Registered Nurse- Outpatient Mental Health (BHIP)

Veterans Health Administration • Nashville, TN

10d • Onsite

About The Position

The Registered Nurse works in Outpatient Mental Health (BHIP) at the Tennessee Valley Healthcare System in Nashville, Tennessee. The nurse provides patient-centered, recovery-oriented care to Veterans living with mental health conditions, while maintaining self-awareness and professional boundaries. The role includes coordinating care with inpatient mental health units and interdisciplinary teams, facilitating continuity of care and warm hand-offs, and developing and leading nurse-led psychoeducational groups. The nurse educates Veterans and, as appropriate, their family members or significant others about illness, medications, and treatment plans. The nurse also supports safety and quality improvement, directs responses to psychiatric and medical emergencies, and documents triage assessments, risk screens, measurement-based care tools, clinical reminders, and plans of care according to facility policy. The position includes supporting colleagues through knowledge sharing and constructive feedback, and fostering a safe environment for the professional development of healthcare professionals.

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), subject to program requirements. Applicants must submit an EDRP application within four months of appointment. Approval, award amount (up to $200,000), and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA program office after application review. Former EDRP participants are ineligible.

The work schedule is based on service needs. Telework is not available, and the position is not virtual. Relocation and recruitment incentives and permanent change of station benefits are not authorized. A pre-employment physical evaluation is required. The role requires a full and unrestricted nursing license from a U.S. state or territory, subject to the stated qualification provisions and exceptions.

Requirements

• Proficiency in basic written and spoken English.
• Graduation from a professional nursing program accredited by ACEN or CCNE, or an education pathway meeting the stated VA requirements.
• Current, full, active, and unrestricted registration as a graduate professional nurse in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia, subject to the stated Graduate Nurse Technician exception.
• Meet the education and experience criteria for the assigned grade and level, as applicable.
• U.S. citizenship, except where appointment of a non-citizen is permitted under VA policy.
• Pass required pre-employment screening, including a physical evaluation; selected applicants in testing-designated positions are subject to urinalysis.
• Complete required onboarding, background/security investigation, and annual employee health requirements, including influenza vaccination and TB screening or testing.
• Ability to meet the physical demands of the role, including visual acuity, keen hearing, clear speech, manual dexterity, extended periods of walking, standing, stooping, sitting, bending, pulling, and pushing, and lifting at least 50 pounds; patient and object transfers may be required.
• Ability to work effectively in stressful situations and shift priorities based on organizational needs.
• Register for Selective Service if applicable.

Nice To Haves

• Two years of psychiatric nursing experience.

Responsibilities

• Provide patient-centered, recovery-oriented mental health nursing care to Veterans.
• Facilitate care coordination and continuity with inpatient mental health units and interdisciplinary treatment teams, including huddles, meetings, and warm hand-offs.
• Develop content for and facilitate nurse-led psychoeducational groups.
• Use therapeutic communication, de-escalation techniques, and recovery-oriented language.
• Educate Veterans and, when appropriate, their family members or significant others about illness, medications, and treatment plans.
• Report safety concerns, assist with or direct their resolution, and 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.
• Maintain professional boundaries and act in the patient's best interest.
• Provide constructive feedback and share knowledge with colleagues to support safe, quality nursing care.
• Foster a safe and supportive environment for healthcare professionals' development.

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), with a potential award of up to $200,000 for eligible participants, subject to approval and program terms.
• Competitive salary, regular salary increases, and potential performance awards.
• 50 days of paid time off per year: 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
• Education Level: Associate degree