This APRN position is in the Addiction Treatment Program (ATP), within Mental Health Service/Psychology. The APRN is licensed as both registered nurse and nurse practitioner with advanced clinical knowledge and competence in an expanded nursing specialty role.The individual provides nursing care, management and treatment of the patient with acute and chronic mental health conditions, in collaboration with the physician/psychiatrist and through the implementation of standardized procedures.

Duties

The Advanced Practice Registered Nurse is expected to provide direct patient care by performing comprehensive psychiatric and substance use assessments and consultations on both urgent and routine bases and in multidisciplinary collaboration with the ATP attending psychiatrist and other relevant providers. The incumbent will formulate a differential diagnosis based on DSM-5 criteria, prescribe pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments in the direct management of acute and chronic psychiatric and substance use disorders, as well as promote general wellness and the prevention of illness. Directly providing psychotherapy and/or psychoeducation in both group and individual formats is also a core component of the Advanced Practice Registered Nurse's duties. The APRN may also be required treat patients within other areas of the Mental Health Service Line (including, but not limited to, OTP, SARRTP, psychiatry consult-liaison service, etc.) due to staffing shortages, cross coverage needs, or as otherwise indicated. In collaboration with ATP Registered Nurse staff, the Advanced Practice Registered Nurse is responsible for the administration of injectable medications, ordering and interpretation of laboratory results, and maintenance of the clinic crash cart and breathalyzers. Specific Duties Include: - Conduct comprehensive psychiatric, substance use, and medical assessments and provide ongoing clinical care to patients admitted to ATP within the practitioner's scope of practice. - Provide assessment and management of withdrawal states as appropriate within the practitioner's scope of practice. - Diagnose and treat acute and psychiatric and substance use conditions as appropriate within the practitioner's scope of practice. - Order and or interpret laboratory and diagnostic studies as appropriate within the practitioner's scope of practice. - Administer point of care urine drug screens, interpret results, and document appropriately in the electronic medical record as clinically indicated and/or as requested by ATP staff not qualified to administer and interpret these tests. - Prescribe and or evaluate pharmacotherapeutic regimens as appropriate within the practitioner's scope of practice. - Provide psychoeducation to patients and families about diagnoses, treatment plans, medications, laboratory results, and other clinically relevant information as needed. - Administer injectable medications including, but not limited to, vaccines and immunizations, antipsychotics, naltrexone, and buprenorphine. - Coordinate general outpatient care for ATP patients. - Provide general case management and ATP "Primary Counselor" services to ATP patients. - Facilitate transfer of patients to inpatient psychiatric unit or emergency room as clinically indicated. - Formulate and maintain patient treatment plans and suicide safety plans in an ongoing manner and as per relevant protocols. - Maintain appropriate clinical documentation in the electronic medical record as well as associated patient lists used for collaborative treatment planning within a multidisciplinary team. - Consult and collaborate with inpatient and outpatient clinical services as clinically appropriate. - Maintain and administer the ATP clinic breathalyzers as per relevant protocols. - Maintain the ATP clinic crash cart as per specified protocols. - Participate in interdisciplinary treatment teams when deemed appropriate. - Participate in interdisciplinary councils, task forces and committees as designated/desired. - Participate in VA Medical Center performance measures and quality improvement activities. - Serves as an educational resource to the patient/family, nursing staff and multidisciplinary treatment team. - Participate in research, education, and professional development by maintaining required competencies, identifying learning needs and seeking appropriate educational offerings. - Participate in professional development of others, acts as a preceptor and or mentor to students and other health care providers. - Other duties as assigned: 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: Telework: Not 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. 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. For the position in this job announcement, certification must be in MENTAL HEALTH, preferably Substance Abuse Treatment). Preferred Experience: Masters of Science Degree in Nursing, or Higher Current or Recent APRN/NP or RN experience in Mental Health, specifically in Substance Abuse Treatment Current (not expired) Basic Life Saving (BLS) Certiication is required NP/APRN Certification in MENTAL HEALTH is required (preferably Substance Abuse Treatment) 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: To perform in a fully successful manner, the indiviaual must have the physical ability to perform job-related duties which require lifting, standing, bending, transferring, stooping, stretching, walking, pushing, or pulling without assistance from another patient care provider or significant other. A health examination must be successfully completed prior to this assignment and periodically thereafter as required by the Employee Health Clinic policy. There will be intermittent exposure to blood and body fluids. The health care field is a very changing spectrum which requires constant updating of knowledge. It is therefore important that the incumbent participates in continuing education that will enhance health care skills and knowledge. Other duties may be assigned in support of the facilities mission.

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 Edward Hines Junior Hospital 5000 South 5th Avenue Hines, IL 60141 US
• Name: Irene Balas
• Phone: 708-640-4736
• Email: [email protected]