Registered Nurse - Outpatient Mental Health

Job Title

Registered Nurse - Outpatient Mental Health

The VA Midwest Health Care Network advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers. This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest. As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care, you will operate in a model with three core elements, seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran.

This is done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran's community. This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being. VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Nurse Total Rewards.

• Provides competent, evidence-based, patient-centered mental health nursing care for Veterans in the outpatient setting, utilizing recovery-oriented principles and maintaining professional boundaries at all times.
• Conducts comprehensive nursing triage assessments, risk screenings, and clinical reminders; documents all findings and patient care plans per facility policy and regulatory requirements.
• Facilitates care coordination across the continuum, including warm hand-offs, collaboration with Inpatient Mental Health Units, and participation in interdisciplinary treatment team huddles and meetings.
• Leads and/or supports psycho educational groups and telemental health encounters, ensuring therapeutic communication techniques and recovery-focused language are consistently applied.
• Provides Veteran and family education regarding mental health diagnoses, medications, treatment plans, symptom management, and available resources.
• Responds to psychiatric and medical emergencies using established protocols, demonstrating sound clinical judgment, critical thinking, and de-escalation skills in crisis situations.
• Identifies, reports, and addresses safety concerns within the clinical environment to promote safe, high-quality care and continuous improvement.
• Contributes to quality improvement initiatives, performance measures, and outcome-enhancement activities related to mental health nursing care and patient service delivery.

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, 8:00am-4:30pm

Telework:
Not Available

Virtual:
This is not a virtual position.

Relocation/Recruitment

Incentives:

Not Authorized

EDRP Authorized:
Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact VHA.ELRSProgram

Support, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more

Permanent Change of Station (PCS):
Not Authorized