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 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). The approving official may authorize a waiver of the requirement for ACEN or CCNE accreditation of any degree in nursing provided the college or university has regional accreditation from an accrediting body recognized by the Department of Education at the time of the candidate's graduation and the composite qualifications of the applicant warrant such consideration. 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. 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. 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: The population of male and female veterans served ranges from the adult, age 18, to the elderly adult, age 65 and over. This position requires visual acuity (glasses permitted), keen hearing (hearing aid permitted), clear distinctive speech, and manual dexterity. This position requires potentially long periods of continued walking, standing, lifting, carrying, stooping, sitting, bending, pulling, and pushing. 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, or home settings. Use of rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously. 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. Must complete annual Employee Health requirements, such as annual TB screening or testing, as a condition of employment. ["This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT. This announcement will remain open until September 29, 2023 (or when positions filled). The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be September 12, 2023.Eligible applications received after that date will be referred at regular intervals, every Friday, or as additional vacancies occur on an as-needed basis until positions filled.VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Nurse Total Rewards The Columbia VA Health Care System is actively recruiting Registered Nurses for Inpatient Mental Health. The Inpatient Mental Health RN manages the nursing care of psychiatric patients in accordance with established protocols, procedures and policies of the Columbia VA health care system. The incumbent will work on Recovery East (Inpatient Psychiatric Unit), a locked 20-22 bed unit. Responsible for monitoring the care of the Veteran and is responsible and accountable in maintaining Nursing Practice. Makes assignments and directs activities of other unit staff (RN, LPN, NA). Recognizes subtle changes in patient's condition and responds timely, choosing the correct interventions. Performs ongoing assessment of patient condition and response to treatment. Initiates referrals to other disciplines and/or services as appropriate. Assesses the patient's learning needs, learning preference, and readiness to learn. Accurately documents in the medical record patient findings, assessments, and care provided documentation is technically informative, complete, accurate, consistent, concise, and timely. Revises Multidisciplinary treatment plan based upon on-going patient assessment and evaluation. Uses the Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS) and the Bar-Coded Medication Administration (BCMA) software per policy. Demonstrates a knowledge and understanding of human behavior, patient motivations and reactions to situations, and ability to appropriately utilize this knowledge in working effectively with patients, family members, and other staff. Establishes constructive and professional relationships with individual patient and their families to elicit feelings and attitudes, and to promote positive relationships, communication, and socialization skills. Fosters an environment of respect for individual patient and family rights to privacy and dignity in all aspects of care delivery. Organizes and prioritizes duties in order to meet changing patient care needs and staff assignments. Assigns patient care responsibilities based upon patient needs and competencies of staff. Participates in goal oriented patient education groups. Effectively incorporates knowledge and understanding of established customer service standards in all interactions with patients, family members, and/or other internal/external customers. Ensures that patients that are of high risk such as suicide/homicide or aggressive behaviors, active withdrawal from substances are provided the appropriate care to ensure their safety. In some instances, patients may be placed on one to one monitoring or close observations. On some occasions if clinically warranted, RN (and those she/he supervises) may have to use restraints/seclusion if all other alternative interventions have been tried which includes de-escalation techniques. All patients receive a q 15-minute round check by a member of the nursing staff. A nursing care generated plan of care is formulated, a safety plan based on nursing assessments, using the nursing process, and high risk criteria based on the ANA Standards of Nursing Practice and Suicide Prevention policy. Must use equipment correctly and accurately interprets data. Uses the Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS) and the Bar-Coded Medication Administration (BCMA) software per policy. 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: 7:00a-3:30p, 3:00p-11:30p, 11:00p-7:30a (Subject to change based on the needs of the organization) Compressed/Flexible: Not Available. Telework: Not Available. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: May be authorized to highly qualified candidates. EDRP Authorized: Contact ,Lena.Gowder@va.gov, the the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized. Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]

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