The Mental Health Nurse Practitioner will be located at the Durham Veterans Affairs Health Care System and will be assigned to the acute care mental health services and an outpatient Behavioral Health Inter-Disciplinary (BHIP) team. This Mental Health Nurse Practitioner will be fully qualified and certified to function in both a clinical and administrative role and in accordance with the guidelines and policies of the Durham Veterans Affairs Health Care System.

Duties

OUR MISSION: To fulfill President Lincoln's promise "To care for those who have served in our nation's military and for their families, caregivers, and survivors" - by serving and honoring the men and women who are America's Veterans. How would you like to become a part of a team providing compassionate whole health care to Veterans? The Nurse Practitioner is delegated the authority and responsibility to assume clinical, consultative, educational, research, and administrative duties and assignments related to the care of in-hospital and outpatients. Clinical Duties for Acute Care Mental Health: The primary focus of practice is the clinical management of acute care patients such as those on inpatient care teams in terms of weekend coverage, as well as working as part of a multidisciplinary team dealing with psychiatric walk-in's and emergency care patients. Involvement with both psychiatric and medical treatment in regard to inpatient work activities. Utilizes and promotes approved standards of care, procedures, methods, techniques, safety precautions, and protocols in their application to patients. Performs inpatient H&P's, covering both psychiatric and medical elements of history and physical exam. Collaborates with other medical center health care resources to ensure continuity of care. Keeps abreast of the latest trends, skills, procedures, equipment and protocols relevant to the care of acuter mental health patients. Facilitates the care of patients as well as their entry and exit from various health care systems by establishing and maintaining liaison with a variety of medical specialists and associated staff. Writes daily progress notes on inpatients and intake notes on new outpatients Other clinical duties as assigned by the supervising physician Clinical duties for Outpatient Mental Health: The primary focus of practice is the clinical management of psychiatric outpatients assigned to the Durham VAMC Maintain effective relationships with other team members to determine and meet the social, environmental, economic and psychological needs of the patient. Utilizes and promotes approved standards of care, procedures, methods, techniques, safety precautions, and protocols in their application to treatment and management of acute and chronic mental illnesses psychiatric outpatients. Provides medication management and individual and group psychotherapy as clinically indicated. Primary treatment modality will be medication management. Promotion and maintenance of health Collaborates with other medical center health care resources to insure continuity of care. Keeps abreast of the latest trends, skills, procedures, equipment and protocols relevant to the care of psychiatric outpatients Facilitates the care of patients as well as their entry and exit from various health care systems by establishing and maintaining liaison with a variety of medical specialists and associated staff. Evaluating health outcomes Recording pertinent findings, impressions and plan of care in the patient's medical record for all patient encounters. This will generally be in the form of diagnostic interviews for new patients and progress notes for existing patients. Other clinical duties as assigned by the supervisor, including coverage for other psychiatric advanced practice provider clinical staff who are on leave. Administrative/Education/Research: Promotes and participates in the delivery of patient and family health care education. Attends conferences and committee meetings as assigned by the supervising physician. Participates, directs, and provides opportunities for staff development through in-service management of in-patients. Participates in clinical research programs when appropriate. Other administrative &/or educational/research duties as assigned by the supervising physician Customer Service: The NP will meet the needs of patients while supporting the Medical Center and Service missions. Consistently communicates and treats customers (patients, visitors, volunteers, and all Medical Center staff) in a courteous, tactful, and respectful manner. The NP provides the patient with consistent information according to established policies and procedures. Handles conflict and problems in dealing with the customer constructively and appropriately. VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Nurse Total Rewards Work Schedule: Variable - Including weekend shifts to equal 80 hours(full-time) over 2 week pay period Telework: May be authorized (Ad-Hoc) Virtual: This is not a virtual position. 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. 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. Master's or Doctoral Degree from a program accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing or the Commission (ACEN-Formerly NCLAC) or the Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). 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. Nurse Practitioners must be licensed or otherwise recognized as a nurse practitioner in a State 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. Additional Requirement: Mental Health NP Training at an accredited institution Preferred Experience and Certifications: At least two years of mental health care experience in an inpatient as well as outpatient setting following education training. 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 III - Master's degree in nursing (MSN) or related field with a BSN and no additional nursing practice/experience. Nurse II - Master's degree in nursing or related field with a BSN and approximately 1-2 year's 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 year's of nursing practice/experience; OR a Doctoral degree and approximately 2-3 year's 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: 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. Regarding this specific RN position, the population of male and female veterans served ranges from the adult, age 18, to the elderly adult, age 65 and over. The VA Medical Center is a major interdisciplinary teaching facility, serving medical, surgical, and neurological inpatients and outpatients. There is a large outpatient psychiatric population, with admissions for medical co­morbidities. This position requires visual acuity, keen hearing, clear distinctive speech, and manual dexterity. This position requires potentially long periods of continued walking, standing, stooping, sitting, bending, pulling, and pushing. Transferring patients and objects may be required. The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations or operative/invasive procedures. 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.

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 Durham VA Medical Center 508 Fulton Street Durham, NC 27705 US
• Name: Brian Watt
• Phone: (906) 396-7485
• Email: [email protected]