Registered Nurse- Mental Health Outpatient-Post Discharge Engagement

Veterans Health Administration • Phoenix, AZ

11d • Onsite

About The Position

The Registered Nurse provides mental health outpatient care and post-discharge engagement for Veterans, coordinating care from admission through discharge to support seamless transitions and collaboration between inpatient and outpatient teams. The nurse provides competent, evidence-based, patient-centered, and recovery-oriented care; uses therapeutic communication and de-escalation; facilitates warm hand-offs, telemental health care, and nurse-led psychoeducational groups; and educates Veterans and their families or significant others about illness, medications, and treatment plans. The role includes care coordination with inpatient mental health units and interdisciplinary teams, responding to psychiatric and medical emergencies as directed, documenting assessments and care plans, and addressing safety concerns. The nurse also contributes to nursing education, orientation, competency development, quality improvement, and improved outcomes utilization.

This is a full-time federal position with a stated schedule of 0630–1600, which may vary to meet department or facility needs. Compressed or flexible scheduling may be available. Telework and virtual work are not available. Relocation and recruitment incentives are not authorized. The position may require a probationary period and a pre-employment physical evaluation. Physical duties may include walking, bending, stooping, lifting, patient transfers, and extended periods of sitting or standing; safe patient-handling protocols and provided mechanical lifts are used.

Requirements

• Graduate of a professional nursing program accredited by ACEN or CCNE, or meet the stated alternative education provisions for bridge-program or foreign-school graduates.
• Current, full, active, and unrestricted registered nurse license in a U.S. State, Territory, or Commonwealth, or the District of Columbia; a temporary Graduate Nurse Technician appointment may be available to eligible candidates pursuing licensure.
• Basic written and spoken English proficiency.
• Meet the education and experience qualifications for the assigned VA Nurse grade and level; requirements vary by grade and may include an ADN, BSN, MSN, or doctoral degree and specified professional or specialized nursing experience.
• Ability to provide nursing care with sound clinical judgment, critical thinking, deliberate planning, and coordination of complex client situations.
• U.S. citizenship is required unless appointment of a non-citizen is permitted under VA policy.
• Complete required background/security screening, onboarding, and pre-employment physical evaluation; applicants selected for testing-designated positions must undergo pre-employment drug testing.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is required for VA health care personnel.
• May be required to serve a probationary period.
• The position may include walking, bending, stooping, lifting, patient transfers, and extended periods of sitting or standing; safe patient-handling protocols must be followed.

Nice To Haves

• Three to five years of recent nursing experience.
• Three to five years of mental health nursing experience.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with patients, families, and interdisciplinary team members in an outpatient setting.
• Demonstrated decision-making, sound clinical judgment, and critical-thinking skills.
• Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing Board Certification (PMH-BC).

Responsibilities

• Coordinate Veteran care from admission through discharge to ensure a seamless transition and communication between inpatient and outpatient teams.
• Coordinate care focused on patient education, self-management, and customer satisfaction across the continuum of care.
• Provide competent, evidence-based, patient-centered, and recovery-oriented mental health nursing care.
• Facilitate warm hand-offs, telemental health care, and nurse-led psychoeducational groups.
• Use therapeutic communication, de-escalation techniques, and recovery-oriented language.
• Educate Veterans, family members, and significant others about mental health conditions, medications, and treatment plans.
• Coordinate with inpatient mental health units and participate in mental health interdisciplinary treatment team huddles and meetings.
• Respond to psychiatric and medical emergencies as directed.
• Report and address safety concerns; document nursing triage assessments, risk screens, clinical reminders, and patient plans of care according to facility policy.
• Support nursing education, orientation, competencies, quality improvement, and efforts to enhance outcomes utilization.
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary team members to influence patient outcomes and follow established policies and guidelines.
• Maintain professional boundaries and act in the best interest of patients.

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) student loan reimbursement, subject to eligibility and program approval, with awards up to $200,000.
• Competitive salary, regular salary increases, and potential performance awards.
• 50 days of paid time off per year, consisting of 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
• Education Level: Associate degree