The VA VCBHCS Mental Health Service is seeking a Psychiatrist (Behavioral Health Integration Program) located in Corpus Christi, Texas. This position is also being announced as Psychiatrist (BHIP). If interested in applying through the NP announcement, apply to announcement: CAZM-12037134-HL

Duties

The Nurse Practitioner conducts initial psychiatric evaluations, follow-up visits, consultations, group therapy/treatment, medication management, crisis assessment and intervention to Veterans. Nurse Practitioners are capable of assessment and treatment across the full spectrum of DSM 5 diagnoses. Modalities of care include face-to-face interventions and telemental health (TMH). The incumbent may provide cross coverage to other clinical sites throughout the VA Texas Valley Coastal Bend Health Care System via telemental health as needed. In general, the Nurse Practitioner is responsible for providing psychiatric care in an outpatient setting, identifying Veterans' mental and medical health needs and designing diagnostic and therapeutic plans to meet these needs. He/She serves as the medical subject matter expert within their assigned team and may be responsible for coordinating activities of other health service personnel, resolving problems affecting Veteran care, and providing appropriate education for the Veteran and/or family members regarding the Veteran's care, condition, and its management. - Performs an advanced comprehensive mental health history and mental status exam considering the psychosocial, emotion, ethnic and cultural aspects of health. - Uses health assessment information and critical thinking to identify mental health concerns and risks, normal and abnormal states and formulate differential diagnoses. - Uses scientific knowledge to deliver evidence-based care to the Veteran. - Identifies and requests the mental health appropriate lab and imaging studies for Veterans and can interpret the requested tests using critical thinking. - Communicates with Veterans and/or Veterans' designated surrogate, the diagnoses/options and likely response to care and common side effects of treatment. - Documents mental health assessments, clinical data, diagnoses, management, and conclusions in a timely manner using the electronic medical record. Initiates timely referrals for subspecialty care as appropriate. - Anticipates and recognizes changing urgent and emergent problems and intervenes appropriately. - Actively provides counseling to promote mental health, reduce risk factors and prevent disease and disability. - Recognizes environmental health problems affecting Veterans and provides health protection interventions. - Selects, prescribes and analyzes correct dosages, routes and frequencies of medications to include psychotropic medications and utilizes non-pharmacologic evidence-based treatment modalities based on relevant individual needs, e.g., illness, age, gender, previous adverse drug reactions and medicines received from outside providers. - Medicines are documented in the Medicine Reconciliation Note as per health system policy. - Actively seeks out health promotion opportunities for Veterans. Works closely with the mental health team to provide coordinated care. - Evaluates the Veteran's response to the mental health care provided and the effectiveness of care. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday (8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.) 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

Requirements

Qualifications

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 the appropriate State-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). 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. Nurse Practitioners and Clinical Nurse Specialists. On and after [March 17, 2009], registered nurses appointed or otherwise moving into these assignments must meet and maintain the following additional qualifications. This includes employees appointed before [March 17, 2009], who obtain such qualifications on or after March 17, 2009. Nurse Practitioners. A nurse practitioner must be licensed or otherwise recognized as a nurse practitioner in a State, possess a master's degree from a program accredited by the NLNAC or CCNE, and maintain full and current certification as a nurse practitioner from the American Nurses Association or another nationally recognized certifying body. [The certification must be in the specialty to which the individual is being appointed or selected. Preferred Experience: Certification in Psychiatry Experience in addition medicine and medication assisted therapy. Experience treating patients with substance use disorders. Demonstrates a high level or practice using evidence based medicine principles for patients who have complex illnesses. Grade Determinations: The following criteria must be met in determining the grade assignment of candidates, and if appropriate, the level within a grade: 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. Reference: VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G-2 Physician Qualification Standard. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office. Physical Requirements: Moderate lifting, 15-44 pounds; Moderate carrying, 15-44 pounds; Reaching above shoulder; Use of fingers; Both hands required; Walking (4-8hrs); Standing (4-8hrs); Both legs required; 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 permitted); Mental and emotional stability.

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.

Contacts

• Address VA TX Valley Coastal Bend HCS 2601 Veterans Drive Harlingen, TX 78550 US
• Name: VISN 17 SSU USAS Group
• Email: [email protected]