Mental Health Registered Nurse (RN) Immediate Start!

The VA Puget Sound Healthcare System is recruiting for an RN to perform duties with the Domiciliary Mental Health team at the American Lake VA hospital in Tacoma - Washington. Applications will be accepted in an ongoing manner and qualified candidates will be considered on a rolling basis until all vacancies have been filled. English Language Proficiency

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

(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. - 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.) 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

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 a 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 and no additional 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

*Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) 2-3 years of experience in mental health nursing ANCC Mental Health Psychiatric Nursing Certification Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit

Duties will include but are not limited to: Assist in directing the provision of nursing education - orientation - competencies and providing quality improvement and outcomes utilization consultation

Provides patient-centered and recovery-oriented care and maintains self-awareness while caring for patients living with substance use disorder and/or MH conditions

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

use therapeutic communication techniques - practice de-escalation techniques - utilize recovery-oriented language - and provide oversight of the patient safe medication management program

Actively participates in MH interdisciplinary treatment team - patient safety and environment of care rounds - and responds to psychiatric and medical care needs and emergencies as directed

Reports safety concerns - and documents nursing assessments - risk screens - nursing plan of care - patient safety rounds - and environment of care rounds according to facility policy

Fosters a safe and supportive environment conducive to the professional development of healthcare professionals

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

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

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 shifts

Telework: Not available

Virtual: This is not a virtual position

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized.

#Department of Veterans Affairs