Registered Nurse (Inpatient Mental Health)

Veterans Health Administration • Asheville, NC

3d • Onsite

About The Position

The Inpatient Mental Health Registered Nurse is accountable for the nursing process while providing or supervising direct patient care. The nurse assesses, plans, implements, and evaluates age-specific care and coordinates care focused on patient education, self-management, and satisfaction throughout the continuum of care. The role includes administering medications and procedures under established policies and collaborating with the interdisciplinary team to influence care outcomes.

The nurse provides patient-centered, recovery-oriented care to people living with mental health conditions, maintains self-awareness, and manages the inpatient milieu. The nurse facilitates shift reports and warm hand-offs, develops and leads nurse-led psychoeducational groups, uses therapeutic communication and de-escalation techniques, and communicates in recovery-oriented language. The nurse participates in interdisciplinary treatment teams and environment-of-care rounds, directs team responses to psychiatric emergencies, reports and helps resolve safety concerns, and documents assessments, plans of care, patient safety observations, and environmental safety rounds according to facility policy. The nurse maintains professional boundaries and protects patient vulnerabilities.

The position also contributes to the development, implementation, evaluation, and revision of policies, procedures, and guidelines; provides constructive feedback and supports colleagues’ professional development; and evaluates evidence-based practice changes and mental health outcomes at the individual, group, population, program, or service level.

The position is an inpatient, non-virtual role with night tours of 8 or 12 hours and weekend and holiday requirements. Telework is not available. Relocation and recruitment incentives and permanent change of station are not authorized. The role is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to program eligibility and approval. Applications must be submitted within four months of appointment; awards may be up to $200,000 for 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 nursing education under the specified VA provisions.
• Current, full, active, and unrestricted professional nurse registration in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia; qualifying Graduate Nurse Technician appointments may be available to candidates pursuing licensure.
• Meet the education, specialized nursing experience, and grade-level criteria for the assigned Nurse grade and level.
• U.S. citizenship, except that non-citizens may be appointed only when qualified citizens cannot be recruited in accordance with VA policy.
• Pass required pre-employment screening, including applicable urinalysis and physical evaluation/examination, and a background/security investigation.
• Meet applicable Selective Service registration requirements.
• Participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Complete the required online onboarding and application documentation.
• Maintain a full and unrestricted nursing license.

Responsibilities

• Provide and/or supervise direct patient care and perform the nursing process, including assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation of age-specific care.
• Coordinate care with a focus on patient education, self-management, and customer satisfaction throughout the continuum of care.
• Administer medications and perform procedures in accordance with established policies and guidelines.
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary team members to influence patient care outcomes.
• Provide patient-centered, recovery-oriented mental health care, maintain self-awareness, and manage the inpatient milieu.
• Facilitate shift reports and warm hand-offs; develop and facilitate nurse-led psychoeducational groups.
• Use therapeutic communication, de-escalation techniques, and recovery-oriented language.
• Participate in mental health interdisciplinary treatment team activities and Mental Health Environment of Care rounds.
• Direct team responses to psychiatric emergencies, report safety concerns, and assist in resolving them.
• 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 while protecting their vulnerabilities.
• Collaborate on developing, implementing, evaluating, and revising policies, procedures, and guidelines.
• Provide peers with constructive feedback and foster a safe, supportive environment for professional development.
• Evaluate mental health outcomes of evidence-based decisions and practice changes and be accountable for documented program- or service-level outcomes.

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to eligibility and approval, with awards 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 can be carried into retirement.

What This Job Offers

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