Summary

The Wilkes Barre VA Medical Center is currently recruiting for a Registered Nurse - Outpatient Mental Health for our Allentown Outpatient Clinic. Located in Allentown - PA.

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/12733604
• 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
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: This clinical position includes a level of physicality normally associated with direct patient care duties performed by nurses such as potentially long periods of continued walking - standing - sitting - moderate lifting - repeated bending - or kneeling
• Examples may include but are not limited to: -Significant amounts of time standing assisting assigned patients -Utilization of safe patient handling and mobility protocols.

Duties

• Functions or Scope of Assigned Duties: The Outpatient Mental Health (MH) Registered Nurse (RN) is responsible for providing competent - evidence-based care to assigned patients
• The MH RN will assist in directing the provision of nursing education - orientation - competencies and providing quality improvement and outcomes utilization consultation
• The psychiatric MH RN independently provides patient-centered and recovery-oriented care and maintains self-awareness while caring for patients living with MH conditions
• They facilitate warm hand-offs - telemental health care - and nurse-led psychoeducational groups
• use therapeutic communication techniques - practice de-escalation techniques - utilize recovery-oriented language - and provide Veterans - their family members - and/or significant others with education regarding their illness - medications - and treatment plan
• The MH RN actively participates in care coordination - liaising with Inpatient MH Units to facilitate continuity of care - MH interdisciplinary treatment team huddles and meetings and responds to psychiatric and medical emergencies as directed
• The MH RN reports and addresses safety concerns - document nursing triage assessments - risk screens - clinical reminders - and patient plan of care - according to facility policy
• The MH RN maintains professional boundaries to protect patient vulnerabilities and act in the best interest of the patient
• Fosters a safe and supportive environment conducive to the professional development of healthcare professionals
• Supports colleagues through knowledge sharing to provide safe - quality nursing care
• Questions clinical practices for the purpose of providing evidence-based care
• The responsibilities of the Outpatient Mental Hygiene Clinic RN Unit include - but are not limited to: - Maintains current/active Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) Certification
• - Travels to conferences/training off station
• - Administers medication and documents appropriately
• Monitors lab data - diagnostic testing and reports findings to Physician
• - Functions as a patient educator with emphasis on preventative health and wellness topics - disease specific initiatives
• - Interviews patients - obtains vital signs - and prepares patient for visit with provider
• - Assesses and evaluates the patient's needs - latent abilities - and social networks
• screens and identifies patients for appropriate case management - provides health assessments and facilitates access to health care based on patient's need
• - Conducts telephone triage and provides the necessary patient direction and education
• - Completes clinical reminders - assists with appointment scheduling - patient follow-up - discharge follow-up - as necessary on patients
• - Provides immediate nursing intervention in all emergency situations
• - Able to respond to emergent situations involving the suicidal or violent patient
• Capable of making emergent decisions regarding the safety of the patient - staff - and others
• - Serves as liaison for medical/psychiatric concerns and initiates referrals
• - Effectively communicates and interacts with patients and their significant others to help them with problem solving and developing coping skills
• - Participates with interdisciplinary treatment planning process - Responsible for ordering/maintaining supplies in the clinical area
• - Conducts Nursing clinics and group processes
• Documents group process and patient response
• - Maintains and monitors expiration dates of supplies in clinical area - crash cart and informs ordering personnel if supplies need to be reordered
• - Assists with the operation of specialty clinics as appropriate
• - Exhibits leadership skills through charge nurse duties by directing patient care - patient flow - and staff assignments
• 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: Mental Health experience preferred Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00 am to 4:30 pm Telework: Not available Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not authorized