The SAVAHCS Mental Health Service values cultural diversity across our staff and training programs. Mental Health Service leaders are deeply committed to fostering an environment that is highly sensitive to and appreciative of all aspects of diversity. Our staff represent a variety of cultural backgrounds, competencies, interests, and theoretical orientations.

Duties

The Behavior Health Interdisciplinary Program, Registered Nurse demonstrates the possession of advanced practice skill and judgment with at least 2 years in an area of specialized in psychiatric nursing practice with a wide range of mental health patients to include outpatient settings. The BHIP RN is expected to provide consultation as well as guidance to colleagues within their scope of practice. In addition, the incumbent is expected to role model effective interventions, skills, and strategies working with Veterans within the Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP) who require psychiatric care. The incumbent will be expected to provide orientation to less experienced RN Care Coordinators as well as develop innovations in practice interventions. The BHIP RN works in coordination with the BHIP Supervisor on the RN's respective BHIP team and the BHIP Program Coordinator to assist in program development for BHIP nursing and care coordination. The incumbent provides support and continuity of care for 1 to 2 psychiatric provider patient panels in BHIP. The incumbent recognizes, manages, and develops treatment planning for the mental health problems of patients safely and effectively, recognizing own scope of practice. The incumbent develops and coordinates seamless transitioning of patients throughout the outpatient care process with a focus on recovery planning needs. The incumbent demonstrates sound clinical judgment in assessing, planning, implementing, documenting, and evaluation Mental Health patients. The incumbent must possess thorough knowledge of mental health patient management policies, clinical documentation requirements, current standards of care, and compliance guidelines. Specific mental health patient management policies include crisis management, medication management, and consult management The position requires extensive familiarity with clinical settings; skill with computers; skill in organizing and maintaining records and record summaries; and English language proficiency. The position requires the ability to provide psychoeducation and counseling to patients and the ability to function independently in assessment triage of mental health and medical conditions also requires familiarity with a variety of treatments for mental health and substance use disorders. The position requires the ability to work with and communicate with a variety of clinicians, including the care coordinator's assigned psychiatric providers, other clinicians within BHIP, the Mental Health Service, and primary care. The incumbent will work face to face 2 to 3 days per week at SAVAHCS Bldg 90 Monday- Friday, and telework from home 2 or 3 days per week eight hour tours as determined by the agency policy. 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: Monday-Friday 8:00AM-4:30PM Telework: Available as determined by the agency policy 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: RN with VA experience 2 years, Mental Health experience 2 years, RN experience 5 years are preferred. BSN or MSN preferred. RN II or III levels are most suitable for this position. Preferred incumbent with computers and IT systems , processes knowledge and skilled at keyboard tying. (Main Campus Building 90, MHC, BHIP) 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. 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 (45 lbs and over); Heavy carrying (45 lbs and over); Straight pulling and pushing; reaching above shoulder; use of fingers; both hands required; walking and standing up to 8 hours; repeated bending; Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; hearing aid permitted.

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 Tucson VA Medical Center 3601 South Sixth Avenue Tucson, AZ 85723 US
• Name: Elena Gonzalez
• Phone: 858-623-1850
• Email: [email protected]