Registered Nurse (Outpatient Mental Health)

Quick Facts

• Eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) (application required within 4 months of appointment)
• Schedule: Monday–Friday; 7:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m. with one weekly day covering 11:30 a.m.–8:00 p.m.

Description

Provide patient-centered, recovery-oriented nursing care in an outpatient mental health setting. Facilitate warm hand-offs, tele-mental health, and nurse-led psychoeducational groups using therapeutic communication, de-escalation, and recovery-oriented language. Coordinate care with inpatient mental health units and interdisciplinary teams, complete nursing triage and risk screenings, and respond to psychiatric and medical emergencies as directed.

Responsibilities

• Assist with nursing education, orientation, competencies, and quality improvement/outcomes utilization
• Maintain self-awareness while caring for patients with mental health conditions
• Provide education about illness, medications, and treatment plan to Veterans and, as appropriate, family/significant others
• Support warm hand-offs and tele-mental health care
• Participate in care coordination by liaising with inpatient mental health units and attending interdisciplinary huddles/meetings
• Document nursing triage assessments, risk screens, clinical reminders, and the patient plan of care per facility policy
• Address safety concerns and maintain professional boundaries
• Demonstrate competence in practice, decision-making, planning, and critical thinking

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship (or limited non-citizen appointment per VA policy)
• English proficiency in written and spoken English for direct patient care
• Current, full, active, unrestricted RN license in a U.S. state/territory/DC (or eligible temporary GNT pathway while pursuing licensure)
• Graduate of an accredited school of professional nursing (ACEN or CCNE) or approved equivalent foreign education with required equivalency
• Pass pre-employment physical evaluation
• Subject to background/security investigation
• Pre-employment drug urinalysis may be required for testing-designated positions
• Selective Service registration (if applicable)
• Complete online onboarding and required pre-employment document verification
• Seasonal influenza vaccination is required
• Physical ability to perform direct nursing care duties and use safe patient handling per SPHM guidelines

Benefits

• Competitive salary, regular salary increases, potential for performance awards
• 50 days paid time off per year (annual leave, sick leave, paid federal holidays)
• Traditional federal pension and federal 401(k) with up to 5% employer contributions
• Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care insurance options
• Licensure: 1 full and unrestricted license from any U.S. state or territory