Registered Nurse- Outpatient Mental Health

Veterans Health Administration • Des Moines, IA

10d • Onsite

About The Position

The Outpatient Mental Health clinic Registered Nurse provides patient-centered, recovery-oriented nursing care to Veterans living with mental health conditions. The RN helps direct nursing education, orientation, competencies, quality improvement, and outcomes-utilization consultation. The position leads nursing care for patients with complex needs, applying the nursing process in alignment with ANA Standards of Nursing Practice and clinical judgment to support staff planning, decision-making, and evaluation of outcomes.

The RN coordinates patient care across the continuum, including education and self-management support, and collaborates with the interdisciplinary team to promote quality outcomes and customer satisfaction. Care is provided through face-to-face, telephone, and virtual modalities. The position participates in care coordination and treatment-team meetings, facilitates continuity with inpatient mental health units, and responds to psychiatric and medical emergencies.

This is a full-time, permanent position with a weekday day schedule. It is not virtual, and telework is unavailable. The role may be eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to program eligibility and approval. The VA describes its Whole Health approach as empowering Veterans to manage their health and well-being through personalized health plans, healing relationships, healing environments, and connections to their communities.

Requirements

• Be proficient in basic written and spoken English.
• Graduate from an appropriately accredited school of professional nursing, or meet an allowed equivalent education pathway described in the announcement.
• Hold current, full, active, and unrestricted professional nurse registration in a U.S. State, Territory, Commonwealth, or the District of Columbia, subject to the stated Graduate Nurse Technician exception.
• Meet the education and experience qualifications applicable to the assigned Nurse grade and level.
• Meet U.S. citizenship requirements, unless appointment of a non-citizen is permitted under VA policy.
• Complete required pre-employment screening and onboarding, including applicable urinalysis, background/security investigation, and physical evaluation.
• Participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must meet Selective Service registration requirements.
• Submit an EDRP application within four months of appointment to be considered for the program; eligibility, award, and period are subject to program review and approval.

Nice To Haves

• Two years of mental health experience.
• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).

Responsibilities

• Provide and/or supervise direct patient care and remain accountable for all elements of the nursing process.
• Coordinate care focused on patient education, self-management, and customer satisfaction throughout the continuum of care.
• Follow established procedures, policies, and guidelines.
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary team members to influence care outcomes.
• Provide competent, evidence-based care to assigned patients.
• Facilitate warm hand-offs, tele-mental 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 illness, medications, and treatment plans through face-to-face, telephone, and virtual modalities.
• Coordinate care with inpatient mental health units to support continuity, and participate in interdisciplinary treatment-team huddles and meetings.
• Respond to psychiatric and medical emergencies and provide crisis-hotline information when pertinent.
• Report and address safety concerns; document triage assessments, risk screens, clinical reminders, injections, medication cassette refill management, Battlefield Acupuncture, patient care plans, and other required information in accordance with facility policy.
• Lead nursing care for patients with complex needs using the nursing process and ANA Standards of Nursing Practice.
• Apply clinical knowledge and judgment to lead staff involvement in planning, decision-making, and evaluating outcomes within the immediate practice setting.
• Assist in directing nursing education, orientation, competencies, quality improvement, and outcomes-utilization consultation.

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to eligibility and approval; award may be 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, including 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 may be carried into retirement.

What This Job Offers

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