technician appointment may be available to qualifying candidates pursuing licensure.
• Meet the education, experience, and dimension criteria for the assigned Nurse grade and level.
• Pass a pre-employment physical evaluation.
• U.S. citizenship, except that non-citizens may be appointed only when qualified U.S. citizens cannot be recruited under VA policy.
• For positions designated for testing, submit to pre-appointment urinalysis; refusal results in denial of employment.
• Meet applicable Selective Service registration requirements.
• Complete background/security investigation and online onboarding requirements.
• Participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program and, if required, serve a probationary period.
• Complete application requirements listed in the announcement's Required Documents section.
• Physical capacity for duties that may involve prolonged walking, standing, and sitting; moderate lifting; repeated bending or kneeling; and assisting patients using safe patient-handling and mobility protocols.

Nice To Haves

• Mental health or clinic nursing experience preferred.
• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide competent, evidence-based care to assigned patients.
• Assist with nursing education, orientation, competencies, quality improvement, and outcomes utilization consultation.
• Provide patient-centered, recovery-oriented mental health nursing care.
• Facilitate warm hand-offs, telemental health care, and nurse-led psychoeducational groups.
• Use therapeutic communication and de-escalation techniques and recovery-oriented language.
• Educate Veterans, family members, and significant others about illnesses, medications, and treatment plans.
• Participate in care coordination and liaise with inpatient mental health units to facilitate continuity of care.
• Participate in mental health interdisciplinary treatment team huddles and meetings.
• Respond to psychiatric and medical emergencies as directed.
• Report and address safety concerns and document triage assessments, risk screens, clinical reminders, and patient plans of care according to facility policy.
• Maintain professional boundaries and act in the patient's best interest.
• Foster a safe, supportive environment for healthcare professionals' development and share knowledge with colleagues.
• Question clinical practices to support evidence-based care.

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to eligibility and approval, with an award of up to $200,000 over 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.
• 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