Job opening: Registered Nurse- Acute Psychiatric Unit
Salary: $100 617 - 181 998 per year
Published at: Jul 30 2024
Employment Type: Full-time
The Inpatient 2NE Nurse is a professional Registered Nurse who provides high-quality, evidence-based care for a culturally diverse Veteran population with complex behavioral problems. These services are provided on the Acute Psychiatric Unit (APU) utilizing all aspects of the nursing process within a collaborative interdisciplinary practice setting.
Duties
Duties include but not limited to; The 2NE APU RN provides care to Veterans who commonly present with acute episodes of psychotic/behavioral issues associated with the DSM-V. Some of the patients may present with a concomitant substance use intoxication that may need detoxification while being treated for their presenting psychiatric disorder. Patients are likely to present with co-morbid medical conditions, functional decline, and unstable living conditions. The RN on the APU functions as part of an interdisciplinary team and is accountable for direct care to a defined group of patients for his/her shift. The incumbent is also accountable for specific nursing duties such as: patient assessment and documentation, medication administration and PRN reassessment, obtaining vital signs, and participating in groups as needed. The RN will perform daily assessment for psychiatric and behavioral issues and identify necessary updates to treatment plans. In the presence of suicidality/homicidality, the RN will provide continued assessment, therapeutic communication, identify stressors/risk factors/safety risks, mitigate all risks, and update the MD for adjustments to treatment plan. They maintain infection control measures and use strict hand hygiene techniques. Nurse uses patient safety equipment as trained to prevent injury to self and patients. The 2NE Nurse remains fiscally aware and does not waste supplies or linens. They must be able to promote a safe environment for all patients including those with altered mental status, SI/HI and an acute or chronic illness. The 2NE Nurse uses SBAR and plan of care (POC) for bedside report, documents using CPRS and ICCA, updates care plans as needed on Mental Health Suite (MHS), and administer medications using BCMA system. . Nurse will administer and monitor the effects of medications, including PRN effectiveness and document accordingly. The nurse will follow all protocols, SOP's, and guidelines. The 2NE RN effectively implements patient activities towards health promotion and disease prevention, assisting the Veteran in attaining optimal levels of function through direct care, rehabilitation, and supportive measures to maintain highest level of ADLs. Documentation of rounds to be completed (hourly or more, as needed to meet level of care) and documented appropriately. Nurse will retrieve and respond to all email in a timely manner. Nurse will conduct and participate in debriefings following patient safety incidents, Code responses, and other urgent situations that arise.
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: Full-Time; 12hr shift- 0630-1900
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
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.
Preferred Experience:
2-3 years Inpatient Mental Health Experience
2 years Mental Health Experience
1-2 years Med-Surgical or Acute Care Experience
1 year of Acute or Specialty Care Experience
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/12496347.
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: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.
Physical Requirements: Heavy Lifting (45 lbs. and over); Moderate Carrying (15-44 lbs.); Pushing; Straight pulling; Pulling hand over hand; Reaching above shoulder; Use of fingers; Both hands required; Walking (up to 6 hours); Standing (up to 6 hours); Kneeling (Intermittent);Repeated bending (up to 6 hours); Both legs required; Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; Near vision correctable at 13 " to 16"; Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 an to 20/40 in the other; Ability to distinguish shades of colors; Hearing (aid permitted); Emotional and Mental Stability.
Education
IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.
Foreign Education. Graduates of foreign schools of professional nursing who possess a current, full, active and unrestricted registration (see paragraph 3c) will meet the requirement of graduation from an approved school of professional nursing to warrant appointment as a Nurse who has completed an associate degree level Nursing education program. In order to grant credit towards an appointment based on foreign nursing education higher than the associate degree level, formal degree equivalency validation from a recognized degree equivalency evaluation agency accepted by VA such as the International Consultants of Delaware (ICD) must be obtained.
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 Jerry L Pettis Memorial Veterans Hospital
11201 Benton Street
Loma Linda, CA 92357
US
- Name: Sonia Whipp
- Phone: (909)487-4135
- Email: [email protected]
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