Summary

Registered Nurse (Intensive Community Mental Health Recovery) delivers fundamental knowledge-based care to assigned clients while developing technical skills. Assesses - plans - implements - and evaluates care based on Mental Health (MH) specific components. Assumes responsibility for the coordination of care focused on patient education - self-management - and customer satisfaction throughout the MH continuum of care.

Qualifications

Basic Requirements:

• English Language Proficiency
• In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 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
• (Reference VA Handbook 5005 - Appendix G6)
• 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. - Puerto Rico) of the United States - or the District of Columbia
• 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.) NOTE: Grandfathering Provision - All persons currently employed in VHA in 0610 series and performing the duties as described in the qualification standard on the effective date of the standard (1/29/2024) are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held including positive education and licensure/certification
• Grade Determinations: The following Scope - Education and Dimension criteria must be met in determining the grade assignment of candidates - and if appropriate - the level within a grade
• 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: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12976658
• 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
• Self-directed in goal setting for managing complex client situations
• 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 with 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
• *Note: Foreign education programs/degrees are not creditable as related degrees
• Preferred Experience: Specialized experience with Serious Mental Illness (SMI) population
• Skills related to completing intake assessments - treatment plans - and discharge plans
• Three years of behavioral health experience
• Must have a clean driving record and be able to transport Veterans
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: A pre-employment physical is a condition of employment for this position.

Duties

• DUTIES MAY INCLUDE HOWEVER ARE NOT LIMITED TO THE FOLLOWING: Promotes personal growth and development of psychiatric-mental health nursing practice
• Provides clinical community-based case management services to Veterans with pervasive mental illness (PMI) - severe functional impairment - and high Inpatient MH unit utilization - in coordination with existing community and Veterans Affairs (VA) services
• Gains awareness of the principles and goals of outpatient MH treatment by understanding practices related to patient-centered care - recovery-oriented principles - telemental health - community-based care - and self-awareness related to caring for patients living with MH conditions
• Attends and participates in MH interdisciplinary team huddles and meetings - uses therapeutic communication techniques - practices de-escalation techniques - utilizes recovery-oriented language - and provides Veterans - their family members - and/or significant others with education regarding their illness - medications - and treatment plan
• Clinically provides outpatient - community-based MH services for a subgroup of Veterans with PMI
• including but not limited to transportation - medication management - in home/community consultation and responds to psychiatric and medical emergencies as directed
• Documents nursing triage assessments - risk screens - clinical reminders - and patient plan of care in accordance with facility policy
• Maintains professional boundaries to protect patient vulnerabilities and act in the best interest of the patient
• Collaborates and supports MH nursing along with other disciplines
• Brings principles and theory with limited application of critical thinking skills
• Completes orientation according to expected standards
• Works with close supervision - is responsible and accountable for individual nursing practice and seeks direction from others as needed
• Manages workload as assigned - organizes - and completes own assignments in an efficient and appropriate manner
• Engages patients - families - and other caregivers to incorporate knowledge - values - and beliefs into care planning without judgement or discrimination
• Knowledgeable of ethical issues related to professional nursing practice and follows established policies of the practice setting - VA - and ANA Code of Ethics for Nurses
• Participates in unit based educational activities and continuing education requirements
• Responsible for maintaining competency to continue personal and professional growth
• Demonstrates knowledge of specific unit level performance improvement activities
• Incorporates patient preferences into shared care delivery decisions
• Consistently communicates and treats the Veteran and as appropriate the Veteran's family - caregiver and/or significant other - the Veteran representatives - visitors to VA facilities - all VA staff - and other customers in a courteous - tactful - and respectful manner
• Preferred Experience: Specialized experience with Serious Mental Illness (SMI) population
• Skills related to completing intake assessments - treatment plans - and discharge plans
• Three years of behavioral health experience
• Must have a clean driving record and be able to transport Veterans
• 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: Monday - Friday - 7:30am - 4:00pm Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• EDRP Authorized: This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) - a student loan payment reimbursement program
• You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment
• Program Approval - award amount (up to $200 -000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application
• Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply
• Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
• PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized.