Registered Nurse- Inpatient Mental Health

Veterans Health Administration • Des Moines, IA

1d • Onsite

About The Position

The Inpatient Mental Health Registered Nurse provides and leads competent, evidence-based care. The psychiatric mental health RN independently provides patient-centered and recovery-oriented care, manages the milieu, and maintains self-awareness while caring for patients living with mental health conditions.

The nurse is responsible for the nursing process and coordination of care, including patient education, self-management, and customer satisfaction throughout the continuum of care. The role includes administering medications and procedures under established policies and guidelines and collaborating with the interdisciplinary team to influence care outcomes. Nurses facilitate shift reports, warm hand-offs, and nurse-led psychoeducational groups; use therapeutic communication and recovery-oriented language; and practice de-escalation.

The position participates in mental health interdisciplinary treatment teams, Environment of Care rounds, and psychiatric emergencies. It includes reporting and addressing safety concerns and documenting nursing assessments, plans of care, safety observations, and environmental safety rounds according to facility policy. The nurse must be trained and current in Prevention and Management of Disruptive Behavior (PMDB) levels I–III and use those practices effectively, with a focus on de-escalation. The role requires handling multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment with frequent interruptions while maintaining clear communication, and delivering self-directed professional nursing practice for complex patients with occasional supervision.

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to program eligibility, application, and approval. The position is not telework or virtual. The work schedule is days, 0730–2000, with rotating holidays and weekends. Relocation/recruitment incentives and permanent change of station are not authorized. The VA describes its Whole Health approach as empowering Veterans to take charge of their health and well-being through personalized health plans, healing relationships and environments, and connection to their communities.

Requirements

• Proficiency in basic written and spoken English.
• Graduation from an appropriately accredited school of professional nursing, or qualifying foreign nursing education as described in the announcement.
• Current, full, active, and unrestricted professional nurse registration in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia; a Graduate Nurse Technician exception may apply to eligible candidates pursuing licensure.
• Meet the applicable education, experience, and grade-determination criteria for the Nurse grade and level sought.
• U.S. citizenship; non-citizens may be appointed only when qualified citizens cannot be recruited in accordance with VA policy.
• Applicants tentatively selected for a testing-designated position must undergo urinalysis for illegal drug use; refusal results in denial of VA employment.
• Males born after December 31, 1959 must meet Selective Service registration requirements.
• Subject to background and security investigation; selected applicants must complete online onboarding and provide acceptable identification.
• Pass a pre-employment physical evaluation and participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Complete application requirements detailed in the announcement's Required Documents section.
• Must be current and trained in Prevention and Management of Disruptive Behavior levels I–III.

Responsibilities

• Provide and lead competent, evidence-based, patient-centered, recovery-oriented inpatient mental health nursing care.
• Manage the milieu and maintain self-awareness while caring for patients with mental health conditions.
• Perform and take accountability for all elements of the nursing process when providing or supervising direct patient care.
• Coordinate care focused on patient education, self-management, and customer satisfaction throughout the continuum of care.
• Administer medications and procedures according to established policies and guidelines.
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary team members to influence care outcomes.
• Facilitate shift reports, warm hand-offs, and nurse-led psychoeducational groups.
• Use therapeutic communication, de-escalation techniques, and recovery-oriented language.
• Participate in mental health interdisciplinary treatment team activities, Environment of Care rounds, and psychiatric emergencies.
• Report and address safety concerns; document nursing assessments, plans of care, patient safety observations, and environmental safety rounds according to facility policy.
• Maintain current training in Prevention and Management of Disruptive Behavior levels I–III and use it effectively, focusing on de-escalation.
• Manage multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment with frequent interruptions while communicating clearly and concisely.
• Deliver self-directed professional nursing practice for complex patients using the nursing process, with occasional supervision.

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to eligibility, application, and approval; award amount may be 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: 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