Registered Nurse - Inpatient Mental Health

Veterans Health Administration • Topeka, KS

2d • Onsite

About The Position

The Inpatient Registered Nurse is accountable for all elements of the nursing process while providing or supervising direct patient care. The nurse coordinates care focused on patient education, self-management, and customer satisfaction throughout the continuum of care; administers medications and procedures according to established policies and guidelines; and collaborates with the interdisciplinary team to influence care outcomes. Core performance expectations include knowledge of and active participation in unit- or program-level quality improvement initiatives and customer service programs.

Depending on assignment, the psychiatric mental health nurse provides competent, evidence-based, patient-centered, and recovery-oriented care; manages the therapeutic milieu; and maintains self-awareness while caring for patients 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 and Environment of Care rounds, leads psychiatric emergencies as assigned, reports and helps resolve safety concerns, and documents nursing assessments, plans of care, patient safety observations, and environmental safety rounds in accordance with facility policy. The position requires maintaining professional boundaries and acting in patients’ best interests.

The nurse may oversee licensed vocational nurses and nursing assistants as appropriate to the setting; assist with nursing education, orientation, and competency activities; and provide quality improvement and outcomes-utilization consultation. The role includes giving peers constructive feedback, fostering a safe and supportive professional-development environment, contributing a nursing perspective to interdisciplinary discussions, sharing mental health knowledge and educational findings, questioning clinical practices to support evidence-based care, and participating in strategies to sustain an evidence-based mental health practice culture.

The position is a night-shift, non-telework, non-virtual role. Relocation and recruitment incentives are not authorized. The position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to program eligibility and approval. Applicants must submit an EDRP application within four months of appointment; approved awards may be up to $200,000 for a period of one to five years. Former EDRP participants are ineligible to apply.

Requirements

• Proficiency in basic written and spoken English.
• Graduation from an appropriately accredited school of professional nursing, or qualifying education under the stated VA exceptions.
• Current, full, active, and unrestricted registered nurse licensure in a U.S. State, Territory, Commonwealth, or the District of Columbia; a temporary Graduate Nurse Technician appointment may be available to eligible candidates pursuing licensure.
• Meet the education, experience, and dimension requirements for the assigned Nurse grade and level.
• U.S. citizenship, except that non-citizens may be appointed when qualified U.S. citizens cannot be recruited in accordance with VA policy.
• Selected applicants for testing-designated positions must undergo urinalysis for illegal drug use; refusing testing results in denial of employment.
• Register for Selective Service if applicable to males born after December 31, 1959.
• Pass a background/security investigation and pre-employment physical evaluation, complete onboarding, provide acceptable identification, and meet application documentation requirements.
• Participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• May be required to serve a probationary period.
• Ability to perform the physical demands associated with direct nursing care, including prolonged walking, standing, and sitting; moderate lifting; repeated bending or kneeling; and assisting patients using safe patient handling and mobility protocols.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

• Provide and supervise direct patient care using the nursing process.
• Coordinate care focused on patient education, self-management, and customer satisfaction across the continuum of care.
• Administer medications and procedures in accordance with established policies and guidelines.
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary team members to influence patient care outcomes.
• Participate in unit- or program-level quality improvement initiatives and customer service programs.
• Provide competent, evidence-based, patient-centered, recovery-oriented psychiatric mental health care and manage the 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 and Environment of Care rounds.
• Assume team lead responsibilities for psychiatric emergencies.
• Report and assist in resolving safety concerns, and document nursing assessments, plans of care, patient safety observations, and environmental safety rounds according to facility policy.
• Maintain professional boundaries and act in the best interests of patients.
• Oversee licensed vocational nurses and nursing assistants as appropriate to the setting.
• Assist with nursing education, orientation, and competency activities, and provide quality improvement and outcomes-utilization consultation.
• Provide peers with constructive feedback and foster a safe, supportive environment for professional development.
• Contribute a professional nursing perspective to mental health interdisciplinary discussions and share mental health knowledge and educational findings with peers.
• Question clinical practices and participate in strategies that support evidence-based mental health practice.

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to eligibility and approval, with an award of up to $200,000 for one to five years.
• Competitive salary, regular salary increases, and potential performance awards.
• 50 days of paid time off per year: 26 days annual leave, 13 days 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 may be carried into retirement.

What This Job Offers

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