Registered Nurse- Inpatient Mental Health

Inpatient Mental Health Registered Nurse

Make a difference in the lives of Veterans as an Inpatient Mental Health Registered Nurse at the Sioux Falls VA Health Care System. In this dynamic behavioral health setting, you will help create a therapeutic, recovery-focused environment where Veterans receive compassionate care during times of significant need. You will work closely with an interdisciplinary mental health team, contribute your nursing expertise to individualized treatment planning, and take an active role in promoting safety, stability, and recovery. This position offers opportunities to strengthen specialized mental health nursing skills, lead during psychiatric emergencies, support colleagues through knowledge sharing, and contribute to evidence-based practices and quality improvement that enhance Veteran care.

Duties include, but are not limited to:

• Lead the delivery of patient-centered, recovery-oriented nursing care and therapeutic milieu management within the inpatient mental health setting.
• Assess Veterans' mental health needs and develop, implement, document, and evaluate individualized treatment plans centered on Veteran goals and recovery.
• Facilitate psychoeducational groups and use therapeutic communication and recovery-oriented approaches to support Veterans throughout treatment.
• Lead nursing responses during psychiatric emergencies, using de-escalation techniques and coordinating appropriate interventions to promote safety.
• Advance suicide prevention efforts by recognizing risk, completing required safety observations, identifying concerns, and supporting timely interventions.
• Collaborate with the interdisciplinary mental health treatment team to coordinate care, contribute nursing expertise, and incorporate Veteran and family perspectives into treatment decisions.
• Promote a safe therapeutic environment by participating in mental health Environment of Care rounds, addressing safety concerns, and maintaining appropriate professional boundaries.
• Strengthen mental health nursing practice through evidence-based care, quality improvement activities, clinical practice evaluation, and knowledge sharing with colleagues.

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: 12-Hour Day Shift: 7:15 a.m. to 7:45 p.m. 8-Hour Day Shifts: 7:15 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. 11:15 a.m. to 7:45 p.m.

Tour of Duty: Employees are scheduled for 80 hours per pay period, consisting of: Six (6) 12-hour shifts One (1) 8-hour shift Employees work rotating weekends and Federal holidays. Employees may be assigned to provide overnight coverage.

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 View email address on click.appcast.io, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your 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 Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application. The EDRP Coordinator(s) can be reached at View email address on click.appcast.io.

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

The VA Midwest Health Care Network advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers. This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest. As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care, you will operate in a model with three core elements, seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran. This is done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran's community. This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being.

US Department of Veterans Affairs