Registered Nurse - Mental Health Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Programs - SIGN-ON BONUS

The Mental Health Residential Treatment Program (MHRRTP) Registered Nurse (RN) functions directly to support the activities of the St. Cloud VA Health Care System RRTP. The RN is responsible for the planning, integrating, implementing, modifying and evaluating the effectiveness of the Veteran's care.

A recruitment/relocation incentive of $3,500(pre-tax) has been authorized for Eligible, highly qualified applicants. Please contact the HR specialist for specific requirements.

Qualifications:

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

Basic Requirements:

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• Graduate of a school of professional nursing approved by the appropriate State-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). In cases of graduates of foreign schools of professional nursing, possession of current, full, active and unrestricted registration will meet the requirement of graduation from an approved school of professional nursing. OR The completion of coursework equivalent to a nursing degree in a MSN Bridge Program that qualifies for professional nursing registration constitutes the completion of an approved course of study of professional nursing. Students should submit the certificate of professional nursing to sit for the NCLEX to the VA along with a copy of the MSN transcript. (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.
• 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.

Note: New graduates will be considered for the position if education and licensure are obtained prior to the hire date.

Preferred Experience:

• Mental Health experience preferred

Grade Determinations: The following criteria must be met in determining the grade assignment of candidates, and if appropriate, the level within a grade:

• Nurse I Level I - An Associate Degree (ADN) or Diploma in Nursing, with no additional nursing practice/experience required.
• Nurse I Level II - An ADN or Diploma in Nursing and approximately 1 year of nursing practice/experience; OR an ADN or Diploma in Nursing and a bachelor's degree in a related field with no additional nursing practice/experience; OR a Bachelor's of Science in Nursing (BSN) with no additional nursing practice/experience.
• Nurse I Level III - An ADN or Diploma in Nursing and approximately 2-3 years of nursing practice/experience; OR an ADN or Diploma in Nursing and a Bachelor's degree in a related field and approximately 1-2 years of nursing practice/experience; OR a BSN with approximately 1-2 years of nursing practice/experience; OR a Master's degree in nursing (MSN) or related field with a BSN and no additional nursing practice/experience.
• Nurse II - A BSN with approximately 2-3 years of nursing practice/experience; OR ADN or Diploma in Nursing and a Bachelor's degree in a related field and approximately 2-3 year's of nursing practice/experience; OR a Master's degree in nursing or related field with a BSN and approximately 1-2 year's of nursing practice/experience; OR a Doctoral degree in nursing or meets basic requirements for appointment and has doctoral degree in a related field with no additional nursing practice/experience required.
• Nurse III - Master's degree in nursing or related field with BSN and approximately 2-3 year's of nursing practice/experience; OR a Doctoral degree and approximately 2-3 year's of nursing practice/experience.

Reference: VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G-6 Nurse Qualification Standard. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office.

Physical Requirements: Lifting 45 pounds. Carrying of 15-44 pounds. Reaching above the shoulder. Use of fingers and hands. Prolonged walking and standing. Crawling and kneeling. Intermittent repeated bending. Use of both legs. Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously. Near vision correctable at 12" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4. Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other. Hearing (aid permitted). Ability to work around moving objects or vehicles. Ability to work closely with others. Protracted or irregular hours of work. Ability to handle hazardous drugs.

Responsibilities:

The VA Midwest Health Care Network advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers. This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest. As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care, you will operate in a model with three core elements, seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran. This is done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran's community. This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being.

Major duties include, but are not limited to:

• Demonstrates the ability to provide nursing care based on utilization of the health history and physical assessment skills and provides assistance for less experienced staff.
• Incumbent will be able to set up or reprocess Reusable Medical Equipment (RME) as applicable and be certified annually on the specific equipment for which they are responsible.
• Utilizes appropriate resources and tools to document, track, and assure follow through on patients with high risk needs or care management coordination.
• Plans with patient, family or caregiver, the specialist, the PACT team, other health care providers, and the community to maximize health care responses, quality, and cost-effective outcomes.
• Facilitates communication and coordination between members of the health care team, involving the patient in the decision-making process in order to minimize fragmentation in services.
• Educate the patient, the family or caregiver, and members of the health care delivery team about treatment options (including but not limited to CVT, HT, evidenced based protocols), community resources, psychosocial concerns, and case management, so that timely and informed decisions can be made.
• Assist the patient in the safe transitioning of care to the next most appropriate level.
• Advocate for both the Veteran and facility to facilitate positive outcomes for the patient, the health care team, and the facility.

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: Various tours (Day, Evening, Overnight) to be discussed during interview process
Telework: Not Available.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: A recruitment/relocation incentive of $3,500(pre-tax) has been authorized for Eligible, highly qualified applicants. Please contact the HR specialist for specific requirements.
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized.
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required