Registered Nurse Inpatient Mental Health

Responsible and accountable for all elements of the nursing process when providing and/or supervising direct patient care. Assumes responsibility for the coordination of care focused on patient education self-management and customer satisfaction throughout the continuum of care. Administers medications and procedures per established policies and guidelines. Influences care outcomes by collaborating with members of the interdisciplinary team. Core elements of performance include knowledge and active participation in the unit/program level quality improvement process and initiatives as well as customer service programs.

Major Duties include but not limited to:
1. Monitor assess provide interventions and follow physician orders for Veterans in need of psychiatric nursing care
2. Completes and documents nursing assessments within identified parameters
3. Develops the initial plan of care and provide updates throughout the Veterans treatment seeking assistance as needed
4. Works in partnership with interdisciplinary team members Veteran and Veterans family/ support system to coordinate the inpatient care and discharge plans
5. Provides age-specific components when planning and providing Veteran care
6. Considers all characteristics of the Veteran including age and life stages state of health race and culture values and previous experiences to best align what care needs are
7. Promotes the least restrictive environment that maximizes Veterans functional status
8. Uses sound judgment in problem solving and decision making contacts Supervisor when further guidance is needed
9. Follows Medical Center policies and procedures maintaining safety as a priority
10. Administers medications monitors for side effects and documents follow up as outlined by policies and procedures
11. Follows established safety and infection control standards policies and procedures will minimal assistance
12. Prioritizes care for Veterans with the ability to shift priorities based on patient and/or unit needs
13. Works closely in collaboration with members of the interdisciplinary team to positively affect patient outcomes
14. Knowledgeable individual that is an active participant in unit/program level quality improvement processes initiatives and customer service programs
15. Able to effectively communicate with patients families peers and others adapting style to best meet varied educational levels and diverse ethnic backgrounds

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: Days with rotation (6) 12-Hour Shifts from 7:00am - 7:30pm and (1) 8-Hour Shift which may be days or evenings. This schedule may include weekends and holidays.
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives:
EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not 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.
• 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 identification 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

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 masters level bridge program in nursing who have completed coursework equivalent to a bachelors 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.)