The Battle Creek VA is recruiting for a Registered Nurse to serve with Mental Health Nursing Service.

Duties

Relocation may be authorized for highly qualified applicants. VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Nurse Total Rewards Mental Health staff nurses typically provide care to patients with complex, acute or chronic psychiatric conditions, patients with cognitive impairments and/or patients in acute withdrawal from substance abuse. He/she is knowledgeable about the commitment process and all other legal issues surrounding care of the committed patient including elopement and the various levels of ground searches. The Mental Health staff nurse is able to assess for the presence of suicidal and homicidal ideation and provide the appropriate level of observation. The Mental Health staff nurse utilizes the nursing process when assessing, planning, implementing, evaluating, and documenting nursing care provided. Performs basic physical, psychological and social assessments. Demonstrates a beginning ability to identify and prioritize care needs. Documents outcomes related to identified patient needs. Evaluates the patient's response to nursing interventions revising the care plan with assistance as necessary. Implements the plan of care. Demonstrates accountability for management of patient assignment. Demonstrates knowledge and/or required safety skills in area of assignment, to include emergency preparedness, hazardous materials, fire plan, equipment failure emergency plan and utility outage response procedures. Documents nursing process including patient/family/significant other education and discharge planning in an accurate and timely manner (per policy). Administers and documents medications and treatments according to policy (as assigned). Implements nursing and physician orders in a timely and accurate manner. Provides safe care and conserves resources effectively. Conforms to professional standards of practice and complies with patient care standards. You may be assigned to the following areas: 14-1 Substance Abuse Residential Treatment 14-2 PTSD Residential Treatment Program 22 Psychosocial Residential Rehabilitation 39-1 North Inpatient Mental Health Acute Care 39-1 West Inpatient Mental Health Acute Care 39-2 Inpatient Mental Health Geriatric Unit Pay: Competitive salary, regular salary increases, potential for performance awards Paid Time Off: Up to 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: Sunday through Saturday. 7:00am to 7:30pm OR 7:00pm to 7:30am. 80 hours per pay period (2 weeks) Hours may be rotated or extended based on the needs of the Medical Center and our Veterans. Compressed/Flexible: Not available Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: May be Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): 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. 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: Heavy Lifting 50 lbs and over (intermittently); Carrying up to 45 lbs (intermittently); Repeated bending; Straight Pulling up to 45 lbs (intermittently); Straight Pushing up to 45 lbs (intermittently); Stooping (intermittently); Squatting (intermittently); Kneeling (occasionally); Use of both arms; Use of both hands; Use of fingers; Overhead work, both arms (intermittently); Prolonged walking (up to 4 hours/day); Prolonged standing (up to 4 hours/day); Sitting (up to 2 hours/day); Far Vision - correctable in one eye to 20/20 and 20/40 in the other; Near Vision - correctable to read newsprint at 13-16 inches; Ability to distinguish shades of colors; Hearing - ability to hear and understand the spoken voice from a distance of 8 feet. Ability to effectively utilize a stethoscope and distinguish breath and heart, and bowel sounds; Emotional and mental stability - ability to effectively perform the essential functions of the position and respond appropriately in emergency situations.

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 Battle Creek VA Medical Center 5500 Armstrong Road Battle Creek, MI 49037 US
• Name: Tracy Mitchell
• Phone: (269) 223-5911
• Email: [email protected]