Mental Health Registered Nurse - Intermittent

The Registered Nurse (RN) in the Mental Health service demonstrates integration of biopsychosocial concepts, cognitive skills, and technically competent practice while providing care to clients. The RN assesses, plans, implements, and evaluates care based on age-specific components. Responsibilities include delivering fundamental, knowledge-based care to assigned clients while developing technical competencies. The nurse integrates biopsychosocial concepts, cognitive skills, and technically competent practice in providing care to clients with basic or complex needs. The role involves practicing within the scope of the assigned grade and level, with increasing complexity and independence as the nurse progresses through levels. The nurse is expected to demonstrate leadership, professional development, and evidence-based practice/research in their daily work. The position requires delivering patient-driven care, ensuring that all interventions are tailored to the individual needs of veterans. The nurse will work within a multidisciplinary team to coordinate care, monitor patient progress, and adjust treatment plans as necessary. The role also involves maintaining accurate documentation, adhering to safety protocols, and participating in quality improvement initiatives. The nurse must be able to communicate effectively with patients, families, and other healthcare professionals. The position may involve working with patients who have acute or chronic mental health conditions, requiring the nurse to apply critical thinking and clinical judgment in complex situations. The nurse will also be responsible for educating patients and their families about treatment plans, medications, and self-care strategies. The role requires flexibility to adapt to changing patient needs and unit demands. The nurse will participate in ongoing training and professional development to maintain competency and stay current with best practices in mental health nursing.

Basic Requirements: English Language Proficiency. In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7403(f), 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 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. 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 than 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). 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. Graduate Nurse Technician (GNT) Exception: Candidates who otherwise meet the basic education requirements, but do not possess the required licensure, may be appointed at the entry step of the grade and level applicable to the completed nursing education as a GNT on a 120-day temporary appointment while actively pursuing licensure (may be extended up to two years on a case-by-case-basis). Grade Determinations: The following Scope, Education and Dimension criteria must be met in determining the grade assignment of candidates, and if appropriate, the level within a grade. The Dimension requirements (Practice, Veteran/Patient Driven Care, Leadership, Professional Development and Evidence-Based Practice/Research) are detailed for each grade and level within the online assessment. For Nurse I, Level I: Delivers fundamental, knowledge-based care to assigned clients while developing technical competencies. An Associate Degree (ADN) or Diploma in Nursing, with no additional professional nursing required. For Nurse I, Level II: Demonstrates integration of biopsychosocial concepts, cognitive skills and technically competent practice in providing care to clients with basic or complex needs. An ADN or Diploma in Nursing AND 1 year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I, Level 1; OR a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) with no additional professional nursing experience required.

A healthcare system providing medical services, including mental health care, to veterans.