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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: This position requires potentially long periods of continued walking, standing, and sitting. The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing. 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 VA Western Colorado Health Care System (WCHCS) is a Level 3 facility with service-lines serving medical, surgical, neurological, and psychiatric inpatients and outpatients, with a Level III Emergency Department, multiple VA Clinics, and a Community Living Center (CLC). The incumbent will be located within Mental Health Service with 95% of time in Administrative and Supervisor duties as the Chief of Mental Health Service and with 5% of time providing mental health services to Veterans presenting with mental health disorders. The services rendered will include assessment for mental health disorders and the application of evidenced base mental health treatment plans. The incumbent will serve a leadership role in a multidisciplinary mental health Service, overseeing outpatient and inpatient programming and reporting directly to the Chief of Staff. The incumbent demonstrates leadership in delivering and improving holistic care through collaborative strategies with others. The incumbent provides care for Veterans ranging in age from 18 through the geriatric years, taking into consideration diagnosis and physical, psychosocial, spiritual, and cultural needs. Shares expertise in such care to clinical trainees providing care during clinical rotations to Veterans. Demonstrates, promotes, creates and ensures a culturally diverse care in which the values and needs of all individuals are respected. The incumbent practices in a broad variety of mental health programs. The incumbent's practices effectively in assigned as an actively seeking knowledge, skills and abilities to provide comprehensive psychiatric services. The incumbent may be assigned responsibilities and duties based on education, experience and competency in various outpatient settings. The incumbent is also a part of the team providing on-call responsibilities to the Emergency Department, inpatient mental Health unit and consultation service. RESPONSIBILITIES:\nThe Chief of Mental Health manages administrative and clinical aspects of a combination of programs located across the WCHCS. They have responsibility for coordinating interdisciplinary staffing, creating and monitoring work assignments, managing budget, ensuring implementation of treatment services per VA Directive, monitoring and reporting upon quality and safety of services and providers, ensuring program standards meet accreditation requirements of oversight bodies, monitoring and reporting upon outcomes of various programs, actively participating in and reporting to national, VISN and facility level committees. They also supervise employees assigned to the programs. They will directly oversee program services congruent with experience and areas of competence. This includes the oversight of over 80 personnel employees. The incumbent assumes the supervisory and administrative responsibility for the management of the assigned staff members who function within Mental Health programs in the WCHCS. As an Advanced Practice Nurse (APN), the incumbent provides services to Veterans, their families and the interdisciplinary team regarding evaluation, identification and treatment of psychological concerns and psychiatric diagnosis in the mental health settings. As the supervisor, the incumbent plans, establishes, and implements policies and procedures; developing individual or group goals and objectives as well as monitoring, operating, evaluating, coordinating and overseeing the staff assigned to mental health programming. The incumbent will assure the staff whom they supervise are aware of, adhere to all current directives of VHA, and meet current Joint Commission standards, State licensure standards, and VA-OIG expectations. The incumbent will conduct ongoing intensive reviews and appraisals to ensure the accomplishment of objectives and adherence to standards set by governing bodies. VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Nurse Total Rewards\nWork Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm\nTelework: Not Available\nVirtual: This is not a virtual position.\nRelocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized\nEDRP Authorized: Contact Gina Hammer, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance\nFinancial Disclosure Report: Required"]