Registered Nurse - Mental Health Specialty Programs

The Registered Nurse (RN) in Mental Health department is accountable for all elements of the nursing process when providing and/or supervising patient care. They assess, plns implements, and evaluates care based on age specific components. The RN's responsibilty for the coordination of care focused on patient education, self-management, and customer satisfaction throughout the continunm of care. Lastly, their impact extends beyond the department/service to the health care facility. EDUCATION: RESPONSIBILITIES: This Registered Nurse position falls under the Nursing Mental Health Service which serves and coordinates mental health needs in various programs. This position will support and provide oversight for community Nursing Homes (CNH) and Solid Organ Transplant prorams. This position works closely with Social Work Services.

Duties include but not limited to:

Responsible for providing case management for Veterans in the Community Nursing Home Program (CNHP) in collaboration with Social Work Services currently guided by VHA Notice 2025-04.

Functions as an integral member of the treatment team and assumes responsibility for completing initial, annual and as needed CNH facility/Veteran care assessments utilizing the required documentation and following CNHP guidelines located in the Office of Integrated Veteran Care (IVC) Field Guidebook.

Responsible for providing case management for Veterans in the Solid Organ Transplant program in collaboration with Social Work Services currently guided by VHA Directive 1102.03.

Guiding coordination of timely processing of pre/post transplantation patients' care coordination requirements, to include but not limited to record review, collaboration with internal and external stakeholders, and ongoing monitoring/timely submission of transplant consideration packets into Veterans Affairs Central Office (VACO) Tracer Program.

Supports the continued establishment of a robust transplant program tailored to the needs of Veterans and their support system.

Supports colleagues and other nurses through knowledge sharing to provide safe, quality nursing care.

Fosters a safe and supportive environment conducive to the professional development of health care professionals.

Supports and collaborates closely with the interdisciplinary team by providing quality oversight activities to ensure compliance with the established quality of care and safety of applicable enrolled Veterans at contract nursing homes as well as solid organ transplant patients.

Demonstrates expertise in decision-making and using the nursing process for complex situations that effect performance outcomes at the point of care.

Utilizes databases to provide population management to track patient care through various episodes of care.

Provides patient management, care coordination, and discharge/disposition planning for inpatient and outpatient settings.

Provides patient management, care coordination, and discharge/disposition planning for inpatient and outpatient settings.

Coordinates care with multiple providers across all levels and sites of care, including ensuring services interface within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) and community programs to provide continuity of care to patients.

Other Duties as assigned.

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: 7:00am to 3:30pm, (Work schedule is subject to change to accommodate the needs of the agency).

Telework: Not Authorized

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives : Not Authorized

Permanent Change of Station (PCS) : Not Authorized

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/12973894 .

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: Eligible applicants must be physically and mentally able to perform efficiently the essential functions of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation, without hazard to themselves or others. Depending on the essential duties of a specific position, usable vision, color vision, hearing or speech may be required. However, in most cases, a specific physical condition or impairment of a specific function may be compensated for by the satisfactory use of a prosthesis or mechanical aid. Basic Requirements : SALARY: QuantitativeValue EMPLOYMENT TYPE: Other