Registered Nurse - Inpatient Mental Health

Summary This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) — a student loan reimbursement program. To qualify, you must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the application. Former EDRP participants are ineligible to apply. Qualifications English Language Proficiency – as required by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f), proficiency in basic written and spoken English is essential for direct patient care positions. Graduate of a professional nursing school approved by the appropriate accrediting agency, accredited by ACEN or CCNE. Graduates of a master’s-level bridge program in nursing who have completed coursework equivalent to a bachelor’s degree may become registered nurses with a state licensing board prior to completion of the bridge program. Upon achieving a state license, the individual may be appointed on a temporary basis and later converted to a permanent appointment after successful completion and graduation from the bridge program. Reference VA Handbook 5005 – Appendix G6. Graduates of foreign professional nursing schools – possession of a current, full, active, and unrestricted registration meets the requirement for graduation from an approved school of professional nursing. Foreign nursing education exceeding an associate degree requires a formal degree-equivalency validation from an accepted VA equivalency evaluator such as International Consultants of Delaware (ICD). Current, full, active, and unrestricted registration as a graduate professional nurse in a U.S. state, territory, or Commonwealth (e.g., Puerto Rico) or the District of Columbia. Graduate Nurse Technician (GNT) Exception: candidates who meet the basic education requirements but lack licensure may be appointed at the entry step of the grade for a 120-day temporary appointment while pursuing licensure (extendable to two years on a case-by-case basis). Grandfathering Provision – all personnel currently employed in VHA 0610 series who perform the duties described in the qualification standard as of 1/29/2024 are considered to have met all qualification requirements. Grade Determinations: candidates must meet Scope-Education and Dimension criteria as detailed in the online assessment ( Preferred Experience: direct patient care in inpatient mental health, behavioral health, psychiatric, substance-use-disorder, or acute-care settings; suicide risk assessments; de-escalation; crisis intervention; therapeutic communication; interdisciplinary collaboration; and care planning for acute psychiatric patients. Knowledge of VA policies, Joint Commission standards, and recovery-oriented care principles preferred. Selective Placement Factor – unrestricted registered nurse license from a U.S. state or territory. Basic Life Support (BLS) certification required. Must be able to perform physical intervention techniques and participate in Prevention and Management of Disruptive Behavior (PMDB) training. Experience with patients experiencing psychiatric emergencies – suicidal or homicidal ideation, psychosis, substance withdrawal, or behavioral crises. Reference: Physical Requirements: light lifting (at most 15 lb); light carrying (at most 15 lb); use of fingers and both hands required; walking (up to 3 hours); standing (up to 3 hours); rapid mental-muscular coordination; near vision correctable at 13-16 inches; hearing (assistive devices permitted); mental and emotional stability. Duties The Inpatient Mental Health (MH) Registered Nurse (RN) provides and leads evidence-based, patient-centered, and recovery-oriented care, including milieu management and self-awareness while caring for patients with mental health conditions. Facilitates shift reports, warm hand-offs, and nurse-led psychoeducational groups. Utilizes therapeutic communication techniques, de-escalation strategies, and recovery-oriented language. Acts as team lead for psychiatric emergencies, participates in MH interdisciplinary treatment team, Environment of Care rounds, safety-related reporting, and documentation of nursing assessments, care plans, safety observations, and environmental safety rounds per facility policy. Maintains professional boundaries to protect patient vulnerabilities. Provides oversight of licensed vocational nurses and nursing assistants as appropriate. Assists in directing nursing education, orientation, competency development, and quality-improvement consultation. Provides informal constructive feedback to peers. Fosters a safe and supportive environment conducive to professional development of healthcare staff. Contributes a professional nursing perspective in interdisciplinary discussions. Shares MH educational findings, experiences, and ideas with peers. Questions clinical practices to promote evidence-based care. Participates in activities and strategies to sustain an evidence-based mental-health practice culture. Offers a comprehensive total rewards package: competitive salary with regular increases and potential performance awards; 50 days paid time off per year (26 days annual leave, 13 days sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays); traditional federal pension (5-year vesting) and 401(k) with up to 5% employer match; federal health, vision, dental, term life, long-term care insurance (many plans transferrable into retirement). Required licensure: one full and unrestricted license from any U.S. state or territory. Work schedule: rotating tour nights/evenings with rotating holidays and weekends; telework not available; virtual work not applicable. EDRP Authorized: former EDRP participants are ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact View email address on click.appcast.io for EDRP queries. Permanent Change of Station (PCS) not authorized. #J-18808-Ljbffr