Registered Nurse - Inpatient Mental Health

<p>This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible.</p><h3>Major Duties</h3><p>Major Duties and Responsibilities include, but are not limited to: Provides direct, evidence-based nursing care to adult and geriatric Veterans on an inpatient mental health unit, integrating biopsychosocial principles to meet simple and complex patient needs. Coordinates care across the continuum, including patient assessment, treatment planning, transition support, patient and family education, and discharge planning. Conducts comprehensive nursing assessments, including evaluation of depression, suicidal ideation, aggressive or assaultive behavior, unpredictable behavior, and comorbid medical conditions. Administers medications and procedures per policy and maintains accurate, timely documentation of assessments, interventions, and patient observations. Establishes therapeutic nurse-patient relationships utilizing recovery-oriented, non-judgmental, and culturally sensitive communication and interventions. Promotes and maintains a safe and therapeutic milieu; identifies and reports safety hazards; participates in Environment of Care rounds; and follows emergency, infection control, and safety protocols. Utilizes de-escalation techniques, therapeutic communication skills, and crisis intervention strategies in psychiatric emergencies. Facilitates and/or supports therapeutic groups, psychoeducational classes, and structured patient activities promoting recovery and self-management. Collaborates with interdisciplinary treatment teams in developing patient-centered goals and evaluating outcomes. Serves as a patient advocate, ensuring patient rights, autonomy, dignity, privacy, and safety are consistently upheld. Provides age- and developmentally appropriate care considering cognitive, emotional, physical, and lifestyle factors across young adult, middle adult, and older adult populations. Protects patient confidentiality under the Privacy Act, HIPAA, and VA information security requirements; safeguards printed/electronic sensitive data; and adheres to computer access policies. Participates in unit-based performance improvement initiatives, quality and safety activities, and high-reliability organizational practices. Maintains competence through participation in unit-based education, mandatory training, skills validation, and Basic Life Support (BLS) certification. Assists in orienting new staff, participating in shared governance activities, and contributing to continuous accreditation readiness (TJC, OIG, CARF). Demonstrates physical ability to meet job demands, including transferring patients, prolonged standing/walking, and use of personal protective equipment. May be required to work rotating shifts, weekends, holidays, or non-administrative tours in a 24/7 inpatient environment. Performs other duties as assigned to support patient care, unit operations, and organizational mission. 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: 12 hour shifts, 7:30am - 8:00pm, Weekends and Holidays Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact visn5edrpcoordinators@va.gov for questions/assistance. Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required</p><h3>Requirements</h3>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 (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's 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.