Registered Nurse (Mental Health)

Registered Nurse (RN) Mental Health

This Registered Nurse (RN) Mental Health position is within the Nursing, Mental Health service at the Bedford VA Healthcare System located in Bedford, MA. It is permanent and full-time at 40 hours per week. The RN practices patient-centered care, recovery-oriented principles, and self-awareness related to caring for patients living with substance use disorder and/or MH conditions. Duties include, but are not limited to:

• Attends and observes nurse-led psychoeducational groups;
• Uses therapeutic communication techniques;
• Practices de-escalation techniques;
• Utilizes recovery-oriented language;
• Identifies safety concerns and hazardous items to maintain a safe and therapeutic environment of care;
• Provides oversight of the patient safe medication management program;
• Identifies and reports psychiatric and medical care needs and emergencies as directed;
• Documents nursing assessments, risk screens, nursing plan of care, patient safety rounds, and environmental of care rounds in accordance with facility policy;
• Maintains professional boundaries to protect patient vulnerabilities and act in the best interest of the patient; and
• Performs other duties as assigned.

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: 40 hours per week. Multiple shifts available. Tour of duty will be discussed during the interview process.

Compressed/Flexible: Not available.

Telework: Not authorized.

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized.

EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact Karen Chapman (View email address on click.appcast.io), the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized.

Notifications:

• Current and former Federal employees must submit copies of their most recent SF-50 (Notice of Personnel Action).
• Veterans' preference does not apply for internal or other current permanent Federal agency employees.
• This is an open continuous announcement until 8/28/2026. Qualified applicants will be considered and referred as vacancies become available.