Registered Nurse- Outpatient Mental Health (Education Debt Repayment)

Veterans Health Administration • Wyoming, MI

1d • Onsite

About The Position

This Registered Nurse position provides comprehensive outpatient mental health nursing care to Veterans with complex behavioral health needs. The nurse assesses, plans, implements, coordinates, and evaluates individualized treatment plans; conducts nursing assessments, triage, risk screenings, and clinical documentation; and provides education to patients and families about mental health conditions, medications, and treatment plans. The role supports care coordination, warm handoffs, and continuity of care across services and settings, using therapeutic communication and de-escalation techniques to promote recovery and patient safety. The nurse also participates in interdisciplinary treatment planning, quality improvement, and evidence-based practice initiatives, and responds to psychiatric and medical emergencies and patient safety concerns.

The position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. Eligibility and awards are subject to VHA policy and application review. Applicants must submit an EDRP application within four months of appointment; awards may be up to $200,000 for an eligibility period of one to five years. Former EDRP participants are ineligible.

The work schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Telework is not available, and the position is not virtual. The position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.

Requirements

• Proficiency in basic written and spoken English.
• Graduation from an appropriately accredited school of professional nursing, or an applicable education pathway described in the announcement.
• Current, full, active, and unrestricted professional nurse registration in a U.S. State, Territory, Commonwealth, or the District of Columbia; the announcement describes a Graduate Nurse Technician exception for eligible candidates pursuing licensure.
• Meet the education, experience, and dimension criteria for the applicable Nurse grade and level.
• 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; refusal results in denial of employment.
• Selective Service registration is required for males born after December 31, 1959.
• Subject to background and security investigation, onboarding, and pre-employment identification requirements.
• Must pass a pre-employment physical evaluation or examination.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is required for VA Health Care Personnel.
• May be required to serve a probationary period.
• Complete all application requirements listed in the announcement’s Required Documents section.
• Physical ability to walk, stand, stoop, bend, sit, reach, push, and pull, and to lift or carry up to 35 pounds while following Safe Patient Handling guidelines.

Responsibilities

• Provide comprehensive outpatient mental health nursing care to Veterans with complex behavioral health needs.
• Assess, plan, implement, coordinate, and evaluate individualized treatment plans.
• Conduct nursing assessments, triage, risk screenings, and clinical documentation.
• Provide patient and family education related to mental health conditions, medications, and treatment plans.
• Coordinate care, provide warm handoffs, and support continuity across services and settings.
• Use therapeutic communication and de-escalation techniques to support recovery and patient safety.
• Participate in interdisciplinary treatment planning, quality improvement, and evidence-based practice initiatives.
• Respond to psychiatric and medical emergencies and address patient safety concerns.

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program reimbursement, subject to eligibility and approval, of up to $200,000 over 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 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