Job opening: Nurse Practitioner - Mental Health
Salary: $92 742 - 168 663 per year
Published at: Sep 08 2023
Employment Type: Full-time
The Cincinnati VA Medical Center is seeking a Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (NP). Primary mental health care involves relationship-based, continuous and comprehensive services, necessary for the promotion of optimal mental health, prevention, and treatment of psychiatric disorders and health maintenance. NP will work on site regularly at both the Florence and Dearborn CBOC locations.
Bargaining Unit Position
Duties
The VA has been named one of the Top 5 Best Places to Work in the federal government.
Cincinnati is a family friendly, affordable, metropolitan city with great parks, fine arts, and food scene. With both an urban energy and southern charm, the Cincinnati region has a vibrant and unique culture that flows from the Ohio River to the things to do, landmarks and events all around town. With major league sports, big-city arts, fun festivals and award-winning attractions, it can be hard to decide what to do in our dynamic river region! https://www.frommers.com/destinations/cincinnati
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 must be maintained.
Nurse Practitioner - Mental Health
The Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) provides primary mental health care to patients seeking mental health services at both the Florence and Dearborn CBOC Facilities.
Primary mental health care involves relationship-based, continuous and comprehensive services, necessary for the promotion of optimal mental health, prevention, and treatment of psychiatric disorders and health maintenance. This includes assessment, diagnosis, and management of mental health and psychiatric disorders across the lifespan.
The PMHNP is a health care professional credentialed to practice as a specialist in psychiatric mental health nursing. The PMHNP can diagnose, prescribe, and provide psychotherapy as directed by their education and training. The scope of practice is dictated by the RN and APRN regulations in the state where the license is held. Core functions include, but are not limited to, practicing independently, managing previously diagnosed and undiagnosed patients. Using advanced health skills to differentiate between normal variations and abnormal findings. Assessing the impact of acute and chronic healthcare problems on psychiatric treatment. The APRN will provide care including health promotion, screening and the Whole Health Model of care and disease prevention to patients, families, and caregivers.
Major responsibilities include:
1. Perform initial histories and physical examinations.
2. Provide ongoing outpatient care for assigned patients where applicable.
3. Screen patients to determine need for further care.
4. Prescribe medications within defined scope of practice.
5. Order diagnostic studies, such as laboratory tests, x-rays, electrocardiograms (EKG's) etc.
6. Review need for and order health promotion and disease prevention activities.
7. Initiate, respond, and expedite request for consultations, special tests, and studies.
8. Provide psychotherapy services as appropriate.
9. Participate in interprofessional focused patient chart reviews, team meetings, team huddles, as applicable.
10. Facilitates the transition of patients across levels of care.
11. Utilizes comprehensive psychiatric evaluation skills to recognize clinical signs and symptoms of psychiatric illness, and to differentiate between pathophysiological and psychopathological conditions.
12. Performs and interprets mental status examinations.
The APRN working in the Mental Health Care Line is accountable to the Chief Nurse Mental Health Care Line or designee. The incumbent is under the supervision of a Nurse Manager or other immediate supervisor who provides the administrative supervision and general instruction, plans and assigns work, assigns time schedules, approves leave, and completes performance evaluations. Clinical supervision is provided by the medical director of the program, physician, or other provider. Incumbent is responsible for being self-directed in the delivery of patient care under moderate supervision and instruction by the supervisor.
Preferred Experience: 1 year previous Mental Health Nursing Experience
Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm
Compressed Work Schedule: May be Authorized
Telework: Not Authorized
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required
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:
Citizenship: Citizen of the United States. (Noncitizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3g, this part.)
English Language Proficiency. RNs appointed to direct patient care positions must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) and 7407(d).
Graduation from School of Nursing:
Graduate of a school of professional nursing approved by the appropriate State agency and accredited by one of the following accrediting bodies at the time the program was completed by the applicant.
The National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC), an accrediting arm of the National League for Nursing located at 61 Broadway, 33rd Floor, New York, New York 10006 or call (800) 669-1656 extension 153. The NLNAC accredits all levels of nursing programs. Additional information may be obtained from the NLNAC web site; or
The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), an accrediting arm of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN). The CCNE accredits bachelors and master's degree programs, and is located at One Dupont Circle N.W., Suite 530, Washington, DC 20036 or call (202) 463-6930. Additional information may be obtained from the CCNE web site.
Registration:
Condition of Employment. A registered nurse (RN) will have a current, full, active, and unrestricted registration as a graduate professional nurse in a State, Territory, or Commonwealth (i.e., Puerto Rico) of the U.S. or in the District of Columbia. The appointing official may waive this registration if the RN is to serve in a country other than the U.S. and the RN has registration in that country (e.g., Philippines). The RN must maintain a current, full, active and unrestricted registration to continue employment with VA.
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.)
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 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.
Physical Demands: Per VA Directive and Handbook 5019 - a physical examination will be conducted based on the physical requirements of the position. A physical examination prior to placement is required. This position requires visual acuity, keen hearing, clear distinctive speech, and manual dexterity. This position requires potentially long periods of sitting at a desk operating a computer. 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. Must complete annual Employee Health requirements, such as annual TB screening or testing, as a condition of employment. The incumbent who provides care in home settings or other off-site locations may be required to drive and/or ride in GSA-vehicles.
BLS/ACLS Requirements: Current certification in BLS is required for all staff providing direct patient care, and police. Additionally, current ACLS is required for patient care staff that work in specified or high-risk areas (SICU/ICU/CCU/MICU/PACU/ED/and all procedure suites using moderate sedation, etc.). If you are selected for a position which requires BLS/ACLS certification, you will be required to have proof of certification prior to being boarded for appointment with VA. If selected, obtain such certification to avoid any delays in the hiring process.
Reference:
VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G-6 Nurse Qualification Standard.
VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3
These references can be found in the local Human Resources Office.
Education
IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING YOUR EDUCATION:
- Click on the following links to verify you are a 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:
- The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) or
- The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
- If your school has changed names, or is no longer in existence, you must provide this information in your application.
- If your school was accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) or the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) at the time of graduation but is no longer listed on the ACEN website or the CCNE website, you must provide documentation of accreditation with your application packet.
- A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.
We will not make assumptions regarding your education. Please provide proof that you meet the education requirement.
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 Cincinnati VA Medical Center
3200 Vine Street
Cincinnati, OH 45220
US
- Name: Amber Clark
- Email: [email protected]