The Mental Health Recovery RN reports to the Chief Nurse of Mental Health. The MH Recovery RN fosters active partnerships with MH Nursing Leadership in the planning, implementation, and evaluations of recovery-oriented model of practice. The RN is accountable for all elements of the nursing process in partnering with mental health clinical stakeholders and providing support to nursing staff, training, and education for inpatient and outpatient mental health nursing.

Duties

The San Francisco VA Health Care System (SFVAHCS) is a major interdisciplinary teaching facility with service-lines serving medical, surgical, and neurological inpatients and outpatients, with a Level III Emergency Department, Community Living Center (CLC), and multiple community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs). Mental Health Nursing service covers 12 programs in the Mental Health Service: 8 programs for outpatient Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP), Psychosocial Recovery and Rehabilitation Center (PRRC), Mental Health Intensive Case Management (MHICM)/Intensive Community Mental Health Recovery Services (ICMHRS), HUD VASH, Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP), Opiate Treatment Program (OTP), Primary Care Mental Health Integration (PCMHI), and Caregiver Support Program (CSP) and 4 programs for inpatient Behavior Education Support Team (BEST), Psychiatry Emergency Services (PES), Ketamine Clinic, and Inpatient MH-Mental Health-Acute Recovery Center (ARC). These 12 programs specifically requires staff training and education and partnerships of monitoring service initiatives. Major duties include: Actively partners with Nurse Managers in the implementation of recovery-oriented model of practice initiatives, and other training requirements relevant to national directives and regulatory standards. Partners with facility's Local Recovery Coordinator (LRC) in the implementation of recovery-oriented care. Acts as a lead in the Prevention and Management of Disruptive Behavior, utilizing appropriate safety measures. Provides and leads the provision of competent, evidence-based care, the psychiatric MH nurse independently provides patient-centered and recovery-oriented care, milieu management, and maintains self­ awareness while caring for patients living with MH conditions. Partners with nursing staff during shift reports, warm hand-offs, and nurse-led psychoeducational groups; use therapeutic communication techniques, practice de-escalation techniques, and utilize recovery-oriented language. Actively participates in MH interdisciplinary treatment team, MH Environment of Care rounds, assumes as the team lead for psychiatric emergencies as deemed appropriate, reports and assists in resolving safety concerns, and documents nursing assessments, nursing plan of care, patient safety observations, and environmental safety rounds according to facility policy. Maintains professional boundaries to protect patient vulnerabilities and act in the best interest of the patient. Oversight of licensed vocational nurses/nursing assistants recovery-based care training, as appropriate to the setting. Assist in directing the provision of nursing education, orientation, competencies and providing quality improvement and outcomes utilization consultation. Provides peers with informal constructive feedback for improvement. Fosters a safe and supportive environment conducive to the professional development of healthcare professionals. Contributes professional nursing perspective in discussions with the MH interdisciplinary team. Supports colleagues through MH knowledge sharing to provide safe, quality nursing care. Shares MH educational findings, experiences, and ideas with peers. Questions clinical practices for the purpose of providing evidence-based care. Participates in activities and strategies to sustain an evidence-based MH practice culture. 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: 8:00-4:30pm varies on patient care needs, compressed tours may be accommodated to service needs. Telework: Ad-hoc available at the discretion of supervisor. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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/12548248. 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. Preferred Experience: Minimum 5 years of Mental Health clinical experience (inpatient/outpatient). 3-5 years experience for inpatient and outpatient clinical settings. Knowledge and skills in the delivery of recovery-oriented model of practice in mental health. Extensive experience in facilitation of psychoeducational groups and other RN-led evidence-based group programming. Expertise in interdisciplinary collaborative partnerships in mental health. Board Certification in Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing. Salary for this position ranges dependent upon applicant qualifications Grade I: $149,816-$199,250 annually Grade II: $172,288-$221,900 annually Grade III: $189,516-$221,900 annually Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: 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. Mechanical inpatient lifts are provided. The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations, operative/invasive procedures, or home settings. 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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Contacts

• Address San Francisco VA Medical Center 4150 Clement Street San Francisco, CA 94121 US
• Name: Angelica Ratliff
• Phone: (925) 356-5892
• Email: [email protected]