Summary

Supports the Nurse Manager in leading Acute Psychiatry operations - ensuring safe - high-quality - patient-centered care. Provides clinical oversight - guides staff development - promotes evidence-based practice - and fosters interdisciplinary collaboration. Enhances patient experience - supports process improvement - and helps maintain regulatory and practice standards

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/13103008
• 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
• *Note: Foreign education programs/degrees are not creditable as related degrees
• Preferred Experience: Evidence of Belt/Systems Redesign training/experience/certification
• Coach/Mentor certification
• Professional Governance participation
• Project/Change Management experience/training (combination of experience and training is acceptable)
• Evidence-Based Practice experience/training (combination of experience and training is acceptable)
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: This position may require potentially long periods of continued Heavy lifting of 45 pounds and over - Moderate lifting of 15-44 pounds - Heavy carrying of 45 pounds and over - Moderate carrying of 15-44 pounds - Light carrying under 15 pounds - Straight pulling for 1-2 hours - Pushing for 1 hour - Reaching above shoulder - Use of fingers - Walking for 8-10 hours - Standing for 8-10 hours - Repeated bending .5 hours - Both legs required - Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously - Near vision correctable at 13"" to 16"" to Jaeger 1 to 4 - Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other - Both eyes required - Depth perception - Ability to distinguish basic colors - Ability to distinguish shades of colors - Hearing (aid may be permitted) Mental and emotional stability - Simple grasping for 2-4 hours - Sitting for 8 hours - Fine manipulation for 4-8 hours - Twisting for 2 hours.

Duties

• CTVHCS is in the process of making a cultural change - shifting from a disease-focused approach to a health and wellbeing approach - in order to implement the Whole Health System of Care
• This is a VA-wide initiative to provide a comprehensive and systematic approach to improve healthcare delivery at all stages of Veteran care
• This entails moving from an episodic - \"siloed\" approach to an interdisciplinary - holistic approach - emphasizing self-care in the larger context of well-being
• All staff in this facility will be part of this process - shifting the focus from the question - \"What's the matter with you?\" to the question - \"What matters to you - and how can we help you live your best life?\" This strategy also involves integrating a full range of conventional approaches with Complementary and Integrative Health (CIH) approaches in order to optimize lifelong health and well-being - as defined by the Veteran - rather than narrowly focusing on disease management
• Major duties include - but are not limited to: Supporting the Nurse Manager in daily operations of the Acute Psychiatry unit - ensuring safe - timely - and high-quality patient care
• Overseeing staff orientation - training - competency development - and providing input on performance evaluations
• Assisting with staffing functions including drafting schedules - monitoring workload - and coordinating leave for supervisory review
• Applying clinical judgment to guide and support nursing staff in planning - delivering - and evaluating evidence-based patient care
• Promoting interdisciplinary collaboration to remove barriers - improve processes - and enhance patient outcomes across the continuum of care
• Ensuring compliance with accreditation - regulatory standards - VA policies - and nursing practice guidelines
• Participating in hiring processes - including interviewing - providing recommendations - and supporting onboarding activities
• Monitoring work assignments - documenting issues - and assisting with fact-finding to support managerial decisions
• Leading or supporting unit-based performance improvement initiatives and integrating evidence-based practice into care delivery
• Enhancing patient and family engagement - promoting a therapeutic environment - and ensuring a positive patient experience
• Serving as a role model and clinical resource - demonstrating leadership - ethical practice - and adherence to high-reliability principles
• Supporting staff in addressing ethical issues - patient advocacy needs - and safety concerns within the psychiatric care environment
• Ensuring appropriate care for diverse age groups and populations - incorporating age-specific and culturally sensitive practices
• Upholding privacy - security - and data protection requirements in all clinical and administrative activities
• 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: Full-time - Monday - Friday - 11:30 a.m
• - 8:00 p.m
• Telework: Not Available
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized