Registered Nurse - Mental Health

<p>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.</p><h3>Major Duties</h3><p>The Registered Nurse (Mental Health Clinic), delivers competent, evidence-based nursing care to Veterans within the Mental Health Clinic of the Washington DC VA Medical Center, a Level 1A tertiary care teaching facility. The RN provides patient-centered care using the nursing process and collaborates with interdisciplinary team members to promote optimal health outcomes. Major duties include, but are not limited to: - Provides direct nursing care using the nursing process, including assessment, diagnosis, planning, implementation, and evaluation, to support health promotion, disease prevention, and management of mental health conditions. - Delivers safe, timely, and technically competent care in accordance with VA policies, accreditation standards, ANA Standards of Nursing Practice, and ethical nursing principles. - Establishes therapeutic relationships with Veterans, incorporates patient values and preferences, and develops individualized plans of care that enhance satisfaction, safety, and clinical outcomes. - Collaborates with the interdisciplinary mental health team to plan, deliver, and evaluate coordinated care, ensuring effective and safe transitions across the continuum of care. - Executes provider-ordered medical regimens, including medication administration, treatments, and clinical procedures, following all regulatory and safety requirements. - Supports clinic operations by identifying patient care needs, managing workload, and ensuring completion of delegated tasks by licensed vocational nurses and nursing assistants. - Participates in nursing education, orientation, and competency validation activities, serving as a resource to peers and contributing to professional development within the service. - Utilizes evidence-based practice, quality improvement principles, and performance data to enhance care quality, resource utilization, and patient outcomes. - Demonstrates professional communication and leadership skills, promotes teamwork, and contributes to a respectful, safe, and high-reliability work environment. - Provides age-appropriate and culturally sensitive care across the lifespan, applying knowledge of developmental and age-related changes to support individualized patient needs. - Maintains compliance with infection control, occupational safety, emergency preparedness, and environment-of-care standards, reports hazards, and supports a safe care environment for patients, staff, and visitors. - Protects sensitive patient information and adheres to all privacy, security, and data-protection requirements for electronic and printed health information. - Participates in ongoing accreditation readiness by maintaining accurate and timely documentation, following established policies and procedures, and supporting continuous performance improvement activities. - Maintains Basic Life Support certification, completes required training, participates in competency assessments, and remains current with mandatory education. - May perform additional duties as assigned, including support for a 24/7 healthcare environment, schedule flexibility, participation in unit initiatives, and activities that advance the mission of the Mental Health Service. 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 Work Schedules, and tour of duties available. Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: 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.