The primary purpose of this position is to provide direct patient care and care coordination, as it pertains, to patients and their care within the inpatient Acute Psychiatric Unit (APU) at the Mann-Grandstaff VA Medical Center in Spokane, Washington. The APU RN reports directly to the APU manager. The work is performed on the locked psychiatric unit at the main Mann-Grandstaff VA Medical Center hospital facility. 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: 2 years of experience in acute mental health (psych) nursing. Flexible, able to rotate through other clinical areas and able to adjust to ever changing work environment. Able to work as part of a team in providing direct patient care. Excellent Interpersonal Relationship skills. 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. 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: Heavy lifting (45 lbs and over), heavy carrying (45 lbs and over), straight pulling (2 hrs), pulling hand over hand (2 hrs) pushing (2 hrs), reaching above shoulder, use of fingers, both hands required, walking (4 hrs), standing (4 hrs), crawling (2 hrs) kneeling (4 hrs), repeated bending (3 hrs), climbing legs only (3 hours), climbing- use of legs and arms, both legs required, ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously. Environmental Factors: Outside and inside, working closely with others. ["Duties include but not limited to: Provides professional nursing care to acute and chronically ill Veterans. Performs direct patient care delivered in the APU. Provides care for complex patients, manage complex milieu, lead and participate in psychoeducational groups and train to function as charge nurse, medication nurse, and treatment planner. Requires flexibility in schedule and assignments, as this is a 24/7 hospital. Communicates with people of varied educational levels and varied ethnic backgrounds, must be poised and articulate in communicating. Works cooperatively as a member of the interdisciplinary team in all assignments. Cares for the Veteran while in the work setting and demonstrates customer service principles in all aspects of work. Self motivated in the pursuit of meeting professional work standards. Work Schedule: 12 hour tours, 7:00pm-7:30am (Variable nights/weekends/holidays) Compressed/Flexible: Compressed available as 12 hour tours Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual or remote position Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Employee Debt Reduction Program: Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required 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 VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Nurse Total Rewards"]
About Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration
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.
