Licensed Practical Nurse; Mental Health RRTP

Position: Licensed Practical Nurse (Mental Health RRTP)
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. Program 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.

The Licensed Practical Nurse Mental Health (MH) Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program (RRTP) provides safe and individualized nursing care to patients in the Mental Health, Community Living Center, and Ambulatory Care locations. He/she can interact and collaborate effectively with patients, families, other health care and supportive personnel. He/she is responsible for direct patient care activities under the supervision of the Registered Nurse (RN).

Written assignment, with supplemental verbal instructions that are given by the RN. Work performance is observed and regularly evaluated by the Registered Nurse for purposes of competency validation. The practical nurse seeks guidance from the RN when difficulty is encountered with the assignment. Duties include but are not limited to:

* Assists with data collection for outpatients and new admissions.

* Observes, reports and documents signs and symptoms of patient's general condition.

* Provides direct nursing care to adult and geriatric patients according to nursing standards and Medical Center policy and procedure. This includes, but is not limited to:
Bathing, showering, oral care, shaving, feeding, turning and positioning, and ambulating.

* Collecting and labeling specimens, e.g., sputum, urine, stool.

* Reports and documents progress or changes in patient's behavior and/or physical condition to the RN and in the medical record.

* Recognizes and initiates emergency measures consistent with training.

* Makes frequent rounds on patients, noting environment, changes in patient's behavior and/or physical condition. Reports and documents all observed problems and indicates which might have an adverse effect on patients, visitors or personnel.

* Assists in room and locker inspections to the Mental Health Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program (MHRRTP) units per medical center policy as needed.

* Assists with monitoring patients who require group status or 1:1 observation, e.g., suicide precautions, patients with potential for injuring self or others.

* Documents and reports behavior patterns and changes per Nursing Patient Care Procedure.

* Performs support duties for therapeutic and diagnostic procedures such as:
Reinforces patient teaching and documents patient health education appropriately.

* Uses computer to meet current CPRS and BCMA mandates, e-mail, leave requests, and other computer initiatives.

* Participates in performance improvement activities.

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional

Work Schedule:

7:30am-4:00pm with rotation

Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus):
Not Authorized

Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance):
Not Authorized

EDRP Authorized:
Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more

Pay:
Competitive salary and regular salary increases

Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year)

Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior [work experience] or military service experience.

Parental Leave:
After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child.

Child Care Subsidy:
After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66.

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)

Telework:
Not Available

Virtual:
This is not a virtual position.

Permanent Change of Station (PCS):
Not Authorized

This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until March 21, 2026. The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be 15 days after opening of announcement. The initial cut-off for referral of eligible applications will be March 4, 2026. Eligible applications received after that date will be referred as additional vacancies occur on an as-needed basis until positions are filled.