Registered Nurse- Inpatient Psychiatric Unit

Registered Nurse

The RN will manage and direct nursing care activities of male and female Veterans with a variety of mental health disorders, including, but not limited to mood/anxiety disorders, substance abuse and detoxification, psychotic and cognitive disorders, brain injury, mild dementia, personality disorders, suicidal homicidal ideation, along with co existing medical conditions. You will work with the multidisciplinary treatment team to achieve optimal outcomes within the therapeutic environment.

Salary: $61,596 - $119,533 per year

Location: Few vacancies in the following location: Salt Lake City, UT

Work Schedule: Full-time

Telework: Not available

Travel Required: Not required

Relocation expenses reimbursed: No

Appointment type: Permanent

Job family (Series): 0610 Nurse

Supervisory status: No

Security clearance: Not Required

Drug test: Yes

Position sensitivity and risk: Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk

Trust determination process: Credentialing

Suitability/Fitness: Announcement number: CBSU-11674189-22-AM

Control number: 680989200

This job is open to Current federal employees of this agency. The public U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.

First consideration will be provided to current permanent employees of the VA Salt Lake City Health Care System.

VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Nurse Total Rewards

Deliver direct patient care; assess patients physical, psychosocial and/or emotional needs (including addressing issues related to age, developmental stage and cultural needs), and communicate the information to the multidisciplinary team

Provide assistance with activities of daily living when needed

Provide patient and family teaching/education

Use CPRS/VISTA to document the nursing process including admission, discharge and transfer notes, ongoing patient re-assessments, seclusion and restraint notes, suicide precaution notes, special incident reporting, vital signs reporting, etc. Transcribe/verify provider orders according to policy. Use SPRS/VISTA and Outlook for timekeeping and communication

Maintain compliance with information security policies and procedures

Administer medications as assigned. Serve as a resource for veterans to enhance their knowledge of medication uses, side effects and dosage; RN will verify medication order and document medications according to policy

Perform procedures within his/her scope of practice and unit based competencies (procedure grid in procure manual)

Conduct health education classes, community meetings, and focus group therapy

Is proactive in identifying potential crisis situations and respond appropriately in emergency situations

Act as a preceptor/mentor to new staff and/or students

Function competently as a team leader or charge nurse, make staff assignments to ensure nursing care is delivered safely and all the patients on the unit are receiving appropriate care; ensure adequate staffing for the current shift as well as upcoming shifts; collaborate with providers, the Access Crisis Team, and with other areas of the hospital to coordinate patient admission transfers and discharges; complete required documentation and shift reports

Perform other duties as assigned

Requirements Conditions of Employment

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.

Must be proficient in written and spoken English.

You may be required to serve a probationary period.

Subject to background/security investigation.

Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.

Must pass pre-employment physical examination

Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).

Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.

Qualifications

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

Basic Requirements:

United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.

English Language Proficiency. In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), 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 State-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). In cases of graduates of foreign schools of professional nursing, possession of current, full, active and unrestricted registration will meet the requirement of graduation from an approved school of professional nursing. OR The completion of coursework equivalent to a nursing degree in a MSN Bridge Program that qualifies for professional nursing registration constitutes the completion of an approved course of study of professional nursing. Students should submit the certificate of professional nursing to sit for the NCLEX to the VA along with a copy of the MSN transcript. (Reference VA Handbook 5005, Appendix G6)

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.

Preferred Experience: Psychiatric nurse experience.

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

Nurse I Level I - An Associate Degree (ADN) or Diploma in Nursing, with no additional nursing practice/experience required.

Nurse I Level II - An ADN or Diploma in Nursing and approximately 1 year of nursing practice/experience; OR an ADN or Diploma in Nursing and a bachelor's degree in a related field with no additional nursing practice/experience; OR a Bachelor's of Science in Nursing (BSN) with no additional nursing practice/experience.

Nurse I Level III - An ADN or Diploma in Nursing and approximately 2-3 years of nursing practice/experience; OR an ADN or Diploma in Nursing and a Bachelor's degree in a related field and approximately 1-2 years of nursing practice/experience; OR a BSN with approximately 1-2 years of nursing practice/experience; OR a Master's degree in nursing (MSN) or related field with a BSN and no additional nursing practice/experience.

Nurse II - A BSN with approximately 2-3 years of nursing practice/experience; OR ADN or Diploma in Nursing and a Bachelor's degree in a related field and approximately 2-3 years of nursing practice/experience; OR a Master's degree in nursing or related field with a BSN and approximately 1-2 years of nursing practice/experience; OR a Doctoral degree in nursing or meets basic requirements for appointment and has doctoral degree in a related field with no additional nursing practice/experience required.

Nurse III - Master's degree in nursing or related field with BSN and approximately 2-3 years of nursing practice/experience; OR a Doctoral degree and approximately 2-3 years of nursing practice/experience.

Reference: VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G-6 Nurse Qualification Standard. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office.

Physical Requirements: The RN must be able to perform all activities of the position without restriction. This position involves considerable standing, walking, stooping, bending, reaching, lifting and turning. It requires repositioning patients and assisting with transferring patients to wheelchairs/stretchers. Mechanical devices when available are required to be used for heavy or difficult to lift patients. The work may involve pushing or lifting weight in excess of 50 pounds and going up and down flights of stairs. The position requires visual and auditory acuity at a level to provide safe and effective nursing care. The positions requires the nurse to work for periods of time with arms above shoulder level or with the neck in a fully flexed or