Nurse Practitioner (Mental Health)
Location: Laredo, Texas
Description: Department of Veterans Affairs is currently interviewing Nurse Practitioner (Mental Health) right now, this career will be placed in Texas. More complete informations about this career opportunity please give attention to these descriptions. Position Title: Nurse Practitioner (Mental Health)
Vacancy Identification Number (VIN): 697404
You could be part of an important initiative to provide mental health care for our nations Veterans!
Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki has announced that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will be adding approximately 1,600 mental health clinicians - to include nurses, psychiatrists, psychologists, and social workers as well as nearly 300 support staff to its existing workforce.
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) needs mental health professionals who possess the energy, compassion, and commitment to serve those who serve our Country. Whatever the job title, every position in VA will give you a chance to make a meaningful and personal contribution to the lives of truly special and deserving people - our Veterans.
Working for VA is one of the most emotionally satisfying and professionally rewarding ways to dedicate the best within you to your country's service.
If you are transitioning from the military or a Veteran already, we invite you to explore the benefits of continuing your career at the VA. The VA is committed to hiring Veterans.
The VA is much more than just another employer. It is an honorable, open and welcoming community of those who care. Gratitude is our motivation and service is our mission. The VA has adopted Core Values and Characteristics that apply universally across the Department. The five Core Values define "who we are," our culture, and how we care for Veterans, their families and other beneficiaries. The Values are I ntegrity, C ommitment, A dvocacy, R espect and E xcellence (" I CARE ").
America's Veterans need you!
To find out more, go to http://www.va.gov/jobs/ .
PLEASE NOTE: Qualified clinical trainees, residents, fellows, interns, etc. are encouraged to apply; please follow the instructions in the How to Apply section.
NOTE: This is a bargaining unit position.
NOTE: Work Schedule is Monday - Friday, 8:00 - 4:30 p.m.; Alternate schedules may be necessary to meet the needs of the organization.
NOTE: The applicant selected for this position will be eligible to apply for an education loan reimbursement award under the provisions of the Education Debt Reduction Program.
NOTE: Recruitment/Relocation incentives may be authorized.
NOTE: To be determined by Professional Standard Board of your peers and based on your education, experience, and professional accomplishments.
KEY REQUIREMENTS
US citizenship
English language proficiency
Background/suitability investigation
Current, full, active and unrestricted registration
Physical standards - Must pass pre-employment examination
Random drug testing
DUTIES:
Candidate selected for these positions will function as a provider and be responsible for clinical management of a panel of adult psychiatric mental health patients. The position will be located at the Laredo Outpatient Clinic (LOPC) at the VA Texas Valley Coastal Bend Health Care System (VATVCBHCS). The individual will work closely with the supervision psychiatrist and larger mental health team to provide coordinated care. The individual will be completing history and physicals, comprehensive psychiatric diagnostic exams, managing medications, providing psychotherapy, providing crisis intervention, and referring psychiatric patients for psychiatric hospitalization. Will consult/collaborate with mental health and medical team members, including with community mental health clinics and providers to integrate and coordinate a continuum of care for our veterans. Provides leadership in improving patient care, maintaining standards of care and directing and teaching personnel in a variety of settings. Participates in the mental health program by utilizing the nursing process in providing assessments, planning, implementation, and outcome evaluations for patient; and assures all medical/nursing management of patients is within credentialing scope of practice. Participates in Performance Improvement Process for mental health and maintains oversight and responsibility for professional practice issues. Dual certification is required as medical coverage of our mental health patients. Duties include, but are not limited to:
Performs systematic psychiatric assessment which includes the total bio-psychosocial-legal needs of the Veteran.
Identifies and requests the mental health appropriate lab and imaging studies for Veterans.
Documents mental health assessments, clinical data, diagnoses and management and conclusions in a timely manner using the electronic medical record.
Actively provides counseling to promote mental health, reduce risk factors and prevent disease and disability.
Selects, prescribes, and analyzes correct dosages, routes and frequencies of medications to include psychotropic medications and utilizes and non-pharmacologic treatment modalities based on relevant individual needs.
Contributes to mission of health care for homeless Veterans with assessment, evaluation and referral to treatment as needed.
QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:
BASIC REQUIREMENTS:
U.S. citizenship
English language proficiency (written and spoken)
Physical standards - All applicants must meet the physical standards for the position. A physical examination prior to employment may be required.
Registration - Current, full, active and unrestricted registration as a graduate professional nurse in a State, Territory, or Commonwealth (i.e., Puerto Rico) of the U.S. or in the District of Columbia. The RN must maintain a current, full active and unrestricted registration to continue employment with the VA.
Educational requirements can be met as follows: Graduate of a school of professional nursing approved by the appropriate State agency, and accredited by one of the following accrediting bodies at the time the program was completed: a) The National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC); or b) The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). 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. OR 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.
