Career Center

Summary

The VA Health System - has 1 vacancy for a full-time Primary Care Mental Health Integration (PCMHI). The RN will be fully qualified and certified to function in a clinical role and in accordance with the guidelines and policies of the Veterans Affairs Health Care System.

Qualifications

Basic Requirements:

• English Language Proficiency
• In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7403(f) - 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 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)
• OR Individuals attending a master's level bridge program in nursing who have completed coursework equivalent to a bachelor's level degree in Nursing may have opportunity to become registered as a nurse with a state licensing board prior to completion of the bridge program
• Upon achievement of a State license - the individual may be appointed on temporary basis and later converted to a permanent appointment upon successful completion and graduation from the bridge program
• (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 to warrant an appointment as a Nurse who has completed an associated degree/entry level Nursing education program
• Credit for foreign nursing education higher that associate degree/entry level requires a formal degree equivalency validation from a recognized equivalency evaluation accepted by VA such as International Consultants of Delaware (ICD)
• 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
• Graduate Nurse Technician (GNT) Exception: Candidates who otherwise meet the basic education requirements - but do not possess the required licensure - may be appointed at the entry step of the grade and level applicable to the completed nursing education as a GNT on a 120-day temporary appointment while actively pursuing licensure (may be extended up to two years on a case-by-case-basis.) NOTE: Grandfathering Provision - All persons currently employed in VHA in 0610 series and performing the duties as described in the qualification standard on the effective date of the standard (1/29/2024) are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held including positive education and licensure/certification
• Grade Determinations: The following Scope - Education and Dimension criteria must be met in determining the grade assignment of candidates - and if appropriate - the level within a grade
• The Dimension requirements (Practice - Veteran/Patient Driven Care - Leadership - Professional Development and Evidence-Based Practice/Research) are detailed for each grade and level within the online assessment: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12994126
• Grade/Level Scope Education Nurse I - Level I Delivers fundamental - knowledge-based care to assigned clients while developing technical competencies
• An Associate Degree (ADN) or Diploma in Nursing - with no additional professional nursing required
• Nurse I - Level II Demonstrates integration of biopsychosocial concepts - cognitive skills and technically competent practice in providing care to clients with basic or complex
• An ADN or Diploma in Nursing AND 1 year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I - Level 1 ;OR a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) with no additional professional nursing experience required
• Nurse I - Level III Demonstrates proficiency in practice based on conscious and deliberate planning
• Self-directed in goal setting for managing complex client situations
• An ADN or Diploma in Nursing AND 2 years of professional nursing experience in which one year is equivalent to Nurse I - Level 2
• OR a BSN and 1 year of professional nursing experience equivalent to the Nurse I - Level 2
• OR a Master's degree in nursing (MSN) and no additional professional nursing experience
• OR a Master's degree in a *related field with a BSN and no additional professional nursing experience
• Nurse II Demonstrates leadership in delivering and improving holistic care through collaborative strategies with others
• A BSN with 2 years of professional nursing equivalent to Nurse I - Level 3
• OR an MSN with one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I - Level 3
• OR a Master's degree in a *related field with a BSN and one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I - Level 3
• OR a Doctoral degree in Nursing with no professional nursing experience
• OR a Doctoral degree in a *related field with a BSN with no additional professional nursing experience
• Nurse III Executes position responsibilities that demonstrate leadership - experience and creative approaches to management of complex client care beyond the immediate practice setting
• MSN and 2 years of specialized nursing experience - one of which is equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III
• OR a Master's degree in *related field with BSN and two years of specialized nursing experience - one of which is equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III
• OR a Doctoral degree in Nursing with and one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III
• OR a Doctoral degree in a *related field with a BSN and one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III
• *Note: Foreign education programs/degrees are not creditable as related degrees
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• 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 - lifting 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
• 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-vehicle.

Duties

• The Primary Care Mental Health Integration (PCMHI) role in Greenville Clinic - Durham VA is a joint initiative of Primary Care and Mental Health to improve care and follow up for patients who screen positive for possible mental illness and do not fit severity criteria for an immediate transfer to a mental health provider
• The RN will collaborate with the interdisciplinary health care team members to achieve maximum quality - positive outcomes - and appropriate utilization of resources in the delivery of care to a diverse veteran population
• The population served includes veterans with chronic medical conditions who have depression - anxiety disorders - and/or are at risk alcohol use
• The RN will work as a care manager - consultant - and educator while providing collaborative mental health care to outpatients in Primary Care at Greenville Clinic - and Morehead city clinics
• The interaction will be performed via telephone and face- to face contact
• The RN will be directly accountable to the designated manager in the assigned area
• Other duties include: Providing and/or supervising direct patient care - with accountability for all elements of the nursing process
• Assesses - reviews - develops - maintains - and monitors Veteran specific plans of care - collaborating with the interdisciplinary team to ensure patient outcomes are reported and validated
• Conducting patient education - behavioral activation - and other brief therapeutic interventions that rely on real-time - in clinic engagement
• Performing medication adherence and response monitoring - relapse prevention planning - and protocol driven care activities integrated directly with Primary Care operations
• Participating in patient outreach - engagement - and assessment activities that require collaboration with interdisciplinary teams in the clinic environment
• Engaging in PACT and PCMHI huddles - caseload consultations - and coordinated care discussions fundamental to the integrated behavioral health model
• Supporting orientation - clinical competencies - quality improvement efforts - and programmatic initiatives that require physical presence within the clinical workspace
• Maintaining a safe - therapeutic - and recovery-oriented environment and utilizing evidence-based deescalation techniques that depend on being physically available to patients and staff
• Preferred Qualifications Knowledge of the Case Management model to interdisciplinary care Minimum of 1-year acute psychiatric care setting to include SOAP (subjective - objective - assessment and plan) documentation Minimum of 2 years of successful nursing practice Preferred Level of Education BSN Preferred Certification(s) ANCC Psychiatric- Mental Health Nursing ANCC Nursing Case Management VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Nurse Total Rewards 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: 8-hour tour - 8:00am - 4:30pm - Monday -Friday Telework: No Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: No