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Registered Nurse (RN) in Outpatient Mental Health Nursing Service provide comprehensive mental health assessment and treatment to veterans who have psychiatric and/or substance use disorders. 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: Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing (BSN) or Higher 3-5 Years RN Experience Valid Driver's License required (cannot be expired) Must be willing and available to drive to Community visits and Outpatient Clinics Long term injections and screenings are involved in this position. 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. Reference: VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G-6 Nurse Qualification Standard. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office. 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. Must complete annual Employee Health requirements, such as annual TB screening or testing, as a condition of employment. The incumbent who provides care in home settings or other off-site locations may be required to drive and/or ride in GSA-vehicles. ["VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Nurse Total Rewards Registered Nurse (RN) in Outpatient Mental Health Nursing Service provide comprehensive mental health assessment and treatment to veterans who have psychiatric and/or substance use disorders. The RN assessment includes immediate safety issues, referral to appropriate programs and veteran response to previously provided care. Assessment includes suicide risk, along with development of suicide safety plans and initiation of home wellness checks when indicated. Outpatient Mental Health RNs are instrumental in care planning, care delivery and discharge planning in the Mental Health Intake Center, the Mental Health Intensive Case Management (MHICM) program, the Opiate Substitution Clinic (OSC), the Addiction Treatment Program (ATP), Consultation/Liaison Clinic, HUD-VASH, the Caregiver Support Program, the RANGE (Rural Access Network for Growth Enhancement) program and the Mental Health Clinic. Outpatient Mental Health RNs recognize the signs of potential or active disruptive behavior and apply a high level of skill in containing this behavior. Outpatient Mental Health RNs apply their knowledge of medical illness and its potential impact on mental status when conducting their assessments. Treatment modalities include individual sessions, medication administration and psycho-educational group sessions with patients, as well as intervention and support to families. In addition, those nurses who have American Nurse Credentialing Center (ANCC) certification as Clinical Nurse Specialists (PMHCNS-BC) and hold Advanced Practice RN licenses provide diagnosis, assessment at the specialist level and individual and group psychotherapy. The function of the Registered Nurse is to provide, direct and supervise the delivery of quality nursing care to a culturally diverse veteran population. The Registered Nurse possesses a broad-based clinical knowledge and skills to effectively apply all aspects of the nursing process within a collaborative, interdisciplinary practice setting. The Registered Nurse effectively implements activities towards health promotion and prevention, management of acute and chronic illness states, assisting the veterans in attainment of optimal levels of functioning through rehabilitation and provision of supportive measures for the dying patient and their significant others. The Registered Nurse is directly responsible to the designated Nurse Manager. The registered nurse provides care and counseling of persons or in the promotion and maintenance of health and prevention of illness and injury based upon the nursing process which includes systematic data gathering, assessment, appropriate nursing judgment, and evaluation of human responses to actual or potential health problems through such services as case finding, health teaching, health counseling; provision of care supportive to or restorative of life and well-being; and executing medical regimens including administering medications and treatments prescribed by a licensed or otherwise legally authorized provider (Illinois Board of Nursing). The nurse's primary commitment is to the patient, whether an individual, family, group, or community (ANA Code of Ethics for Nurses). Edward Hines, Jr. VA Hospital is a Level 1a major interdisciplinary teaching facility with service-lines serving medical, surgical, and neurological inpatients and outpatients, with a comprehensive adult Emergency Department, and multiple community-based outpatient clinics (CBOC). There is a large outpatient psychiatric population, with admissions for medical co-morbidities. The Hines VA Hospital Blind Rehabilitation Center provides services in a residential setting. Home-Based Primary Care is provided in the veteran's home. Pay: Competitive salary, annual performance bonus, regular salary increases\nPaid 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)\nRetirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA\nInsurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement)\nLicensure: 1 full and unrestricted license from any US State or territory Work Schedule: Monday thru Friday 8:00 am to 4:30 pm\nTelework: NOT available\nVirtual: This is not a virtual position.\nRelocation/Recruitment Incentives: NOT Authorized\nPermanent Change of Station (PCS): NOT Authorized\nFinancial Disclosure Report: Not required"]