Registered Nurse (Mental Health)

Summary

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply.

Duties

The Registered Nurse (RN) for the Treatment Resistant Disorder (TRD) Care Coordinator position will serve the Veterans in the Outpatient TRD Program. The patients entering this mode of treatment may have been unsuccessful with therapies for their diagnosis such as major depression, compulsive disorder, eating disorders and some bipolar disorders to name a few. The RN will provide the initial consultation, develop a safe treatment plan with the TRD Provider, schedule the appointment for Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT), Transcranial Stimulation (TMS), and the medication regimen for Esketamine, Clozaril, Lithium or a combination of regimens as needed. The RN for TRD will educate the family, caregiver and veteran on the treatment plan with expected outcomes associated with the treatments. The RN will work closely with the interdisciplinary team to provide the safest and most effective plan of treatment based on individual care needs. The treatments may require lab monitoring, scans, adverse events during treatment and proper intervention as needed. Duties include, but not limited to: Conduct pre-procedure nursing assessments, including vital signs, medication reconciliation, and review of NPO status and informed consent for ECT. Provide direct patient care and continuous monitoring during ECT sessions in collaboration with the treating psychiatrist and anesthesia provider. Monitor Veterans during post-procedure recovery, assessing for cognitive status, hemodynamic stability, and treatment-related side effects (e.g., confusion, headache, nausea, cardiac changes). Document treatment response, cognitive assessments, and adverse events in the electronic health record. Educate Veterans and family members/caregivers on the ECT process, expected effects, and treatment schedule. Coordinate scheduling of ECT series (typically 2-3 times weekly) with psychiatry, anesthesia, and outpatient mental health teams. . Participate in interdisciplinary treatment team meetings to review patient progress and adjust treatment plans. Maintain and monitor ECT equipment, emergency response readiness, and adherence to safety protocols. Ensure compliance with VHA directives, Joint Commission standards, and facility-specific policies governing ECT administration. Support quality improvement initiatives related to treatment-resistant depression outcomes and patient safety. Preferred Experience: Minimum of five years successful Mental Health Nursing practice. Prior Case Management Experience in the Treatment of Resistant Disorders and motor threshold (MT) determination, procedures and clinical observation. Experience in psychiatric/mental health nursing, procedural nursing, or PACU/recovery nursing. Experience with ECT or other neuromodulation therapies. Demonstrated ability to work effectively with patients, families and other members of the interdisciplinary team in an outpatient setting. Demonstrated skills in decision-making, sound clinical judgment and critical-thinking abilities Preferred Certification Psychiatric-mental health nursing (PMH-BC). 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: Monday - Friday, 7:00am - 4:00pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact [email protected], the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized

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/13077952. 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 techn