Registered Nurse(Acute Psychiatric Unit)

Summary

The 2NE Nurse is a professional (RN) who provides high-quality, evidence-based care for a culturally diverse Veteran population with complex behavioral problems. Assumes responsibility for the coordination of care focused on patient education, self-management, and customer satisfaction throughout the continuum of care. These services are provided in the Acute Psychiatric Unit (APU), utilizing all aspects of the nursing process within a collaborative interdisciplinary practice setting.

Duties

The Inpatient Mental Health (MH) Registered Nurse (RN) provides and leads the provision of competent, evidence-based care, the psychiatric MH nurse independently provides patient-centered and recovery-oriented care, milieu management, and maintains self awareness while caring for patients living with MH conditions. They facilitate shift reports, warm hand-offs, and nurse-led psychoeducational groups; use therapeutic communication techniques, practice de-escalation techniques, and utilize recovery-oriented language. The nurse actively participates in MH interdisciplinary treatment team, MH Environment of Care rounds, assumes team lead for psychiatric emergencies, reports and assists in resolving safety concerns, and documents nursing assessments, nursing plan of care, patient safety observations, and environmental safety rounds according to facility policy. The nurse maintains professional boundaries to protect patient vulnerabilities and act in the best interest of the patient. Has oversight of licensed vocational nurses/nursing assistants, as appropriate to the setting. The nurse will assist in directing the provision of nursing education, orientation, competencies and providing quality improvement and outcomes utilization consultation. Provides peers with informal constructive feedback for improvement. Fosters a safe and supportive environment conducive to the professional development of healthcare professionals. Contributes professional nursing perspective in discussions with the MH interdisciplinary team. Supports colleagues through MH knowledge sharing to provide safe, quality nursing care. Shares MH educational findings, experiences, and ideas with peers. Questions clinical practices for the purpose of providing evidence-based care. Participates in activities and strategies to sustain an evidence-based MH practice culture. The RN uses Situation, Background, Assessment, and Recommendation (SBAR) and plan of care (POC) for bedside report, documents using CPRS and ICCA, updates care plans as needed on Mental Health Suite (MHS), and administer medications using the BCMA system. The RN will administer and monitor the effects of medications, including PRN effectiveness, and document accordingly. The RN will follow all protocols, SOPs, and guidelines. The RN effectively implements patient activities toward health promotion and disease prevention, assisting the Veteran in attaining optimal levels of function through direct care, rehabilitation, and supportive measures to maintain the highest level of ADLs. Document hourly rounding, as needed to meet the level of care appropriately. The RN will retrieve and respond to all emails promptly. The RN will conduct and participate in debriefings following patient safety incidents, Code responses, and other urgent situations. Preferred Experience: BSN 3+ years Inpatient Mental Health Nursing Experience 1-2 years Med-Surgical or Acute Care Experience 1 year of Acute or Specialty Care Experience Work Schedule: Mon-Fri 0630-1900 & alternate weekends. Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

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. U.S. Citizenship; non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. 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/13075620. 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