This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application. 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: Current BLS provider card issued by the American Heart Association (AHA) or Military Training Network. One year of RN experience. One year of RN experience providing comprehensive nursing care for patients in a mental health/psychiatric setting. Current national certification in Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing (RN-BC). 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: This position requires heavy lifting, 45 pounds heavy carrying, 45 pounds straight pulling (2 hours); reaching above shoulder; use of fingers; both hands required; walking & standing 8 hours - intermittently; repeated bending; both legs required; ability for rapid mental& muscular coordination simultaneously; near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4; far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other; depth perception; ability to distinguish shades of colors; hearing (aide permitted). Transferring patients and objects may be required. The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations or operative/invasive procedures. 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. ["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: Full-time, 7:30am - 4:00pm, Monday - Friday (With flexibility to meet patient needs) Telework: Not authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: May be authorized EDRP Authorized: Contact Susan.Bringel@va.gov, EDRP Coordinator, for questions/assistance. Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required The Mental Health Evaluation Clinic/Consultation-Liaison (MHEC/CL) nurse is a direct care provider and care coordinator whose scope of practice includes providing comprehensive nursing care for patients in Mental Health programs. The MHEC/CL nurse assesses and evaluates patients who present to the Emergency Department (ED) and are found to require Mental Health attention, as well as patients admitted to other acute and residential care settings on the Palo Alto campus that are covered by the Inpatient Psychiatric Consultation-Liaison service. The MHEC/CL nurse reviews Inpatient Mental Health admission referrals from the Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOC), the Addiction Treatment Clinics, Residential Recovery Treatment Programs, and other community hospitals. The major duties include, but are not limited to: Works effectively with patients with a variety of medical and psychiatric conditions. Performs basic medical/physical, psychological, and social patient care nursing assessments. Demonstrates skills in managing acute psychiatric patients in the Emergency Room and Acute Care settings. Provides direct nursing care to patients with psychiatric conditions. Works with a multidisciplinary team that oversees and addresses medical/psychiatric issues presented by patients. Works in partnership with the Health Care Providers in the delivery of comprehensive emergency department, inpatient, consultation, and outpatient services. Strong ability to function independently as well as with team members. Works effectively and cooperatively with all levels of nursing. Must be an effective team player. Demonstrates skill in multitasking and crisis management. Can identify and prioritize care needs in ED and Acute Care while taking effective actions in emergencies. Manages phone lines in order to field crisis calls from within the facility. Conducts in-depth patient care conferences with the interdisciplinary team if needed. Assists in suicide risk screenings and completion of suicide risk mitigation strategies appropriate to nursing role, such as Suicide Prevention Safety Planning. Facilitates aftercare coordination with other appropriate, available staff including ED and Acute Care social workers and case managers. Aftercare planning may include communication efforts and obtaining appointments with outpatient mental health, primary care, medical specialties, and mental health case management staff. Assists in management of consult orders including receiving, scheduling, and closing consults in a timely fashion. Serves as a resource and liaison for patients, families, colleagues, and other programs in the VA Palo Alto Health Care System. Excellent customer service in the context of navigating relationships with patients, ED and Acute Care staff, Outpatient medical and Mental Health providers, and community-based facilities. Demonstrates excellent skills in managing crisis/suicidal calls for patients and families. Demonstrates extensive knowledge of involuntary holds and legal aspects of inpatient, emergency, and CL psychiatry. Demonstrates extensive knowledge of involuntary holds and legal aspects of inpatient, emergency, and CL psychiatry. Knowledge of the actions and effects of commonly used psychotropic medications. Administers medications and readily identifies adverse effects of medication. Knowledgeable about Mental Health Environment of Care Standards for locked units. Demonstrates sound judgment, flexibility, and strong decision-making skills in combination with critical thinking in delivery of patient care. Demonstrates knowledge of patient safety procedures that are required for ED, Acute Care, and locked Inpatient Mental Health settings. Including life safety, fire evacuation and disaster procedures. Ability to de-escalate potentially volatile behavior in patients and a competency in managing assaultive, combative, and difficult to manage patients."]

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