A Nurse Practitioner must be licensed or otherwise recognized as a nurse practitioner in a State, posses a master's degree from a program accredited by the NLNAC or CCNE and maintain full and current certification as a nurse practitioner from the American Nurses Association or another national recognized certifying body. [The certification must be in the specialty to which the individual is being appointed or selected.] Must have and maintain full and current certification as a nurse practitioner from the American Nurses Association or another nationally recognized certifying body. Applicants must be certified as a mental health nurse practitioner and be certified as an adult or family nurse practitioner.
Must have prescriptive authority.
Applicant's education and length of nursing practice (experience) will be considered by a Nurse Professional Standards Board in determining the grade and salary of the applicant selected. Experience as a RN will be evaluated to determine if the experience is of an acceptable level of quality with regard to the following four dimensions of nursing: Practice, Professional Development, Collaboration and Scientific Inquiry. Each dimension of practice has criteria that demonstrate essential core competencies for VHA Nursing Personnel. The criteria are as follows: Practice: practice, ethics and resource utilization, Professional Development: performance, education/career development, Collaboration; collaboration, collegiality, Scientific Inquiry: quality of care, research.
Education/Experience Requirements:
Nurse I Level I - An Associate Degree (ADN) or Diploma in Nursing, no experience.
Nurse I Level II - An ADN or Diploma in Nursing and approximately 1 year of experience, or an ADN or Diploma in Nursing and a bachelor's degree in a related field and no experience; or a Bachelors of Science in Nursing (BSN) and no experience. Nurse I Level III - An ADN or Diploma in Nursing and approximately 2-3 years of experience, or an ADN or Diploma in Nursing and a bachelors degree in a related field and approximately 1-2 years of experience; or a BSN with approximately 1-2 years of experience, or a Master's degree in nursing (MSN) or related field with a BSN and no experience. Nurse II - A BSN with approximately 2-3 years of experience, or ADN or Diploma in Nursing and a bachelors degree in a related field and approximately 2-3 years experience or a Master's degree in nursing or related field with a BSN and approximately 1-2 years experience, or a Doctoral degree in nursing or meets basic requirements for appointment and has doctoral degree in a related field with no experience. Nurse III - Master's degree in nursing or related field with BSN and approximately 2-3 years experience or Doctoral degree in nursing or related field and approximately 2-3 years experience.
Preferred experience requirements:
Two to Five years of Mental health experience is highly desirable.
Initiative, self-direction, interpersonal skills and computer skills are necessary for this role.
References: VA Handbook 5005/27, Part II, Appendix G6, NURSE QUALIFICATION STANDARD, dated March 17, 2009.
Salary determination will be made by Professional Standard Board of your peers and based on your education, experience, and professional accomplishments.
DESIGNATED DRUG-TESTING POSITION: 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. Applicants will not be appointed to the position if a verified positive drug test result is received.
Veteran's Preference : When applying for Federal jobs, eligible veterans should claim preference on the Occupational Questionnaire in the section provided and provide a legible copy of DD-214(s) showing all dates of service as well as character of service (honorable, general, etc.). Additionally, veterans with service-connected disability of 10% or more must also submit a copy of their official statement from the Department of Veterans Affairs, or from a branch of the Armed Forces, certifying their service-connected disability and/or their receipt of compensation for service-connected disability.
Veterans with service-connected disability of less than 10%, nonservice-connected disability, and Purple Heart recipients, as-well-as those claiming derived preference for a spouse, widow or widower, or natural mother, should refer to and submit a completed SF 15, "Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference," and required documentation with your application materials.
For more information on Veterans' Preference, go to http://www.opm.gov/veterans/html/vetsinfo.asp .
HOW YOU WILL BE EVALUATED:
Complete application packages will be reviewed to determine if the basic qualifications for this position have been met. A listing of candidates who meet the basic qualification requirements will be forwarded to the hiring facility where the credentialing and privileging screening process is completed.
BENEFITS:
VA offers a comprehensive benefits package. This link provides an overview of the benefits currently offered: http://www.va.gov/jobs/job_benefits/benefits.asp .
OTHER INFORMATION:
This position will be filled on a full-time permanent basis. Upon completing any required probationary period, the position will be permanent.
This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.
Performance Based Interviewing (PBI) may be used. For information on the basics of PBI visit the PBI website at www.va.gov/pbi .
Equal Employment Opportunity: All applicants will receive consideration regardless of race, color, age, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status as a parent, or non-disqualifying physical handicap. For information regarding the No FEAR Act Regulations, refer to 5 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 724.
The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation and be found well-qualified (have a final rating of 90 or more before any Veterans preference points) for this vacancy. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at http://www.opm.gov/ctap/index.asp .
VA may offer newly-appointed Federal employees credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave.
This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.
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If you were eligible to this career, please deliver us your resume, with salary requirements and a resume to Department of Veterans Affairs.
Interested on this career, just click on the Apply button, you will be redirected to the official website
This career starts available on: Wed, 04 Jul 2012 18:50:39 GMT
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