TRD Registered Nurse - Outpatient Behavioral Health

Summary

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) - a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval - award amount (up to $200 -000) & eligibility period (1 - 5 years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply.

Qualifications

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
• 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/12970984
• 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 up to (35 pounds)
• heavy carrying up to (35 pounds)
• straight pulling (2-4 hours)
• pushing (2-4 hours)
• reaching above shoulders (1-2 hours)
• use of fingers
• both hands required
• walking (4-6 hours)
• standing (4-6 hours)
• repeated bending (2-4 hours)
• both legs required
• ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously
• near vision correctable at 13"" to 16"" to Jaeger 1 to 4
• far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and 20/40 in the other
• both eyes required
• ability to distinguish basic colors and shades of color
• hearing (aids permitted)
• mental and emotional stability.
  
  

Duties

• The Treatment Resistant Depression RN is an integral part of the neuromodulation team and located at University Drive
• This position's clinical TRD practice is overseen by the Section Chief and Outpatient Nurse Manager to ensure competent practice
• The TRD RN demonstrates the experience - skills - knowledge - and ability to safely monitor and manage Veterans receiving any of the various modalities of treatment offered at VA Pittsburgh such as intranasal Esketamine - IV Ketamine and rTMS etc
• Major duties and responsibilities of the position include but are not limited to the following: Registered Nurses (RN) assisting with Esketamine/Ketamine treatments for mental health disorders shall do so under the supervision of an appropriately trained and licensed healthcare provider
• The Registered Nurse will meet the following practice requirements: previous psychiatric-mental health experience
• certificate of Esketamine/Ketamine specialized training or documentation of completion of a preceptorship with a fully privileged Esketamine/Ketamine and licensed healthcare provider and demonstrated competency in Esketamine/Ketamine treatment used for clinical care
• TMS therapy is a treatment administering alternating magnetic fields through the scalp to induce small electrical currents in the brain
• It is primarily used for the treatment of adult patients diagnosed with major depressive disorder
• The primary responsibility of the Clinical TMS Nurse Treater is to provide transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) treatment and coordination of the mental health patient's care during therapy
• This position is essential to Mental Health Services at the VA Pittsburgh Health Care - University Drive Behavioral Health Outpatient Clinic and all activities of the Clinical TMS Nurse Treater are dedicated to patients with mental health problems and the mental health care team
• Nurses performing TMS for the treatment of mental health disorders shall do so under the supervision of an appropriately trained and licensed psychiatrist
• The TMS treater will meet the following practice requirements: previous psychiatric-mental health experience
• certificate of TMS specialized training or documentation of completion of a preceptorship with a fully privileged TMS psychiatrist
• and demonstrated competency in the TMS therapy system(s) used for clinical care
• Outpatient Behavioral Health cares for patients with a variety of mental health issues including but not limited to thought - mood - PTSD - self-harm and addiction
• Practicing within the recovery model the outpatient Registered Nurse provides supportive care to veterans at various stages of their mental illness
• The RN provides initial and ongoing assessments for a panel of veterans requiring case management
• The outpatient Behavioral Health Registered Nurse will function in a patient centered program and must have the ability to establish effective communication with patients - family members and the interdisciplinary team
• The Registered Nurse must be able to identify problems and use sound judgement to prioritize patient care needs
• The Registered Nurse assist to coordinate patient care between primary care clinics - mental health specialty clinics - the emergency room
• The Registered Nurse will be able to recognize deviations from baseline assessment and initiate corrective actions
• The nurse executes position responsibilities that demonstrates leadership - experience - and creative approaches to management of complex patient care
• The Behavioral Health Outpatient Clinics provide a wide range of services Monday through Friday
• 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 Preferred Experience: Two years of experience in mental health
• One year of medical experience
• Current ACLS certification
• Work Schedule: 7:30 a.m
• to 4:00 p.m
• Compressed/Flexible: Not Authorized
• Telework: Not Authorized
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact VHAVISN04HREDRP@va.gov - the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance
• Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized