Acute Care & Intensive Outpatient Psychiatric Registered Nurse

Quick Facts

Registered Nurse (RN) position in acute & intensive mental health outpatient care.

Description

Provide and coordinate outpatient psychiatric nursing care, including nursing process accountability, assessments, clinical documentation, and referrals for urgent mental health needs. Deliver measurement-based care and complete suicide risk screening, Columbia CSSRS assessments, suicide safety planning, and required overdose/suicide behavior reporting. Participate in care coordination across the continuum, quality improvement, and chart audits while maintaining safe patient handling practices.

Responsibilities

• Accountable for all elements of the nursing process for assigned patients
• Use designated templates for CPRS and document nursing notes aligned with ANA guidelines and VA nurse policy/training
• Serve as a liaison for warm handoffs and initiate referrals between mental health clinics for urgent needs (including potential acute inpatient evaluation)
• Complete clinical reminders and collaborate with treating/covering providers on follow-up
• Manage secure messages for designated providers
• Follow continuum of care agreements across Mental Health services
• Facilitate measurement-based care (in person or by telephone) and discuss findings for treatment plan development
• Complete suicide risk assessments at each mental health encounter when not already completed the same day
• Conduct Columbia Suicide Severity Risk Screening (CSSRS) when due or indicated and apply additional interventions per policy
• Complete Suicide Behavior Overdose Reports (SBOR) when indicated and communicate risk to the provider and Suicide Prevention Counselor
• Develop/complete a Suicide Safety Plan per policy and support it as part of the treatment plan
• Coordinate care for transitions, patient/family education, and patient self-management after discharge
• Administer medications and procedures per established policies/guidelines
• Collaborate with the interdisciplinary team to influence care outcomes
• Participate in unit/program quality improvement and customer service programs
• Conduct chart audits and take remedial actions as directed by nursing leadership
• Complete Safe Patient Handling and Mobility training and maintain required PMDB level
• Support other duties as assigned by unit leadership

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship per VA policy (non-citizens only if recruitment of qualified citizens is not possible)
• English proficiency (written and spoken)
• Graduation from an approved professional nursing program (ACEN or CCNE) OR accepted bridge-path pathway OR accepted education equivalency plus current full, active, unrestricted RN registration
• Current, full, active, unrestricted RN license in a U.S. state/territory/DC (GNT exception may apply while pursuing licensure)
• Selective Service registration for males born after 12/31/1959
• Subject to background/security investigation
• Pass pre-employment physical examination and complete online onboarding and pre-employment document requirements
• Seasonal influenza vaccination requirement
• Urinalysis testing for illegal drug use if selected for a testing-designated position
• Ability to meet physical demands (visual acuity, keen hearing, clear speech, manual dexterity; standing/walking/stooping/sitting/bending/pulling/pushing; possible patient/object transfers)

Benefits

• Competitive salary with potential performance awards
• 50 days of paid time off per year (annual leave, sick leave, and federal holidays)
• Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% contributions by VA
• Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care insurance options
• Licensure: 1 full and unrestricted license from any U.S. state or territory
• Full-time schedule, Monday–Friday 07:30–16:00