Registered Nurse (Staff - Outpatient Behavioral Health) - EDRP Approved

<p>This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. 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 to apply.</p><h3>Major Duties</h3><p>The Registered Nurse is responsible and accountable for all elements of the nursing process when providing and/or supervising direct patient care. Assesses, plans, implements, and evaluates care based on age specific components. Assumes responsibility for the coordination of care focused on patient education, self-management, and customer satisfaction throughout the continuum of care. Follows procedures per established policies and guidelines. Influences care outcomes by collaborating with members of the interdisciplinary team. Executes position responsibilities that demonstrate leadership, experience, and creative approaches to management of complex client care. The Nurse Outpatient Behavioral Health (BH) Registered Nurse (RN) executes position responsibilities to improve Veteran and organizational outcomes. The psychiatric BH RN executes their position duties by providing patient-centered, recovery-oriented principles, telemental health, community-based care, and self-awareness when caring for Veterans living with BH conditions. The BH RN actively engages in interdisciplinary team huddles and meetings, uses therapeutic communication techniques, de-escalation practices, recovery-oriented language, and educates Veterans, their families, and significant others on illnesses, medications, and treatment plans. The BH RN assists and/or directs safety concern resolution and collaborates with program leadership to help improve Veteran and program outcomes, liaising with Inpatient BH Units, develops content as well as facilitates nurse-led psychoeducational groups, and directs teams response to psychiatric and medical emergencies. The BH RN documents assessments, risk screens, measurement-based care tools, clinical reminders, and Veteran care plans following facility policy, maintaining professional boundaries and acting in the Veteran's best interest. The registered nurse in the behavioral health team collaborates within interdisciplinary treatment teams to care for outpatient behavioral health Veterans, and may work or be assigned in specialty service teams such as New Patient Access Team (NPAT), Primary Care Mental Health Integration (PCMHI), Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP), Hospital Liaison, Intensive Community Mental Health Recovery (ICMHR), Housing and Urban Development- VA Supportive Housing (HUDVASH). The RN who works/assigned to ICMHR and HUD-VASH programs must have a current, valid, unrestricted drivers license and the ability to operate a GSA vehicle for community home visits, minimal transportation of veterans if needed and outreach activities. Behavioral health services provides the following services to include group programming, evidence-based treatments, tele-mental health, medication management, case management/ Mental Health Treatment Coordinator (MHTC), counseling for couples and families, psychological assessment, and other behavioral health services. The RN demonstrates leadership, experience, and innovative approaches in assessing, treatment planning, and case managing complex behavioral health needs of Veterans. Duties are continued in the Education Section of this announcement. 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, 8 AM - 4:30 PM Telework: Yes-This is an onsite position. Telework may be offered when deemed necessary by the department AD-HOC (Employees who telework on an occasional, episodic, or short-term basis, and have completed required telework training and telework agreement.) (Portion of day acceptable). Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact the EDRP Coordinator at vhaedrpprogramsupport@va.gov for questions/assistance. Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized</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.<h3>Education</h3>Graduate of a school of professional nursing approved by the appropriate 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); OR Individuals attending a master's level bridge program in nursing who have completed coursework equivalent to a bachelor's level degree in Nursing may have opportunity to become registered as a nurse with a state licensing board prior to completion of the bridge program. Upon achievement of a State license, the individual may be appointed on temporary basis and later converted to a permanent appointment upon successful completion and graduation from the bridge program. (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 to warrant an appointment as a Nurse who has completed an associated degree/entry level Nursing education program. Credit for foreign nursing education higher that associate degree/entry level requires a formal degree equivalency validation from a recognized equivalency evaluation accepted by VA such as International Consultants of Delaware (ICD). NOTE: If your school has changed names, or is no longer in existence, you must provide this information in your application. NOTE: If your school was accredited by The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) or The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE); at the time of graduation but is no longer listed on the ACEN or CCNE websites, you must provide documentation of accreditation with your application packet. Duties Continued: The responsibilities of the BH RN include, but, are not limited to, conducting risk assessments and triage services for Veterans seeking access to behavioral health services. The RN will discuss abnormal results with referring providers and communicate normal lab results to the Veterans or caregiver. The RN participates in Veteran outreach and engagement in proper treatment. Assesses, reviews, develops, maintains, and monitors Veteran specific plans of care, collaborating with the interdisciplinary team to ensure Veteran outcomes are reported and validated. Provides education and brief interventions using evidence-based techniques such as behavioral activation, motivational interviewing, and other focused treatment strategies. The RN will monitor telephone calls and identify potential emergencies, coordinate Veterans care with other facilities and agencies, provide direct nursing care to individuals and groups of Veterans in accordance with the policies of the El Paso VA Health Care System (EPVAHCS). In addition the RN assesses, plans, implements, collaborates, and coordinates the needs and care of Veterans with acute and/or chronic mental illness in an outpatient setting or in the community (i.e. MHICM, HUDVASH, Hospital Liaison) using the nursing process. The RN actively participates in Performance Improvement activities and committees as assigned. The BH RN provides peers with formal or informal constructive feedback for improvement. Supports colleagues and other nurses through knowledge sharing to provide safe, quality nursing care. Fosters a safe and supportive environment conducive to the professional development of health care professionals.