Registered Nurse - Mental Health

Veterans Health Administration • Saint Louis, MO

4d • Onsite

About The Position

The Mental Health Substance Treatment Program Registered Nurse (MH STP RN) provides direct patient care, including substance use disorder (SUD) treatment and clinical support. The nurse is accountable for the nursing process when providing or supervising care, assessing, planning, implementing, and evaluating care based on mental health and substance-use needs. The position coordinates care focused on patient education, self-management, and satisfaction throughout the mental health continuum, and provides competent, evidence-based care to assigned patients. The nurse also assists with nursing education, orientation, competency development, quality improvement, and outcomes-utilization consultation.

The role supports outpatient mental health substance treatment through patient-centered care, recovery-oriented principles, and self-awareness in caring for people with substance-use conditions. It includes acute and routine psychiatric assessment and intervention for psychosocial, SUD, and medical concerns; collaboration with treatment professionals and clinical staff; administration of injectable medications; electrocardiograms; and other applicable psychosocial interventions. The nurse uses a holistic, personalized, proactive, recovery-oriented approach to assess needs, develop care plans, monitor status, and provide transitional care.

The nurse advocates for patients, collaborates with colleagues, supports safe and quality care through knowledge sharing, and contributes to professional growth. The role leads nursing practice and interprofessional collaboration, mentors, precepts, and teaches, and integrates evidence-based practice and research to improve care quality, outcomes, patient experience, safety, and resource utilization.

The posted schedule alternates between Monday–Friday, 5:30 a.m.–2:00 p.m., and Monday–Thursday, 5:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m., plus Saturday, 5:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m.; it may change based on facility needs. Telework is ad hoc under agency policy; this is not a virtual position. Relocation and recruitment incentives are not authorized. The role is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to eligibility and application requirements; approved awards may be up to $200,000, with eligibility periods of 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 equivalent education as specified in the announcement.
• Current, full, active, and unrestricted registered nurse license in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia; a stated Graduate Nurse Technician exception may apply to otherwise qualified candidates pursuing licensure.
• Meet the education, experience, and practice-dimension criteria for the assigned nurse grade and level. Criteria vary by grade and can include an ADN or nursing diploma, BSN, MSN, doctoral degree, and specified professional or specialized nursing experience.
• U.S. citizenship, except that non-citizens may be appointed when recruiting qualified citizens is not possible under VA policy.
• Pass required pre-employment drug screening, background/security investigation, and physical evaluation; participate in seasonal influenza vaccination; and complete onboarding requirements.
• Meet Selective Service registration requirements if applicable.

Nice To Haves

• Mental health and substance-use experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct patient care, including substance use disorder treatment and clinical support.
• Perform the nursing process, including assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation of mental health and substance-use-related care.
• Coordinate care focused on patient education, self-management, and customer satisfaction throughout the mental health continuum.
• Provide acute and routine psychiatric assessment and interventions for psychosocial, substance-use, and medical concerns.
• Assist substance treatment program staff in developing recovery-based plans of care.
• Work with substance-use professionals, psychiatric staff, and clinical staff to support treatment.
• Administer injectable medications and complete electrocardiograms and other applicable psychosocial interventions.
• Assess patients’ medical and mental health needs, develop initial care plans, monitor status, and provide transitional care.
• Advocate for patients and collaborate with colleagues as part of the interprofessional team.
• Support colleagues through knowledge sharing to provide safe, quality nursing care.
• Contribute to nursing education, orientation, competencies, quality improvement, and outcomes-utilization consultation.
• Lead professional nursing practice and interprofessional collaboration to improve evidence-based or data-driven outcomes.
• Mentor, precept, and teach to expand knowledge and improve outcomes.
• Integrate evidence-based practice and research with clinical expertise to improve care quality and resource utilization.
• Improve patient experience, satisfaction, and safety.

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program, subject to eligibility and approval, with awards up to $200,000 and eligibility periods of one to five years.
• Competitive salary, regular salary increases, and potential performance awards.
• 50 days of paid time off per year, comprising 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 can be carried into retirement.

What This Job Offers

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