Registered Nurse Mental Health Specialty Programs

The Registered Nurse (RN) - Intensive Mental Health Recovery Program (ICMHR) is responsible for providing competent evidence-based care to patients. The person in this role will assist in directing the provision of nursing education patient assessment recovery focused interventions orientation competencies and providing quality improvement and enhancement of patient outcomes. The ICMHR program provides clinical community-based case management services to Veterans with serious mental illness (SMI) severe functional impairment and high Inpatient mental health unit utilization in coordination with existing community and Veterans Affairs (VA) services.

Duties include but not limited to:

• Responding to psychiatric and/or medical emergencies as directed.
• Documenting nursing assessments risk screens clinical reminders and patient plans of care in accordance with facility policy and other governing regulatory bodies.
• Maintaining professional boundaries to protect patient vulnerabilities and act in the best interest of the Veteran.
• Demonstrating the ability to cope with and manage competing priorities demonstrating proficient practice and decision-making deliberate planning and critical thinking skills.
• Completion of required documentation in accordance with VHA TJC CARF regulatory standards and serves as a team leader and case manager for an assigned panel of patients.
• Supports the mission and vision of the agency/facility/service.
• Provides education and counseling on disease prevention health promotion and medication management; ensures safe handling and ongoing compliance of patients with medication administration.
• Independently provides patient-centered and recovery-oriented care and maintains self-awareness while caring for patients living with mental health conditions.
• Actively participates in care coordination liaising with inpatient mental health units to facilitate continuity of care mental health interdisciplinary treatment team huddles and meetings.
• Supports colleagues and other nurses through knowledge sharing to provide safe quality nursing care.
• Fosters a safe and supportive environment conducive to the professional development of health care professionals.
• Evaluates outcomes of evidence-based decisions and practice changes for individuals groups and populations.
• Demonstrates expertise in decision-making and using the nursing process for complex situations that effect performance outcomes at the point of care.
• Demonstrates leadership and collaboration by using the group process to solve problems. The focus is on leadership in strategically planning long-term goals for the microsystem (unit team or workgroup) that impacts operations or resources.
• Demonstrates critical thinking with efficiency and accuracy in assessing and managing situations.
• Other duties as assigned.

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: Full Time Monday - Friday 8:00 am - 4:30 pm (extended hours as needed schedule subject to change based on agency needs.)
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

• 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.
• A drug test is required for this position; and the position is subject to random drug testing.
• 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.

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.)

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: I Level IDelivers 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 IIDemonstrates 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 IIIDemonstrates 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 Masters degree in nursing (MSN) and no additional professional nursing experience; OR a Masters degree in a *related field with a BSN and no additional professional nursing experience.Nurse IIDemonstrates 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 Masters 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 IIIExecutes 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 Masters 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.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard please visit experience: Two (2) years of Mental Health experience.

Physical Requirements: The Registered Nurses work may require encounters and care for unpredictable verbally and physically aggressive patients. Completion certification and performance of Prevention and Management of Disruptive Behavior (PMDB) Parts 1 2 and 3 courses annually is a requirement for direct patient care (Part 3 only applicable in areas deemed high risk). This position requires visual acuity keen hearing clear distinctive speech and manual dexterity. This position may require potentially long periods of continued walking standing stooping sitting bending pulling and pushing. The Registered Nurse may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations or operative/invasive procedures. The Registered Nurse may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium dementia or psychiatric disorders. The incumbent who provides care in home settings or other off-site locations may be required to drive and/or ride in GSA-vehicles.