RN - Mental Health Float

Veterans Health Administration • Fredericksburg, VA

6d • Onsite

About The Position

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply.

The Nurse II Outpatient Mental Health (MH) Registered Nurse (RN) is responsible for providing competent, evidence-based care to assigned patients. The MH RN will assist in directing the provision of nursing education, orientation, competencies and providing quality improvement and outcomes utilization consultation. The psychiatric MH RN independently provides patient centered and recovery-oriented care and maintains self-awareness while caring for patients living with MH conditions. They facilitate warm hand-offs, telemental health care, and nurse-led psychoeducational groups; use therapeutic communication techniques, practice de-escalation techniques, utilize recovery-oriented language, and provide Veterans, their family members, and/or significant others with education regarding their illness, medications, and treatment plan. The MH RN actively participates in care coordination, liaising with Inpatient MH Units to facilitate continuity of care, MH interdisciplinary treatment team huddles and meetings and responds to psychiatric and medical emergencies as directed. The MH RN reports and addresses safety concerns, document nursing triage assessments, risk screens, clinical reminders, and patient plan of care, according to facility policy. The MH RN maintains professional boundaries to protect patient vulnerabilities and act in the best interest of the patient. Fosters a safe and supportive environment conducive to the professional development of healthcare professionals. Supports colleagues through knowledge sharing to provide safe, quality nursing care. Questions clinical practices for the purpose of providing evidence-based care.

Requirements

• U.S. Citizenship; non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment.
• Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
• Acceptable forms of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents).
• Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Must pass pre-employment physical evaluation/examination.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• You may be required to serve a probationary period.
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.
• English Language Proficiency. In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7403(f), no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English.
• Graduate of a school of professional nursing approved by the appropriate accrediting agency and accredited by one of the following accrediting bodies at the time the program was completed by the applicant: The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) or The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE); OR Individuals attending a master's level bridge program in nursing who have completed coursework equivalent to a bachelor's level degree in Nursing may have opportunity to become registered as a nurse with a state licensing board prior to completion of the bridge program. Upon achievement of a State license, the individual may be appointed on temporary basis and later converted to a permanent appointment upon successful completion and graduation from the bridge program. (Reference VA Handbook 5005, Appendix G6); OR In cases of graduates of foreign schools of professional nursing, possession of a current, full, active, and unrestricted registration will meet the requirement for graduation from an approved school of professional nursing to warrant an appointment as a Nurse who has completed an associated degree/entry level Nursing education program. Credit for foreign nursing education higher that associate degree/entry level requires a formal degree equivalency validation from a recognized equivalency evaluation accepted by VA such as International Consultants of Delaware (ICD).
• Current, full, active, and unrestricted registration as a graduate professional nurse in a State, Territory or Commonwealth (i.e., Puerto Rico) of the United States, or the District of Columbia.
• Graduate Nurse Technician (GNT) Exception: Candidates who otherwise meet the basic education requirements, but do not possess the required licensure, may be appointed at the entry step of the grade and level applicable to the completed nursing education as a GNT on a 120-day temporary appointment while actively pursuing licensure (may be extended up to two years on a case-by-case-basis.)
• Note: Foreign education programs/degrees are not creditable as related degrees.

Nice To Haves

• 3-5 years recent Nursing Experience
• 3-5 years of Mental Health Nursing Experience

Responsibilities

• Responsible and accountable for all elements of the nursing process when providing and/or supervising direct patient care.
• Assumes responsibility for the coordination of care focused on patient education, self-management, and customer satisfaction throughout the continuum of care.
• Follows procedures per established policies and guidelines.
• Influences care outcomes by collaborating with members of the interdisciplinary team.
• Core elements of performance include knowledge and active participation in the unit/program level quality improvement process and initiatives as well as customer service programs.
• Provides competent, evidence-based care to assigned patients.
• Assist in directing the provision of nursing education, orientation, competencies and providing quality improvement and outcomes utilization consultation.
• Independently provides patient centered and recovery-oriented care and maintains self-awareness while caring for patients living with MH conditions.
• Facilitates warm hand-offs, telemental health care, and nurse-led psychoeducational groups.
• Uses therapeutic communication techniques, practice de-escalation techniques, utilize recovery-oriented language.
• Provides Veterans, their family members, and/or significant others with education regarding their illness, medications, and treatment plan.
• Actively participates in care coordination.
• Liaises with Inpatient MH Units to facilitate continuity of care.
• Participates in MH interdisciplinary treatment team huddles and meetings.
• Responds to psychiatric and medical emergencies as directed.
• Reports and addresses safety concerns.
• Documents nursing triage assessments, risk screens, clinical reminders, and patient plan of care, according to facility policy.
• Maintains professional boundaries to protect patient vulnerabilities and act in the best interest of the patient.
• Fosters a safe and supportive environment conducive to the professional development of healthcare professionals.
• Supports colleagues through knowledge sharing to provide safe, quality nursing care.
• Questions clinical practices for the purpose of providing evidence-based care.

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP)
• Competitive salary
• Regular salary increases
• Potential for performance awards
• 50 days of paid time off per year (26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year)
• Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting)
• Federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA
• Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement)
• 1 full and unrestricted license from any US State or territory

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level