Registered Nurse, PCMHI Collaborative Care Manager

Mental Health The SAVAHCS Mental Health Service values cultural diversity across our staff and training programs. Mental Health Service leaders are deeply committed to fostering an environment that is highly sensitive to and appreciative of all aspects of diversity. Our staff represent a variety of cultural backgrounds, competencies, interests, and theoretical orientations

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 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). The approving official may authorize a waiver of the requirement for ACEN or CCNE accreditation of any degree in nursing provided the college or university has regional accreditation from an accrediting body recognized by the Department of Education at the time of the candidate's graduation and the composite qualifications of the applicant warrant such consideration. 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.

Preferred Experience: Two years of outpatient 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 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.

Note regarding MSN degrees: If your MSN was obtained via a Bridge Program that qualifies for professional nursing registration, a BSN is not required.


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: Heavy lifting (45 lbs and over); Heavy carrying (45 lbs and over); Straight pulling and pushing; reaching above shoulder; use of fingers; both hands required; walking and standing up to 8 hours; repeated bending; Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; hearing aid permitted.

Responsibilities:

The Registered Nurse (RN) is assigned to a Primary Care Mental Health Integration (PCMHI) within the Mental Health Nursing in the VA Healthcare System. RN demonstrates the possession of advanced practice skill and judgment. RN is expected to provide consultation as well as guidance to colleagues and providers within their scope of practice. In addition, the incumbent is expected to role model effective interventions, skills, and strategies working with Veterans within the PCMHI who require mental health care. The incumbent provides assessment triage, suicide and/or homicide prevention, education, brief counseling, behavior management, treatment planning, treatment referrals and follow-up, care coordination, and influencing adherence to guidelines by providing "on-time, on-target" information to primary care physicians, and collaboratively making appropriate care decisions.

The RN PCMHI Collaborative Care Manager should be at the bachelor's or master's degree level with at least 2 years of experience in research or clinical settings.

the RN will be responsible for interacting clinically with primary care clinicians, the patients, and their families, the RN will be selected in part for their experience with, and sensitivity to, the kinds of patients and providers participating in the PCMHI Team. The incumbent will follow all guidance concerning completion of all documentation. The incumbent will be expected to provide orientation to less experienced RN PCMHI Collaborative Care Manager as well as develop innovations in practice interventions.

Duties specific to PCMHI Collaborative Care Manager include:

• Provides assessment and time-limited treatment of uncomplicated mental disorders working in close collaboration with PACT staff.
• Obtains a health history of referred patients: Data collection includes lifestyle patterns; pain issues; sleep/activity levels; support systems; cultural, social and ethnic factors; patient treatment preferences and goals.
• Learns the use of a Behavioral Health Laboratory software program for interviewing participants. This includes determining the appropriate level of care need for patients not in treatment and the ability to understand the variety of clinical options available through the medical center and local community.
• Creates and maintains forms, surveys, instruments, and materials for proper coordination of the different treatment modules available through the BHL.
• Assists in the development and implementation of patient treatment plans in collaboration with the
  treatment team to address mental health needs through time-limited, evidence-based treatments, typically 4-6 sessions.
• Provides patient education in areas of mental health management/understanding, health promotion and functional restoration.
• Triages at-risk patients and provides follow-up of patient progress and treatment adherence with reassessments and communication with their mental health and primary care providers as needed.
• Provides consultative advice to PACT staff, suggest referral, or assist in referral of patients with complex mental health conditions to mental health programs.
• Works closely with the PCMHI Psychiatrist, Behavioral Health Liaisons (BHL), Mental Health trained Clinical Pharmacists, and Peer Support.
• Provides referrals and appropriate care coordination of PACT patients that meet criteria for PCMHI.
• Collaborates with Mental Health Treatment Coordinator and designated mental health provider when caring for Veterans with serious mental illness or other specialty mental health services.
• Attends required meetings with the PCMHI team and is an active member of the healthcare team.
• Other duties as assigned within scope of practice/licensure.

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 7:30 AM -4:00PM, 8:00 AM-4:30PM
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required