Summary

The VA Texas VA Health Care System is seeking a Registered Nurse Manager (Mental Health) will be responsible for the coordination of care and supervising direct patient care. This position may be located at any one facility in Harlingen - McAllen - Corpus Christi or Laredo - Texas.

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: 2-3 years of recent supervisory experience
• 3+ years of Mental Health Nursing experience
• 2-3 years of Ambulatory Mental Health experience
• Mental Health Certification preferred
• 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/12949112
• 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: Moderate lifting - 15-44 pounds
• Moderate carrying - 15-44 pounds
• Straight pulling (0.5 hours)
• Pushing (0.5 hours)
• Use of fingers
• Reaching above shoulders
• Walking (5.3 hours)
• Standing (5.3 hours)
• Repeated bending (5.3 hours)
• Climbing - use of legs and arms
• Operation of motor vehicle
• Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously
• Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other
• Both eyes required
• Depth perception
• Ability to distinguish basic colors
• Hearing (aid may be permitted).

Duties

• The Registered Nurse Manager for Mental Health reports to ACNS and/or designee responsible for reporting daily by 4:00 p.m
• any incidents (i.e. - med errors - falls - threats - and assaults) and complete incident reports
• Prepares nursing schedules and report in a timely manner
• Three weeks of schedule are required to be posted for staff review (the present week and then two weeks in advance)
• Prepares and sends in monthly reporting to the ACNS by the 10th of each month - according to clinic assignments per ACNS - this includes QI reports
• Completes information for Balanced Score Care for their clinic by the 10th of the month include action plans as required
• Monitors daily narcotic counts - if applicable
• Monitors daily environment of care and reports needs accordingly
• (No ford or dinks in rooms where patients are seen with the clinic - report issues to EMS if necessary)
• Completes employee ASSIST on the day of employee injury
• The nurse manager reviews patient incidences in JPSR
• Nurse manager checks all systems for notification after events and for Nurse Manager's signature
• Changes in ambulatory operations and policies and procedures are communicated to staff on timely basis
• Participates in/facilitate appropriate Nursing Committee/Council meetings
• Assigns responsibility for clinic/area coverage when absent
• Complies with recruitment and retention policies and procedures Provides supervision and evaluation of assigned staff and completes appraisals proficiencies on a timely basis for RN'S - LVN'S and other staff as applicable
• Reviews and revises job descriptions and/or functional statements and competencies as needed
• Schedules and documents orientation programs for new staff on a timely basis
• Monitors base line direct patient care for new staff within 30 days of being hired - then on a 90 day period evaluation
• Ensures compliance with VHA - System and clinic policies
• Ensures compliance with TJC - CARF - and other regulatory bodies and standards
• Complies with biannual CPR certification for all health care providers and other staff
• Support the timely completion of Mandatory on line in service education programs and staff development
• Organizes - documents and schedules staff for in service education on new equipment or procedures
• Ensures compliance with Infection Control - National Patient Safety Goals standards - policies and procedures
• Participates in system level committees
• Participates in and reviews with clinic/area management staff clinic/area needs
• Assist in the development of the clinic business plan
• Ensure budget reports and statistics are accurate and timely
• Ensures timecards for all Nursing Staff are documented and are completed accurately in timely manner to timekeeper
• Staff request for OT/CT are submitted timely
• Time exceptions are cleared
• Monitors leave use quarterly by printing time and attendance and issue to staff quarterly
• Reviews leave use quarterly and address employees who show a pattern (i.e
• verbal - written - and sick leave certification)
• Ensures clinical reminders are completed
• - Works cooperatively with the clinic management team
• Uses tact and understanding in difficult or sensitive situations - utilizing principles of service recovery
• Maintains privacy and confidentiality of all employee - administrative or patient issues/information - including electronic - print - and conversations
• Actively participates in policies - procedures and standards to promote evidence-based patient-driven care
• Assures the delivery of patient centered care to all patients and employs population health management principles to optimize health and wellbeing for the patient through such activities as use of evidenced-based practice recommendations - completing clinical reminders - tracking high risk behaviors - maintains an awareness of access with an awareness of third next available appointments and assisting the patient to develop coping mechanisms - assisting the patient to identify health care goals and actions to take to meet those goals and evaluating progress
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday (8:00 a.m
• - 4:30 p.m.) 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 Telework: This position is eligible for Telework (Ad-Hoc)
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized.