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. 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. Preferred Experience: Mental Health Experience as a Registered Nurse (2) years. Strong Mental Health Assessment Skills, verbal de-escalation skills, and crisis management skills. Strong computer skills, ability to multitask and organize work, ability to work with an interdisciplinary team including nursing and work autonomously. Psychiatric Mental Health Certification 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: 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. ["VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Nurse Total Rewards The registered nurse provides care and counseling of persons or in the promotion and maintenance of health and prevention of illness and injury based upon the nursing process which includes systematic data gathering, assessment, appropriate nursing judgment, and evaluation of human responses to actual or potential health problems through such services as case finding, health teaching, health counseling; provision of care supportive to or restorative of life and well-being; and executing medical regimens including administering medications and treatments prescribed by a licensed or otherwise legally authorized provider .The nurse's primary commitment is to the patient, whether an individual, family, group, or community (ANA Code of Ethics for Nurses). 1. The nurse is responsible and accountable for individual nursing practice and determines the appropriate delegation of tasks consistent with the nurse's obligation to provide optimal care (ANA Code of Ethics for Nurses). 2. Independently plans and delivers technically competent care to patients with complex needs. 2.1. Safely and effectively uses equipment required for patient care. Reports equipment in need of repair. 2.2 Recognizes subtle abnormal signs and symptoms and/or changes in patients condition and responds appropriately. 3. Makes assignments and directs activities of unit staff, (RNs, LPNs, students, PSAs, other team members). 4. Formulates and implements a plan of care based on the ANA Standards of Nursing Practice. 4.1. Completes initial assessment of patient condition and response to treatment and initiates follow-up as needed. 4.2. Includes the patient and family/significant other in developing the initial plan of care, establishing goals, and discharge planning 4.3. Updates plan of care as needed based on patient responses. 4.4. Assesses patient's learning needs, learning preference, and readiness to learn. 4.5. Develops and implements a plan to meet learning needs, instructing patients and families in educational needs and discharge planning. 5. Documents the nursing process. 5.1. Documentation is technically informative, consistent, accurate, concise, and timely manner. 5.2. Evaluates and documents patient response to interventions and progress towards attainment of expected outcomes. 5.3. Completes notes and/or uses addenda to avoid unsigned progress notes. 5.4. Revises plan of care according to evaluations of patient responses. 5.5. Uses the Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS) and the Bar Coded Medication Administration (BCMA) software per policy. 6. Manages nursing care of patients. 6.1. Provides direction to staff in meeting patient care needs. 6.2. Ensures that assigned delegated tasks are completed by team members. 6.3. Organizes and completes own assignments in a safe and timely manner, assisting team members as necessary. 6.4. Organizes and prioritizes in order to meet changing patient care needs and staff assignments. 6.5. Assigns patient care responsibilities based upon patient needs and competencies of staff. 7. Demonstrates grade-appropriate and consistent critical thinking skills. 7.1. The nurse can recognize the patient has a problem. 7.2. The nurse can manage the problem safely and effectively, recognizing his/her scope of practice. 7.3. The nurse has a relative sense of urgency. 7.4. The nurse takes the right action for the right reason (del Bueno). 8. Position-specific Competency Checklist is completed annually and is rated competent in all measured areas. 9. Outpatient: Collaborates with the Teamlet (patient, Primary Care Provider, and Clinical Support Technician) and larger Team (family/caregiver, internal and community-based services involved in providing care to the patient). 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 8AM- 4:30PM Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Contact Demetrius.Roberts@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]
Providing Health Care for Veterans: The Veterans Health Administration is America’s largest integrated health care system, providing care at 1,255 health care facilities, including 170 medical centers and 1,074 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics), serving 9 million enrolled Veterans each year.