Registered Nurse - Mental Health

This position is located at the Coatesville VAMC in the Mental Health Service Line. Nursing is a dynamic discipline which includes the assessing, caring, counseling, teaching, referring and implementing of prescribed treatment in the maintenance of health, prevention and management of illness, injury, disability or the achievement of a dignified death.

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.
• English Language Proficiency. In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), 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 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.

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 years of nursing practice/experience; OR a Master's degree in nursing or related field with a BSN and approximately 1-2 years 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 years of nursing practice/experience; OR a Doctoral degree and approximately 2-3 years 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: This position requires visual acuity, keen hearing, clear distinctive speech, and manual dexterity. This position requires potentially long periods of continued walking, standing, stooping, sitting, bending, pulling, and pushing. Transferring patients and objects may be required. Mechanical inpatient lifts are provided. The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations, operative/invasive procedures, or home settings. The incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium, dementia, or psychiatric disorders. The incumbent must be a mature, flexible, sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations, able to shift priorities based on patient needs. Must complete annual Employee Health requirements, such as annual TB screening or testing, as a condition of employment. The incumbent who provides care in home settings or other off-site locations may be required to drive and/or ride in GSA-vehicles.

Note: Basic Life Support (BLS) is required for RNs in direct patient care positions per policy. Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) is required in specific specialty areas and assignments per policy. Incumbent will be self-directed in completing orientation and on-going mandatory education.

Responsibilities:

Major duties include, but are not limited to:

• Collects comprehensive data including but not limited to psychiatric, substance, physical, functional, psychosocial, emotional, cognitive, sexual, cultural, age-related, spiritual/transpersonal and economic assessments in a systematic and ongoing process while focusing on the uniqueness of the person.
• Uses appropriate evidence-based assessment techniques and instruments in collecting pertinent data.
• Ensures that appropriate consents, as determined by regulations and policies, are obtained to protect confidentiality and support the patient's rights in the process of data gathering.
• Synthesizes available data, information and knowledge relevant to the situation to identify patterns and variances.
• Uses therapeutic principles to understand and make inferences about the patient's emotions, thoughts, behaviors and condition.
• Identifies actual or potential risks to the patient's health and safety or barriers to mental and physical health which may include but are not limited to interpersonal, systematic or environmental circumstances.
• Derives the nursing diagnosis, problems or areas in need of care and treatment from the assessment data.
• Identifies actual or potential risks to the patient's health and safety or barriers to mental and physical health which may include but are not limited to interpersonal, systematic or environmental circumstances.
• Derives culturally appropriate expected outcomes from the identified diagnosis and problems.
• Defines expected outcomes in terms of the patient, the patient's values, ethical considerations, environment or situation, with consideration of associated risks, benefits, costs, current scientific evidence and personal recovery goals.
• Develops an individualized plan in partnership with the patient, family and others considering the patient's characteristics or situation.
• Includes strategies on the plan that address each of the identified problems or issues, including strategies for promotion of recovery, restoration of health and prevention of illness, injury and disease.
• Assists patients in securing treatment or services in the least restrictive environment.
• Provides health teaching in individual and group settings related to patient's needs, recovery goal and situations that may include mental health problems, psychiatric and substance use disorders, treatment regimens and self-management of those regimens, coping skills, relapse prevention, self-care activities, conflict management, stress management, relaxation techniques and crisis management.
• Coordinates implementation of the plan.
• Manages the patient's care in order to maximize individual recovery, independence and quality of life.
• Orients the patient and family to the care environment, including the physical environment, the roles of different healthcare providers, how to be involved in the treatment and care delivery process, schedules of events pertinent to care and treatment and expectations regarding safe and therapeutic behavior.
• Establishes a welcoming, trauma-sensitive environment using therapeutic interventions
• Selects specific group and individual activities that meet the patient's physical and mental health need for meaningful participation in the milieu and promotion of personal growth.
• Documents counseling interventions including but not limited to communication and interviewing techniques, problem solving activities, crisis intervention, stress management, supportive skill building and conflict resolution.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Pay: Competitive salary, regular salary increases, potential for performance awards. VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Nurse Total Rewards
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: Varies
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized
EDRP Authorized: This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application. Learn more
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Salary : $75,774 - $133,536