Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner-Chief Of Mental Health

The Advanced Practice Nurse (APN) Ill Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) practices in Mental Health (MH) Service to provide a full range of services emphasizing quality timeliness and the advancement of the Veterans Affairs (VA) mission. The PMHNP provides advanced clinical practice consultation and management.

The PMHNP practices to the full extent of their education training and certification. Core functions are outlined in the clinical privileges that correspond with this position. The PMHNP has prescriptive authority as indicated by their position.

The VA Western Colorado Health Care System (WCHCS) is a Level 3 facility with service-lines serving medical surgical neurological and psychiatric inpatients and outpatients with a Level Ill Emergency Department multiple VA Clinics and a Community Living Center (CLC). There is a significant outpatient psychiatric population with admissions for medical co-morbidities. Home-Based Primary Care (HBPC) and telehealth nursing care is also provided. Home-Based Primary Care is provided in the veterans home.

PMHNP is a licensed independent practitioner with advanced education and national certification who provides evidence-based care for a population of patients. The APN practices in a broad variety of mental health programs.

The APN may be assigned responsibilities and duties based on education experience and competency in various outpatient settings. The APN is also a part of the team providing on-call responsibilities to the Emergency Department Inpatient Mental Health unit and consultation service.
Major duties and responsibilities of the position:

Uses advanced clinical judgment to independently provide evidence-based treatment to Veterans with acute or chronic mental illness including use of psychotropic medications psychotherapy and other modalities.
- Provides patient and family education on medical/MH conditions preventive measures and prescribed treatments.
- Demonstrates leadership and engages in collaboration with other MH and specialty care professionals while involving Veterans and their families (as appropriate) in treatment plan development.
- Assesses and adjusts the plan of care as needed to achieve optimal patient outcomes.
- Counsels and treats patients with substance use disorders.
- Orders and interprets labs tests and diagnostic studies.
- Initiates referrals and consults to specialty services.
- Exemplifies the ICARE core values of-Integrity Commitment Advocacy Respect and Excellence.

The Chief of Mental Health (Advanced Practice Nurse Practitioner) manages administrative and clinical aspects of a combination of programs located across the WCHCS. They have responsibility for coordinating interdisciplinary staffing creating and monitoring work assignments managing budget ensuring implementation of treatment services per VA Directive monitoring and reporting upon quality and safety of services and providers ensuring program standards meet accreditation requirements of oversight bodies monitoring and reporting upon outcomes of various programs actively participating in and reporting to national VISN and facility level committees. They also supervise employees assigned to the programs. At VA Western Colorado Health Care System (WCHCS) the incumbent will function under the title of Chief of Mental Health (Advanced Practice Nurse Practitioner)
He/she will directly oversee program services congruent with experience and areas of competence. This includes the oversight of over 80 personnel employees at (Title 5 Hybrid 38 Title 38 Employees).


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 8 am to 4:30 pm
Telework: This position is authorized for telework - situational (ad hoc) and has NOT been authorized as virtual or remote.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: May be Authorized
EDRP Authorized: Authorized: This position is eligible for EDRP Former EDRP Participants are ineligible to apply for the program. Contact for questions/assistance.
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): May be Authorized
PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): May be Authorized

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.
• English Language accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(f) no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements ( Effective May 7 2025 drivers licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• 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).
• You may be required to serve a probationary period.
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the Required Documents section of this announcement.

Qualifications

***This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until June 30th 2026 The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be January 19th 20205 with subsequent cut-off dates on the 1st of each month. Eligible applications received after that date will be referred at regular intervals or as additional vacancies occur on an as-needed basis until positions are filled.***


Advanced Practice Nurse (Nurse Practitioner) Basic Requirements

• Education: A post-masters certificate or masters or doctoral degree as a Nurse Practitioner. (Applicants pending the completion of educational requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until the education requirements are met.) Must be a 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).
  • NOTE: Foreign Education. Graduates of foreign schools of professional nursing programs the nurse practitioner degree equivalency must be validated through an Agency recognized degree equivalency evaluation agency such as the International Consultants of Delaware (ICD). Candidates with equivalent nurse practitioner masters or doctorate level degrees who possess current full active and unrestricted registration and certification will meet the requirement of graduation from an approved school of professional nursing to warrant appointment.
• License - All APN (NPs) must possess and maintain an active current full and unrestricted APN license to practice as an NP in a State Territory or Commonwealth of the United States or in the District of Columbia.
• Basic Board Certification - All APN (NPs) must maintain full and current basic board certification as a Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) from one of the following: the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (AANPCB) or other nationally recognized certifying body in the area in which the Nurse Practitioner is academically prepared.

• Scope: Executes position responsibilities that demonstrate leadership experience and creative approaches to management of complex client care.
• Education and Experience Requirement: Meets basic education requirement for an APN (NP) AND one year of specialized APN (NP) experience equivalent to the Nurse II grade level.
• Dimension Requirement: APN (Nurse Practitioners) at grade III are expected to meet the following dimension requirements:
  • Clinical Practice. Influences and models the delivery of evidence- based health care demonstrating expertise in the ability to manage a patient panel population or program.
  • Outcome Focus. Leads and implements changes that enhance the quality and timeliness of Veteran/patient care applying research and evidence in the delivery of healthcare for patient populations.
  • Leadership. Initiates and leads interdisciplinary teams informed by structured approaches and processes to improve outcomes that positively impact care for a patient panel population or program.
  • Professional Development. Acquires knowledge and skills then disseminates acquired information within and/or outside the medical facility.
  • Professionalism/Collegiality. Initiates and leads interdisciplinary teams developing systems that positively impact outcomes at the panel population or program level. Demonstrates effective communication skills and professional behavior promoting cooperation and teamwork