The Mental Health Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Team is a professional Registered Nurse (RN), qualified by education and experience to provide direct staff support to Mental Health Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program (MH RRTP) as it relates to planning, designing, integrating, implementing, modifying and evaluating the effectiveness of program components and/or services to improve the quality of patient care and the appropriateness and timeliness of services provided.
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. (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). 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.) NOTE: Grandfathering Provision - All persons currently employed in VHA in 0610 series and performing the duties as described in the qualification standard on the effective date of the standard (1/29/2024) are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held including positive education and licensure/certification. Preferred experience: 3 to 5 years of nursing experience. Minimum of 1 year Mental Health experience. 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: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12735420. Grade/Level Scope Education 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. Nurse I, Level II Demonstrates integration of biopsychosocial concepts, cognitive skills and technically competent practice in providing care to clients with basic or complex. 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. Nurse I, Level III Demonstrates proficiency in practice based on conscious and deliberate planning. Self-directed in goal setting for managing complex client situations. An ADN or Diploma in Nursing AND 2 years of professional nursing experience in which one year is equivalent to Nurse I, Level 2; OR a BSN and 1 year of professional nursing experience equivalent to the Nurse I, Level 2; OR a Master's degree in nursing (MSN) and no additional professional nursing experience; OR a Master's degree in a *related field with a BSN and no additional professional nursing experience. Nurse II Demonstrates leadership in delivering and improving holistic care through collaborative strategies with others. A BSN with 2 years of professional nursing equivalent to Nurse I, Level 3; OR an MSN with one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I, Level 3; OR a Master's degree in a *related field with a BSN and one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I, Level 3; OR a Doctoral degree in Nursing with no professional nursing experience; OR a Doctoral degree in a *related field with a BSN with no additional professional nursing experience. Nurse III Executes position responsibilities that demonstrate leadership, experience and creative approaches to management of complex client care beyond the immediate practice setting. MSN and 2 years of specialized nursing experience, one of which is equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III; OR a Master's degree in *related field with BSN and two years of specialized nursing experience, one of which is equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III; OR a Doctoral degree in Nursing with and one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III; OR a Doctoral degree in a *related field with a BSN and one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III. *Note: Foreign education programs/degrees are not creditable as related degrees. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: Heavy lifting 45 pounds and over; Heavy carrying 45 pounds and over Straight pulling (1 hrs); Pushing (1 hrs) Reaching above shoulder (1 hrs); Kneeling (.5 hrs); Repeated bending (7 hrs) Walking (7 hrs); Standing (7 hrs) Use of fingers; Use of both hands Near vision correctable Near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4; Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other Ability to distinguish basic colors Ability to distinguish shades of colors Hearing without aid Mental and emotional stability Working with detergents and antiseptic solutions
The Mental Health Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Team Registered Nurse (RN), is required to be competent in the standards of nursing, incorporating evidenced based care. Based on the RN's patient assessment, the RN must be able to initiate care independently based on department standard operating procedures. The RN is expected to communicate timely and effectively with all members of the Interdisciplinary Team as well as relate courteously and appropriately to all internal and external customers. The RN is expected to work in a collaborative, team-oriented environment working as a patient advocate and build strong teams within multiple levels of interdisciplinary staff. Duties include but are not limited to: Delivers efficient, comprehensive, and continuous patient-driven holistic care through active collaboration, communication and coordination of resources. Demonstrates clinical knowledge in assessing, planning, implementing, documenting, and evaluating care for a designated group of patients across the continuum of care. Collects comprehensive data including, but not limited to, psychiatric, and substance use, physical, functional, psychosocial, emotional, cognitive, sexual, cultural, age-related, environmental, spiritual, and economic information in a systematic ongoing process while focusing on the uniqueness of the person. Administers medication safely and accurately. Collaborates with patients to assess and identify needs, issues, care goals, and resources in critical factors for achieving desired outcomes for discharge from MH RRTP setting, and health maintenance/wellness. Demonstrates a commitment to customer service and maintains a therapeutic and professional relationship with appropriate professional role boundaries. Utilizes policy orders appropriately. Maintains confidentiality of all patient information, including electronic, print, and conversations. Supports patient-driven care in a safe, efficient and cost-effective manner, using evidence based principles. Promotes cost effective use of resources. Provides for safety of at-risk patients awaiting evaluation or admission to acute psychiatry, with change in condition by ensuring 1:1 observation is maintained, until appropriate hand off occurs. Maintain professional knowledge and skills based on current evidence-based practice and standard of care. Promotes wellness by empowering the patient to self-management through education and patient-driven health care delivery. Involves all members of both core and expanded teams in identifying problems, collecting and analyzing data, and problem resolution. Responds to urgent or emergent psychiatric situations by determining the level of risk and initiating effective care with other providers, consistent with procedures. Initiates/actively participates in interdisciplinary collaboration to improve patient care at the program level. Utilizes creativity and innovation and recommends changes that will improve patient care or clinical efficiency. Promotes patient and personnel safety. Follows infection control and VHSO policies, including reusable medical equipment. 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: Nights 7:30pm-8:00am with rotating weekends and holidays; subject to change based on the needs of the service. Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized.