The Primary Care Mental Health Integration (PCMHI) Registered Nurse (RN) is responsible for providing competent, evidence-based care to assigned patients. The PCMHI will assist in directing the provision of nursing education, orientation, competencies and providing quality improvement and outcomes utilization consultation. Currently there is one vacancy at the Kearny Mesa VA Clinic.

Duties

The PCMHI RN assumes the following major duties and responsibilities: 1. Assesses, plans, implements and evaluates care based on age-specific components. 2. Assumes responsibility for the coordination of care, patient and family education, patient self-management, treatment planning interventions, adjustments, and updates, as well as customer satisfaction. 3. Educates PACT staff and Veterans on PC-MHI programs and resources available at the VA and community. 4. VA/DOD guidelines are reviewed with PACT providers for management of depression or PTSD/anxiety. 5. Educates PACT staff and Veterans on PC-MHI programs and resources available at the VA and community. 6. Collaborates with Primary Care Providers (PCP) and VA nursing staff in the management of mental and behavioral health needs presenting in the primary care population. 7. Influences treatment goals, interventions and outcomes by collaborating with members of the interdisciplinary team. 8. Provides educational resources, as appropriate, to Veterans regarding their diagnosis, management of presenting symptoms, health promotion, coping skills, and functional restoration. 9. Provides co-located access to mental health clinical assessment for those experiencing mental health symptoms (either ad hoc or in response to screening by PACT nursing staff or Licensed Independent Provider (LIP)). 10. Obtains pertinent mental health data/history using the Behavioral Health Lab (BHL) software to determine lifestyle patterns; pain issues; sleep/activity levels; support systems; cultural, social, and ethnic factors; patient treatment preferences and goals. 11. Strives to prevent the development of more severe symptoms through early recognition and intervention by mental health providers, either co-located or by consult/referral to appropriate Mental Health Services. 12. Supports primary care-based mental health treatment (including prescribing of psychotropic medication) by educating the Veteran on their awareness and need to report side effects to their provider, what desired effects would look like, barriers to adherence to prescribed regime, and expected progress over time. 13. Participates in the PACT team meetings in order to anticipate or identify mental health needs and behavioral health components associated with health conditions. 14. Utilizes the Primary Care Clinical Dashboard or other methods of enhancing case identification (e.g., automated case finder). 15. Collaborates with primary care providers to incorporate patient preferences, needs, goals, and objectives into the treatment plans using recovery language. 16. Initiate consults to mental health services as deemed appropriate by the team in collaboration with the Veterans. 17. Follows-up with Veterans' who missed referral appointments to specialty mental health services. Confirms follow-up appointments, as needed, in mental health and medical care clinics. 18. Schedules follow-up care management appointments as appropriate with Veterans to assist PACT with management of mental health needs/issues. 19. Assists with the completion of outstanding or required Clinical Reminders, Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (CSSRS), Suicide Behavior Overdose Reports (SBOR), and Safety Plans as needed or indicated at the PC-MHI NCM 's discretion. 20. Completes Safe Patient Handling and Mobility training on hire and as designated by Nurse Manager, and Associate Nurse Executive of Mental Health. 21. Maintains appropriate level of PMDB per Nurse Manager and Associate Nurse Executive of Mental Health. 22. Other duties as designed by the IMPACT Unit Co-Section Chiefs, ANE/Mental Health and/or Nurse Manager. 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 Preferred Experience: 2 years Outpatient Mental Health Experience; Care Management Experience; Bachelors in Nursing, or currently enrolled in a Bachelors of Nursing Program; Psychiatric Mental Health Board Certification or Case Management Board Certification (ANCC). Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 0700-1730 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

Basic Requirements: English Language Proficiency. In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7403(f), 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 the appropriate accrediting agency and accredited 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); OR Individuals attending a master's level bridge program in nursing who have completed coursework equivalent to a bachelor's level degree in Nursing may have opportunity to become registered as a nurse with a state licensing board prior to completion of the bridge program. Upon achievement of a State license, the individual may be appointed on temporary basis and later converted to a permanent appointment upon successful completion and graduation from the bridge program. (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 to warrant an appointment as a Nurse who has completed an associated degree/entry level Nursing education program. Credit for foreign nursing education higher that associate degree/entry level requires a formal degree equivalency validation from a recognized equivalency evaluation accepted by VA such as International Consultants of Delaware (ICD). 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. Graduate Nurse Technician (GNT) Exception: Candidates who otherwise meet the basic education requirements, but do not possess the required licensure, may be appointed at the entry step of the grade and level applicable to the completed nursing education as a GNT on a 120-day temporary appointment while actively pursuing licensure (may be extended up to two years on a case-by-case-basis.) NOTE: Grandfathering Provision - All persons currently employed in VHA in 0610 series and performing the duties as described in the qualification standard on the effective date of the standard (1/29/2024) are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held including positive education and licensure/certification. Grade Determinations: The following Scope, Education and Dimension criteria must be met in determining the grade assignment of candidates, and if appropriate, the level within a grade. The Dimension requirements (Practice, Veteran/Patient Driven Care, Leadership, Professional Development and Evidence-Based Practice/Research) are detailed for each grade and level within the online assessment: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12353536. Grade/Level Scope Education Nurse I, Level I Delivers fundamental, knowledge-based care to assigned clients while developing technical competencies. An Associate Degree (ADN) or Diploma in Nursing, with no additional professional nursing required. Nurse I, Level II Demonstrates integration of biopsychosocial concepts, cognitive skills and technically competent practice in providing care to clients with basic or complex. An ADN or Diploma in Nursing AND 1 year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I, Level 1 ;OR a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) with no additional professional nursing experience required. Nurse I, Level III Demonstrates proficiency in practice based on conscious and deliberate planning. Self-directed in goal setting for managing complex client situations. An ADN or Diploma in Nursing AND 2 years of professional nursing experience in which one year is equivalent to Nurse I, Level 2; OR a BSN and 1 year of professional nursing experience equivalent to the Nurse I, Level 2; OR a Master's degree in nursing (MSN) and no additional professional nursing experience; OR a Master's degree in a *related field with a BSN and no additional professional nursing experience. Nurse II Demonstrates leadership in delivering and improving holistic care through collaborative strategies with others. A BSN with 2 years of professional nursing equivalent to Nurse I, Level 3; OR an MSN with one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I, Level 3; OR a Master's degree in a *related field with a BSN and one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I, Level 3; OR a Doctoral degree in Nursing with no professional nursing experience; OR a Doctoral degree in a *related field with a BSN with no additional professional nursing experience. Nurse III Executes position responsibilities that demonstrate leadership, experience and creative approaches to management of complex client care beyond the immediate practice setting. MSN and 2 years of specialized nursing experience, one of which is equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III; OR a Master's degree in *related field with BSN and two years of specialized nursing experience, one of which is equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III; OR a Doctoral degree in Nursing with and one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III; OR a Doctoral degree in a *related field with a BSN and one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III. *Note: Foreign education programs/degrees are not creditable as related degrees. 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 San Diego VA Medical Center 3350 La Jolla Village Drive San Diego, CA 92161 US
• Name: Ruben Cabral
• Email: [email protected]