This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application.

Duties

Under the Nursing Education Department, the Mental Health Nurse Practitioner/Program Director executes responsibilities that demonstrates leadership, experience, and creative approaches to management of complex patient care. The Mental Health Nurse Practitioner/Program Director "with an enormous background of experience, who now has an intuitive grasp of each situation and zeros in on the accurate region of the problem without wasteful consideration of a large range of unfruitful, alternative diagnosis and solutions" (Benner). The Mental Health Nurse Practitioner/Program Director demonstrates performance and leadership that is broad enough to improve the care for a group of patients. The Mental Health Nurse Practitioner/Program Director is responsible for the outcomes of the Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Residency Program. He/she must be clinically and academically qualified to provide effective leadership to the program in achieving its mission, goals and expected outcomes. Primary Duties of the Mental Health Nurse Practitioner/Program Director: Communicate and interact appropriately and courteously with all internal and external customers. Maintain confidentiality of electronic, written, and/or verbal patient/trainee information Demonstrate working practices that include adherence to safety and professional standards Contribute to forecasting requirements necessary to long-range program planning and development of actions for effective delivery of training Design, modify and implement systems compatible with standards, the mission, and the goals of the organization/service to improve the cost-effective use of resources Set program standards for training and accreditation and assures their implementation Promote educational goals and opportunities for faculty preceptors Develop and provide oversight of the Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Residency Program Develop and revise the Mental Health NP curriculum and program policies and procedures Develop and facilitate the Mental Health NP didactic courses biweekly. Facilitate and attend meeting with all stakeholders (departmental meetings, preceptors, academic affiliate, and OAA) Responsible for recruitment, clinical site selection, webinars, and additional learning opportunities for residents. Must develop, disseminate, and analyze program evaluations per OAA and CCNE guidelines. Plan and coordinate clinical site visits for MH NP residents Collaborates with academic partners and make program changes as need Assist with recruitment, advisement, consultation, and onboarding of mental health residents Track the residents clinical assignments and arrange didactic sessions Submit bi-weekly program report, annual reports, and any additional reports. 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 7:30am - 4:00pm (subject to change based on agency needs) Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Contact Lakita Bush at [email protected], the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

Qualifications The Mental Health Nurse Practitioner/Program Director is a licensed and certified psychiatric nurse practitioner nurse required to care for a population of male and female veterans, ranging in age from young adult to the elderly age 65 and over. The Mental Health Service line serves veterans with varying degrees of psychiatric disorders and conditions and comorbidities requiring medical and psychiatric interventions. The Mental Health Program Director meets the quantification standards for Nurse Practitioners as cited in VA Handbook 5005/27 Part II, Appendix G6. Nurse Practitioners. 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. English Language Proficiency. In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(f), no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English. Education: A post-master's certificate or master's or doctoral degree as a Nurse Practitioner. (Applicants pending the completion of educational requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until the education requirements are met.) Must be a 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). NOTE: Foreign Education. Graduates of foreign schools of professional nursing programs, the nurse practitioner degree equivalency must be validated through an Agency recognized degree equivalency evaluation agency, such as the International Consultants of Delaware (ICD). Candidates with equivalent nurse practitioner masters or doctorate level degrees who possess current, full, active, and unrestricted registration and certification will meet the requirement of graduation from an approved school of professional nursing to warrant appointment. License and Certification: License. All APN (NPs) must possess and maintain an active, current, full, and unrestricted APN license to practice as an NP in a State, Territory or Commonwealth of the United States, or in the District of Columbia. Basic Certification. All APN (NPs) must maintain full and current board certification in an area of clinical specialty from one of the following: the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (AANPCB), or other nationally recognized certifying body in the area in which the Nurse Practitioner is academically prepared. NOTE: Grandfathering Provision - All persons currently employed in VHA in 0610 series and an APN (NP) assignment that are also 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. The following Scope, Education and Experience, and Dimension criteria must be met to qualify for Advanced Practice Nurse (Nurse Practitioner) II: Exception to Licensure for Graduate Nurse Technicians. Candidates who otherwise meet the basic requirements, but do not possess the required licensure and/or certification, may be appointed at the entry step of the Nurse II, as a Graduate Nurse Technician - Nurse Practitioner on a temporary appointment up to any period not-to-exceed one year and a day under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 405(c)(2)(B). Scope: Demonstrates leadership in delivering and improving holistic care through collaborative strategies with others Education and Experience Requirement: Meets basic education requirement for APN (NP). Nurse II is considered the entry grade level for APN (NPs); no experience is required. Dimension Requirement: APNs (NPs) at level II are expected to meet the following dimension requirements: Clinical Practice. Delivers evidence-based health care, demonstrating proficiency in the ability to manage a patient panel, population, or program. Outcome Focus. Utilizes research and evidence-based practice to evaluate the patient care delivery system within a patient panel or program, presents findings and contributes to changes that enhance the quality and timeliness of veteran/patient care. Leadership. Works effectively as a leader within a team/unit/group and seeks interdisciplinary collaboration as appropriate to enhance patient care. Professional Development. Acquires knowledge and skills to develop expertise in area of practice. Professionalism/Collegiality. Demonstrates effective communication skills and professional behavior, promoting cooperation and teamwork. Participates in interdisciplinary teams and processes that positively impact patient outcomes. The following Scope, Education and Experience, and Dimension criteria must be met to qualify for Advanced Practice Nurse (Nurse Practitioner) III: Scope: Executes position responsibilities that demonstrate leadership, experience, and creative approaches to management of complex client care. Education and Experience Requirement: Meets basic education requirement for an APN (NP) AND one year of specialized APN (NP) experience equivalent to the Nurse II grade level. Dimension Requirement: APN (Nurse Practitioners) at grade III are expected to meet the following dimension requirements: Clinical Practice. Influences and models the delivery of evidence- based health care, demonstrating expertise in the ability to manage a patient panel, population, or program. Outcome Focus. Leads and implements changes that enhance the quality and timeliness of Veteran/patient care applying research and evidence in the delivery of healthcare for patient populations. Leadership. Initiates and leads interdisciplinary teams informed by structured approaches and processes to improve outcomes that positively impact care for a patient panel, population, or program. Professional Development. Acquires knowledge and skills, then disseminates acquired information within and/or outside the medical facility. Professionalism/Collegiality. Initiates and leads interdisciplinary teams developing systems that positively impact outcomes at the panel, population, or program level. Demonstrates effective communication skills and professional behavior, promoting cooperation and teamwork. 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: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service. 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 patient and objects may be required. The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to wear protective clothing in isolation situations or during procedures. The incumbent may occasional be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium, dementia, or psychiatric disorders. The incumbent must be mature, flexible, sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations, able to shift priorities based on patient needs.

