The Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner is committed to providing safe, basic care to Veterans receiving care from the G.V. (Sonny) Montgomery VA Medical Center and associated Community Based Outreach Clinics (CBOCs). The Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner will assess, evaluate, and provide treatment for Veterans in the Mental Health Service. Services will be provided both in-person at the Meridian CBOC and via telehealth.

Duties

Board certification as an NP from a VA-approved certifying body required. An advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) has prescriptive authority and provides care for an identified patient panel in collaboration with a physician. Core functions include diagnosing and treating acute and chronic health care problems, performing adult care check-ups, and prescribing medication and treatments. Diagnoses and manages minor trauma including suturing. Teaches health promotion and disease prevention to patients. Duties include but are not limited to: Perform a comprehensive psychiatric evaluation as needed, with an emphasis on mental health history - including age specific assessments. The assessment includes evaluation of mental status, current and history of violence, suicidal or self-harm behavior, substance use, level of functioning, health behaviors, trauma, sexual behaviors, and social and developmental history Performs and accurately documents appropriate systems and symptoms-focused physical examinations, completes H&P, with emphasis on the mental status exam and neurological exam. Develop a treatment plan for mental health problems and psychiatric disorders based on biopsychosocial theories, evidence-based standards of care and practice guidelines. Provide direct mental health care to the patients referred from primary or specialty clinics including the treatment and management of acute and chronic psychiatric disorders and mental health problems. Differentiates psychiatric presentation of medical conditions from psychiatric disorders and arrange appropriate evaluation and follow-up Prescribes buprenorphine and other medication assisted therapies for addictive disorders. Order, review and interpret findings of relevant diagnostic and laboratory test for management of the mental health patient. Collaborates as a member of the interdisciplinary mental health team, working interdependently with other health care providers in response to the health care needs of such a vulnerable population. Develops a differential diagnosis derived from the collection and synthesis of the assessment; and diagnose commonly occurring complications of mental health problems and psychiatric disorders, including physical health problems. Coordinate the transition of veterans and families under mental health care from mental health care settings, general health care settings, and community agencies to provide continuity of care and support for the veteran, family, and other health care providers. Educate the patient and their family on the psychiatric illness and medication management as appropriate. Provide follow-up care for the veterans Conduct individual and group therapy as trained. Manage psychiatric emergencies - including evaluating the walk-ins coming into the clinic. Coordinate referral and ongoing access to primary and other health care services for the veterans. 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: 8:00am to 4:30pm Telework: Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

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: Experience working in outpatient mental health settings, including via telehealth Experience working with individuals diagnosed with trauma, addictive disorders and serious mental illnesses Experience completing suicide risk assessments and safety plans Able to prescribe medications for alcohol, opioid and other substance use disorders (including buprenorphine) 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: This position requires visual acuity, keen hearing, clear distinctive speech, and manual dexterity. This position requires potentially long periods of continued walking, standing, stooping, sitting, bending, pulling, and pushing. Transferring patients and objects may be required. The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations or operative/invasive procedures. 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.

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 GV Sonny Montgomery VAMC 1500 East Woodrow Wilson Drive Jackson, MS 39216 US
• Name: Regina Van Buren
• Phone: 713-360-9890
• Email: [email protected]