Registered Nurse- (Outpatient Mental Health) Methadone Treatment Program OTP

Veterans Health Administration • Cincinnati, OH

5d • Onsite

About The Position

The Cincinnati VA Medical Center is seeking a Registered Nurse for its outpatient mental health Methadone Treatment Program (OTP). The nurse is responsible and accountable for all elements of the nursing process when providing or supervising direct patient care. The nurse assesses, plans, implements, and evaluates care using age-specific components, and coordinates care focused on patient education, self-management, and customer satisfaction throughout the continuum of care.

The role provides patient-centered, recovery-oriented care to Veterans living with mental health conditions. It includes coordinating with inpatient mental health units to support continuity of care, participating in interdisciplinary treatment-team huddles and meetings, conducting warm hand-offs, and developing and facilitating nurse-led psychoeducational groups. The nurse uses therapeutic communication and de-escalation techniques, recovery-oriented language, and provides Veterans and, as appropriate, their family members or significant others with education about illness, medications, and treatment plans.

The nurse reports and helps resolve safety concerns, collaborates with program leadership to improve patient and program outcomes, and directs team responses to psychiatric and medical emergencies. The position also documents nursing triage assessments, risk screens, measurement-based care tools, clinical reminders, and plans of care in accordance with facility policy, while fostering a safe and supportive environment for the professional development of health care professionals.

The work schedule is 5:45 a.m. to 2:15 p.m., Monday through Friday, with occasional Saturdays from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Telework is not available; this is not a virtual position. Relocation and recruitment incentives and permanent change of station are not authorized.

Requirements

• Proficiency in basic written and spoken English.
• Graduation from an appropriately accredited school of professional nursing, or qualifying foreign nursing education with required degree equivalency validation where applicable.
• Current, full, active, and unrestricted registered professional nurse licensure in a U.S. State, Territory, or 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 grade and level sought, as specified for Nurse I through Nurse III.
• U.S. citizenship, except that non-citizens may be appointed when qualified citizens cannot be recruited in accordance with VA policy.
• Applicants tentatively selected for a testing-designated position must submit to urinalysis for illegal drug screening.
• Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must meet Selective Service registration requirements.
• Must pass a pre-employment physical examination and background/security investigation, complete onboarding and application requirements, and participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• May be required to serve a probationary period.
• Ability to meet the physical demands of nursing care, including extended periods of standing or walking, and potentially sitting, reaching, pushing, pulling, bending, stooping, or kneeling; moderate lifting or carrying up to 35 pounds in accordance with safe patient handling guidelines.
• Adequate vision to perform assigned duties, distinguish basic colors, and safely assess patients and the environment; ability to hear sufficiently to perform assigned duties, with hearing aids permitted.

Nice To Haves

• Two years of psychiatric or substance use disorder treatment experience.

Responsibilities

• Provide and/or supervise direct patient care and complete all elements of the nursing process.
• Assess, plan, implement, and evaluate care using age-specific components.
• Coordinate care focused on patient education, self-management, and customer satisfaction across the continuum of care.
• Provide patient-centered, recovery-oriented care to patients living with mental health conditions.
• Coordinate with inpatient mental health units to support continuity of care, participate in interdisciplinary treatment-team huddles and meetings, and conduct warm hand-offs.
• Develop and facilitate nurse-led psychoeducational groups.
• Use therapeutic communication and de-escalation techniques and recovery-oriented language.
• Educate Veterans and, as appropriate, their family members or significant others about illness, medications, and treatment plans.
• Report and assist with or direct the resolution of safety concerns; collaborate with program leadership to improve patient and program outcomes.
• Direct team responses to psychiatric and medical emergencies.
• Document nursing triage assessments, risk screens, measurement-based care tools, clinical reminders, and patient plans of care according to facility policy.
• Foster a safe, supportive environment conducive to the professional development of health care professionals.

Benefits

• 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 and 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