Education

The primary purpose of the Mental Health Nurse Practitioner/Program Director is to practice to the full extent of their education, training, and certification, without the clinical supervision or mandatory collaboration of physicians, as a licensed independent practitioner to provide specified medical or other patient care service. The MHNP collaborates with other disciplines to develop, implement, and coordinate a system of patient care delivery that promotes communication, teamwork, high quality care, patient satisfaction, positive outcomes, appropriate utilization of resources and cost-effective services.

Clinical privileges will guide advanced practice beyond basic education and are renewed every two years. The Mental Health Nurse Practitioner/Program Director has prescriptive authority for a panel of patients or program. Core functions include: performing history and physical examinations, diagnosing, treating, and managing acute and chronic health care problems, ordering appropriate testing and consults, performing adult care check-ups, prescribing medication and treatments, and teaching health promotion and disease prevention to patients. Responsible and accountable for all elements of the nursing process when providing and/or supervising direct patient care. Assesses, plans, implements and evaluates care based on age-specific components. Assumes responsibility for the coordination of care focused on patient transition through the continuum of care, patient and family education, patient self-management after discharge, and supporting factors that impact customer satisfaction. Considers all characteristics of the individual, including age and life stages, state of health, race and culture, values, and previous experiences. Administers and/or orders medications and procedures per established policies and guidelines. Influences care outcomes by collaborating with members of the interdisciplinary team.

EDUCATION	EXPERIENCE	DIMENSION REQUIREMENTS
Master's degree in nursing or related field with BSN or bachelor's degree in a related field.	Approximately 2-3 years	PRACTICE 1. Practice: Provides leadership in the application of the nursing process to client care, organizational processes and/or systems, improving outcomes at the program or service level.
[If MSN obtained in a Bridge Program, no BSN required.]	2. Ethics: Provides leadership in identifying and addressing ethical issues that impact clients and staff, including initiating and participating in ethics consultations. 3. Resource Utilization: Manages program resources (financial, human, material, or informational) to facilitate safe, effective, and efficient care.
(OR)	PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Doctoral degree in nursing or related field	Approximately 2-3 years	1. Education/Career Development: Implements an educational plan to meet changing program or service needs for self and others. Maintains knowledge of current techniques, trends, and professional issues.
2. Performance: Uses professional standards of care and practice to evaluate programs and/or service activities.
COLLABORATION
1. Collaboration: Uses the group process to identify, analyze, and resolve care problems.
2. Collegiality: Coaches colleagues in team building. Makes sustained contributions to health care by sharing expertise within and/or outside the medical facility
SCIENTIFIC INQUIRY
1. Quality of Care: Initiates interdisciplinary projects to improve organizational performance.
2. Research: Collaborates with others in research activities to improve care.]

Preferred Education/Experience:

• 2 - 3 years in a faculty role
• 5 - 10 years in an advanced NP - clinical role
• DNP/PhD in Nursing (Concentration in Education/Adult Learning preferred)
• 5-10 years in leadership and/or program development experience

Contacts

• Address Atlanta VA Medical Center 1670 Clairmont Road Decatur, GA 30033 US
• Name: Star Douglas
• Phone: (803)679-6607
• Email: [email protected]