Registered Nurse - Inpatient Mental Health

Job description

Summary

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.

Qualifications

Basic Requirements:

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: Grandfathering Provision - All persons currently employed in VHA in 0610 series and performing the duties as described in the qualification standard on the effective date of the standard (1/29/2024) are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held including positive education and licensure/certification

Grade Determinations: The following Scope - Education and Dimension criteria must be met in determining the grade assignment of candidates - and if appropriate - the level within a grade

The Dimension requirements (Practice - Veteran/Patient Driven Care - Leadership - Professional Development and Evidence-Based Practice/Research) are detailed for each grade and level within the online assessment:

Grade/Level Scope Education Nurse I - Level I Delivers fundamental - knowledge-based care to assigned clients while developing technical competencies

An Associate Degree (ADN) or Diploma in Nursing - with no additional professional nursing required

Nurse I - Level II Demonstrates integration of biopsychosocial concepts - cognitive skills and technically competent practice in providing care to clients with basic or complex

An ADN or Diploma in Nursing AND 1 year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I - Level 1 ;OR a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) with no additional professional nursing experience required

Nurse I - Level III Demonstrates proficiency in practice based on conscious and deliberate planning

Self-directed in goal setting for managing complex client situations

An ADN or Diploma in Nursing AND 2 years of professional nursing experience in which one year is equivalent to Nurse I - Level 2

OR a BSN and 1 year of professional nursing experience equivalent to the Nurse I - Level 2

OR a Master's degree in nursing (MSN) and no additional professional nursing experience

OR a Master's degree in a *related field with a BSN and no additional professional nursing experience

Nurse II Demonstrates leadership in delivering and improving holistic care through collaborative strategies with others

A BSN with 2 years of professional nursing equivalent to Nurse I - Level 3

OR an MSN with one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I - Level 3

OR a Master's degree in a *related field with BSN and one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I - Level 3

OR a Doctoral degree in Nursing with no professional nursing experience

OR a Doctoral degree in a *related field with a BSN with no professional nursing experience

Nurse III Executes position responsibilities that demonstrate leadership - experience and creative approaches to management of complex client care beyond the immediate practice setting

MSN and 2 years of specialized nursing experience - one of which is equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III

OR a Master's degree in *related field with BSN and two years of specialized nursing experience - one of which is equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III

OR a Doctoral degree in Nursing with and one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III

OR a Doctoral degree in a *related field with a BSN and one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III

*Note: Foreign education programs/degrees are not creditable as related degrees

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit

Physical Requirements: This clinical position includes a level of physicality normally associated with direct patient care duties performed by nurses such as long periods of continued walking - standing - sitting - moderate lifting - repeated bending - or kneeling

Examples may include but are not limited to: significant amounts of time standing - assisting assigned patients utilization of safe patient handling and mobility protocols.

Duties

The Inpatient Mental Health RN is 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

Administers medications and 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

Inpatient Mental Health Duties include but are not limited to: Provides and leads the provision of competent - evidence-based care - the psychiatric MH nurse independently provides patient-centered and recovery-oriented care - milieu management - and maintains self-awareness while caring for patients living with MH conditions

Facilitate shift reports - warm hand-offs - and nurse-led psychoeducational groups

use therapeutic communication techniques - practice de-escalation techniques - and utilize recovery-oriented language

Actively participates in MH interdisciplinary treatment team - MH Environment of Care rounds - assumes team lead for psychiatric emergencies - reports and assists in resolving safety concerns - and documents nursing assessments - nursing plan of care - patient safety observations - and environmental safety rounds according to facility policy

Maintains professional boundaries to protect patient vulnerabilities and act in the best interest of the patient

Has oversight of licensed vocational nurses/nursing assistants - as appropriate to the setting

Assists in directing the provision of nursing education - orientation - competencies and providing quality improvement and outcomes utilization consultation

Provides peers with informal constructive feedback for improvement Fosters a safe and supportive environment conducive to the professional development of healthcare professionals

Contributes professional nursing perspective in discussions with the MH interdisciplinary team

Supports colleagues through MH knowledge sharing to provide safe - quality nursing care

Shares MH educational findings - experiences - and ideas with peers

Questions clinical practices for the purpose of providing evidence-based care

Leads the provision of nursing care to patients with complex care needs utilizing the nursing process in alignment with the ANA Standards of Nursing Practice

Improves Veteran/patient driven care by resolving experience issues such as coordination of care - timeliness or process issues - common themes of dissatisfaction - or environment of care concerns for the immediate practice setting

Leads the implementation of high reliability principles and I CARE values to increase consistency of care delivered and improve patient outcomes

Demonstrates the ability to improve the effectiveness of communications and interactions with others - to inspire their cooperation and confidence to ensure safe and effective outcomes

Takes responsibility for personal and professional career goals

Supports the professional growth of others

Preferred Experience: Mental Health Experience Preferred VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Nurse Total Rewards Pay: Competitive salary - regular salary increases - potential for performance awards Paid Time Off: 50 days of paid time off per year (26 days of annual leave - 13 days of sick leave - 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Licensure: 1 full and unrestricted license from any US State or territory Work Schedule: Six 12-hour and one 8-hour shift per pay period

Tours include Days / Nights / Weekends / Holidays - and are subject to change based on the needs of the health care system

Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive

Contact - the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance

Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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Who can apply

Review the original listing for work authorization, qualifications and employer requirements.