Registered Nurse - Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program (RRTP)

About the role

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply.

What you'll do

This Registered Nurse - Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program positions is located in Mental Health Service located at the Togus location. This position is full-time at 40 hours per week. Included but are not limited to: Establish therapeutic relationships to enhance a trauma-sensitive experience using therapeutic interventions and help eliminate barriers to recovery services by incorporating person-first language. Create and maintain a safe, therapeutic, recovery-oriented environment in collaboration with Veterans and other healthcare providers. Assess and identify health-related illness using nursing assessments which follow the national standards for nursing assessments. Provide education and health teaching (individual or group settings) to Veterans regarding healthcare needs; recovery goals; mental health and substance use problems; treatment regimens; coping skills; stress management and relaxation techniques; crisis management; and medications. Play a key role in medication management in Mental Health RRTPs and administer medications as ordered by the credentialed provider for monitoring the effectiveness of those medications. Nursing staff must consistently assess and monitor the physical environment to ensure the safety and security of medications. Develop and monitor nursing outcomes. The Registered Nurse is responsible for providing nursing objectives, interventions, and outcomes to help Veterans achieve their treatment goals. Responsible for providing and leading the provision of competent, evidence-based care to assigned patients. Provide patient-centered and recovery-oriented care and maintain self-awareness while caring for patients living with substance use disorder and/or Mental Health conditions. Facilitate shift report, warm hand-offs, and nurse-led psychoeducational groups; use therapeutic communication techniques, practice de-escalation techniques, utilize recovery-oriented language, and provide oversight of the patient safe medication management program. Actively participate in Mental Health interdisciplinary treatment team, patient safety, and environment of care rounds, and respond to psychiatric and medical care needs and emergencies as directed. Report safety concerns, and document nursing assessments, risk screens, nursing plan of care, patient safety rounds, and environment of care rounds according to facility policy. Maintain professional boundaries to protect patient vulnerabilities and act in the best interest of the patient. Foster a safe and supportive environment conducive to the professional development of healthcare professionals. Support colleagues through knowledge sharing to provide safe, quality nursing care. Question clinical practices for the purpose of providing evidence-based care. Work Schedule: Full-Time, Various Tours of Duty Telework: Not Authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position. EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact Karen Chapman karen.chapman@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Notifications: This position is a Bargaining Unit position This position is in the Excepted Service This position is covered by a special rate Veterans' preference does not apply for internal or other current permanent Federal agency employees. Current and former Federal employees must submit copies of their most recent SF-50, (Notice of Personnel Action). The SF-50 must i

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.) Preferred Experience: Previous psychiatric nursing experience of 2-3 years preferred. Previous nursing experience working with dually diagnosed individuals in the inpatient and/or ambulatory and residential care settings strongly preferred. Psychiatric mental health nursing certification (PMH-BC) preferred but not required. 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/13007023. Grade/Level Scope Education Nurse I, Level I Delivers fundamental, knowledge-based care to assigned clients while developing technical competencies. An Associate Degre

Requirements

U.S. Citizenship; non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Must pass pre-employment physical examination. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). You may be required to serve a probationary period. Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement. May be subject to satisfactory completion of our credentialing process.

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