Registered Nurse (Behavioral Health) Inpatient

Summary
North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System is looking for a Behavioral HealthRegistered Nurse to work in the Psychiatry Nursing Service to provide care and counseling of persons or in the promotion and maintenance of health and prevention of illness and injury based upon the nursing process. The incumbent is under the supervision of a Nurse Manager or immediate supervisor.
This job is open to

• Internal to an agency
  Current federal employees of this agency.

Clarification from the agency
First Area of Consideration - Current, Permanent, Malcom Randall Department of Veterans Affair Medical Center employees including employees of the Veterans Canteen Service (VCS) and Community Based Outpatient Clinics. Second Area of Consideration- Current, Permanent, VA Nationwide employees.
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Duties
The Behavioral Health RN utilizes a systematic data gathering, assessment, appropriate nursing judgement, and evaluation of human responses to actual or potential health problems through such services as case finding, health teaching, health counseling, provision of care supportive to or restorative of life and well-being, and executing medical regimens including administering medications and treatments prescribed by a licensed or otherwise legally authorized provider (Florida Board of Nursing; Georgia Board of Nursing). The nurse's primary commitment is to the patient, whether an individual, family, group, or community (ANA Code of Ethics for Nurses).Additional duties include but are not limited to:

• Decision-making utilizing the nursing process for complex situations that effect performance outcomes at the point of care.
• Collaborates using the group process to solve problems.
• Strategic planning long-term goals for the unit, team or workgroup which impacts operations or resources.
• Complete admission assessment, coordinate screening and stabilization, provide a range of stabilization and medical support services, care coordination and discharge planning.
• Conduct ongoing assessments of physical and mental health, following prescriber's orders, managing and administering medications and health teaching and counseling
• Demonstrate skills and competence to establish supportive trusting relationships with persons with severe and persistent mental illnesses and respect for consumer rights and personal preferences in treatment are essential.
• Conduct patient psycho education groups and activity groups
• Safely administer medications to patients as ordered
• Ensure patient safety by
• Participation in Interdisciplinary Patient Care Team Conferences
• Project a professional, friendly, helpful demeanor
• Direct and manage CNA assignments and patient care

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: Rotating Weekends and Holidays; 07:30am - 08:00pm or 07:30pm - 08:00am
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Available
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required
Requirements
Conditions of Employment

• U.S. Citizenship; non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• You may be required to serve a probationary period.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.

Qualifications
Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.
Basic Requirements:

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• English Language Proficiency. In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), 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 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). The approving official may authorize a waiver of the requirement for ACEN or CCNE accreditation of any degree in nursing provided the college or university has regional accreditation from an accrediting body recognized by the Department of Education at the time of the candidate's graduation and the composite qualifications of the applicant warrant such consideration. In cases of graduates of foreign schools of professional nursing, possession of current, full, active and unrestricted registration will meet the requirement of graduation from an approved school of professional nursing. OR The completion of coursework equivalent to a nursing degree in a MSN Bridge Program that qualifies for professional nursing registration constitutes the completion of an approved course of study of professional nursing. Students should submit the certificate of professional nursing to sit for the NCLEX to the VA along with a copy of the MSN transcript. (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.
• 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.

Preferred Experience:

• Minimum of 1 year of RN clinical experience preferably on a Psychiatric Crisis Stabilization Unit or Psychiatric Unit with above average clinical and health assessment skills
• Excellent skills in interpersonal relations with the health care teams and the general public
• Excellent customer service skills in dealing with routine visitor/patient needs and requests
• Excellent de-escalation skills and therapeutic approach to patient disruptive behavior
• Excellent electronic documentation skills
• Demonstrated excellent Behavioral Intervention skills
• Above average critical thinking skills
• Important individual characteristics: customer oriented, creativity, flexibility, ability to work in fast-paced environment and be self-directed

Grade Determinations: The following criteria must be met in determining the grade assignment of candidates, and if appropriate, the level within a grade:

• Nurse I Level I - An Associate Degree (ADN) or Diploma in Nursing, with no additional nursing practice/experience required.
• Nurse I Level II - An ADN or Diploma in Nursing and approximately 1 year of nursing practice/experience; OR an ADN or Diploma in Nursing and a bachelor's degree in a related field with no additional nursing practice/experience; OR a Bachelor's of Science in Nursing (BSN) with no additional nursing practice/experience.
• Nurse I Level III - An ADN or Diploma in Nursing and approximately 2-3 years of nursing practice/experience; OR an ADN or Diploma in Nursing and a Bachelor's degree in a related field and approximately 1-2 years of nursing practice/experience; OR a BSN with approximately 1-2 years of nursing practice/experience; OR a Master's degree in nursing (MSN) or related field with a BSN and no additional nursing practice/experience.
• Nurse II - A BSN with approximately 2-3 years of nursing practice/experience; OR ADN or Diploma in Nursing and a Bachelor's degree in a related field and approximately 2-3 years of nursing practice/experience; OR a Master's degree in nursing or related field with a BSN and approximately 1-2 years of nursing practice/experience; OR a Doctoral degree in nursing or meets basic requirements for appointment and has doctoral degree in a related field with no additional nursing practice/experience required.
• Nurse III - Master's degree in nursing or related field with BSN and approximately 2-3 years of nursing practice/experience; OR a Doctoral degree and approximately 2-3 years of nursing practice/experience.

Note regarding MSN degrees: If your MSN was obtained via a Bridge Program that qualifies for professional nursing registration, a BSN is not required.
Reference: VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G-6 Nurse Qualification Standard. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office.
Physical Requirements: Incumbent must possess the mental and physical ability to satisfactorily perform the duties of the proposed assignment. Physical requirements include visual acuity, keen hearing, clear distinctive speech, and manual dexterity. May involve potentially long periods of lifting, carrying, pulling, pushing, reaching above shoulder, walking, standing, sitting, kneeling, and repeated bending. Transferring patients and objects may be required. Safe patient handling equipment is provided. The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations, operative/invasive procedures, or home settings. The incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium, dementia, or psychiatric disorders. The incumbent must be a mature, flexible, sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations, able to shift priorities based on patient needs. Must complete annual Employee Health as a condition of employment. The incumbent who provides care in home settings or other off-site locations may be required to drive, sit and/or ride in GSA-vehicles for long periods of time.
Education
IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.
Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.
Note: If your school has changed names, or is no longer in existence, you must provide this information in your application.
Note: If your school was accredited at the time of graduation, but is no longer listed on the ACEN, CCNE, or DAPIP website, you must provide documentation of accreditation with your application packet. (Please verify, failure to do so can result in an ineligible rating.)
Additional information
This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.
This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.
VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.
Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process.
If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

• Benefits
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