Tuscaloosa VAMC is hiring for RN Mental Health Intensive Care Management (MHICM) The Registered Nurse is accountable for delivery of quality, age-specific healthcare; for utilizing fundamental thinking skills and sound clinical judgment to ensure positive patient outcomes; for demonstrating ethical practice; and for participating in performance improvement activities to improve the quality of care and ensure performance measures are met and/or exceeded. Functional statement must be fully met. Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. English Language Proficiency. In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), 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 State-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). In cases of graduates of foreign schools of professional nursing, possession of current, full, active and unrestricted registration will meet the requirement of graduation from an approved school of professional nursing. OR The completion of coursework equivalent to a nursing degree in a MSN Bridge Program that qualifies for professional nursing registration constitutes the completion of an approved course of study of professional nursing. Students should submit the certificate of professional nursing to sit for the NCLEX to the VA along with a copy of the MSN transcript. (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. 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. Preferred Experience: Two Years in Mental health Grade Determinations: The following criteria must be met in determining the grade assignment of candidates, and if appropriate, the level within a grade: Nurse I Level I - An Associate Degree (ADN) or Diploma in Nursing, with no additional nursing practice/experience required. Nurse I Level II - An ADN or Diploma in Nursing and approximately 1 year of nursing practice/experience; OR an ADN or Diploma in Nursing and a bachelor's degree in a related field with no additional nursing practice/experience; OR a Bachelor's of Science in Nursing (BSN) with no additional nursing practice/experience. Nurse I Level III - An ADN or Diploma in Nursing and approximately 2-3 years of nursing practice/experience; OR an ADN or Diploma in Nursing and a Bachelor's degree in a related field and approximately 1-2 years of nursing practice/experience; OR a BSN with approximately 1-2 years of nursing practice/experience; OR a Master's degree in nursing (MSN) or related field with a BSN and no additional nursing practice/experience. Nurse II - A BSN with approximately 2-3 years of nursing practice/experience; OR ADN or Diploma in Nursing and a Bachelor's degree in a related field and approximately 2-3 years of nursing practice/experience; OR a Master's degree in nursing or related field with a BSN and approximately 1-2 years of nursing practice/experience; OR a Doctoral degree in nursing or meets basic requirements for appointment and has doctoral degree in a related field with no additional nursing practice/experience required. Nurse III - Master's degree in nursing or related field with BSN and approximately 2-3 years of nursing practice/experience; OR a Doctoral degree and approximately 2-3 years of nursing practice/experience. Note regarding MSN degrees: If your MSN was obtained via a Bridge Program that qualifies for professional nursing registration, a BSN is not required. Physical Requirements: The population of male and female veterans served ranges from the adult, age 18, to the elderly adult, age 65 and over. TVAMC serves medical, geriatric and mental health inpatients, residents and outpatients. 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. The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don personal protective equipment. 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. ["VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Nurse Total Rewards Duties: Assess, plan, implement, supervise, teach, evaluate, and document patient care. Conducts nursing assessments including depression screenings with referrals to MSW for assessment of any positive results, medical history, nutritional screening, educational needs screening, screening for substance abuse, alcohol use, abnormal involuntary movements, falls risk, wandering risk, environmental safety assessment, assessment of sleep/rest, mental status, functional status, disabilities, barriers/challenges to getting treatment, assessment of abuse, neglect and exploitation. Must understand abnormal lab values and diagnostic tests. Must have superior knowledge of pharmacology associated with psychiatric drugs, including Clozaril therapy and demonstrate ability to teach Veterans about their medications in a manner understandable to Veteran/caregiver. Participates as member of interdisciplinary treatment team to develop treatment plans, based on assessed needs and Veteran-centered goals based on identified strengths, needs, abilities and preferences. Case manages a population of seriously mentally ill Veterans living in community setting. Uses literature-based best practices to assit them to assimilate into their community and remain out of the hospital with support of case manager and treatment team. Facilitates attendance to all outpatient appointments scheduled through TVAMC. Identifies and takes action to assist Veterans during periods of clinical decline, in collaboration with treatment team including psychiatrist. Demonstrates superior interpersonal skills to develop trust and positive rapport with Veterans and communicates vital information to the psychiatrist and treatment team regarding response to medications, side effects, non-compliance and lab or other diagnostic test results, behavior and any risk factors identified. Conducts safety risk assessment during home visits and assists to improve safety through education and interventions such as prevention of falls risks or fire risks. Assists as needed with annual inspections of Community Residential Care Homes as needed. Demonstrates flexibility in meeting needs of the different programs within the Community Advancement Programs, including covering for clinics as needed, collaborating in team meetings with shared psychiatrist and/or PharmD to provide quality care to Veterans in Genesis, Mental Health Intensive Case Management (MHICM), and Selma MHICM team and Community Residential Care Veterans, and may assist with VVC clinics. Must have knowledge of proper documentation in the electronic CPRS in outpatient encounters and use correct codes to ensure capture of workload. Will be expected to become knowledgeable in conducting psychoeducational groups with seriously mentally ill Veterans, and/or certified in conducting Whole Health Groups with Veterans. Will be expected to be flexible in meeting needs of the programs within the Community Advancement Program, including working with different teams such as CRC, Genesis, MHICM and Selma MHICM teams by collaborating in team meetings, and assisting psychiatrist or PharmD with scheduling clinic visits around availability of treatment teams. Must demonstrate civility in all communications and report any Veteran or employee/caregiver safety risks to Nurse Manager and treatment team. Must utilize good communication skills during home visits and observe safety precautions in response to any safety risks, including visiting home with another staff member if needed. Must show respect for Veterans' rights to self-determination, dignity and respect regarding their treatment. Must monitor compliance with prescribed medications, set up pill planners as needed, administer injections if prescribed and allowed by Veteran, educate Veteran/caregiver about their medications, pick up medications from pharmacy as needed and store /transport medications safely in locked container during transport to home. Travel: Must travel in VA fleet vehicle to conduct home visits. Must follow policy in proper utilization of VA fleet vehicle. recording mileage, gas logs, per visit. 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 through Friday 0730 - 1600 (rotating on call, extended hours as needed) Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]
Providing Health Care for Veterans: The Veterans Health Administration is America’s largest integrated health care system, providing care at 1,255 health care facilities, including 170 medical centers and 1,074 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics), serving 9 million enrolled Veterans each year.
