Career Center

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. Learn more 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. 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 year's of nursing practice/experience; OR a Master's degree in nursing or related field with a BSN and approximately 1-2 year's 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 year's of nursing practice/experience; OR a Doctoral degree and approximately 2-3 year's of nursing practice/experience. 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: Satisfactory physical examination as determined by the Employee Health Unit upon appointment only. The population of male and female veterans served ranges from the adult, age 18, to the elderly adult, age 65 and over. The VA Medical Center is a major interdisciplinary teaching facility, serving medical, surgical, and neurological inpatients and outpatients. There is a large outpatient psychiatric population, with admissions for medical co-morbidities. This position requires visual acuity (glasses permitted), keen hearing (hearing aid permitted), clear distinctive speech, and manual dexterity. This position requires potentially long periods of continued walking (up to 8 hours), standing (up to 8 hours), stooping, sitting, bending (up to 8 hours), pulling, and pushing. Light lifting under 15 lbs. Light carrying 15-44 lbs. Transferring patients and objects may be required. The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations or operative/invasive procedures. Use of rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously. 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. ["VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Nurse Total Rewards This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until December 30, 2022. The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be March 28, 2022, with subsequent cut-off dates every Monday on an as-needed basis until positions are filled. The Registered Nurse (RN) assigned to the Mental Health Clinic (MHC) is a professional nurse with a broad-based clinical knowledge that enables him/her to effectively provide psychiatric nursing care to a Veteran population with widely diverse mental health diagnoses and symptoms. The RN utilizes the nursing process when assessing, planning, implementing, evaluating, and documenting individualized nursing plan of care.In collaboration with a Mental Health Teamlet, the Registered Nurse provides nursing support as appropriate for veteran suffering with mental health and/or substance use issues in accordance with the standards of clinical practice established by the policies and procedures of Mental Health Service Line. Job duties include but are not limited to the following: Completes initial assessment/history on all clients entering treatment Uses assessment information to make an appropriate clinical assessment of client current conditions in a timely manner Thoroughly evaluates client to gather vital information at each med clinic appointment Evaluates medication effects and determine course of action Completes other routine assessment per protocol Makes internal and external referrals to meet client needs Uses critical thinking skills to determine etiology of complaints Demonstrates safe medications practices and use of equipment Effectively coordinates medications needs including refills, samples, prior authorizations, etc. Uses assessment information to make appropriate referrals, consult with the prescriber team, or educate the veteran as appropriate. Knowledge of current medications and use. Knowledge of potential side effects and educates veteran and co-workers. Maintains professional level of interpersonal relationships with co-workers and veterans. Educates veterans and families on symptoms, medications, and side effects Collaborates with pharmacies to ensure that veterans needs are met. Assess, plan, implement, supervise, teach, evaluate and document patient care. Serves as an integral member of the treatment team and influences care outcomes by collaborating with other members of the interdisciplinary team. Assists patients in identifying and securing appropriate services such a primary care provider in PACT. Demonstrates leadership and initiative in delivering quality, age-specific healthcare. Ensure compliance with the mission, vision and values of the medical center and/or VISN. Utilize critical thinking skills and sound clinical judgment to ensure positive patient outcomes. Demonstrates strong ethical practice. Participate in performance improvement activities and established quality improvement studies and/or activities to ensure performance measures are met and/or exceeded. Skill in basic Psych emergency management. Implements provider care orders in a timely and accurate manner. Documents nursing process including patient/family/significant other education. Conducts self-assessment of performance and identifies own learning needs. Implements an ongoing educational plan to support own professional development. Participates in customer service programs and initiatives Other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: all positions are Monday - Friday 8:00 am to 4:30 pm\nTravel: No\nCompressed/Flexible: Not Available\nTelework: Not Available\nVirtual: This is not a virtual position.\nRelocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized\nEDRP Authorized: Contact valerie.shields2@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance\nPermanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized\nPCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized\nFinancial Disclosure Report: Not required"]