Duties
Registered Nurse - Primary Care Mental Health Integration
General Description of Assigned Duties:
Delivers fundamental knowledge-based care to assigned clients while developing technical skills. Assesses, plans, implements, and evaluates care based on age-specific components. Assumes responsibility for the coordination of care focused on patient education, self-management, and customer satisfaction throughout the continuum of care.
Functions of Scope of Assigned Duties:
The Nurse Primary Care Mental Health Integration (PCMHI) Collaborative Care Manager (CoCM) Registered Nurse (RN) promotes personal growth and development of primary care - mental health nursing practice. The PCMHI CoCM provides evidence-based, condition specific (e.g., depression), protocol-driven services to collaboratively assist Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT) providers in treating common Mental Health (MH) and health behavior concerns in Primary Care (PC). PCMHI CoCM services include patient education, activation, behavioral interventions, monitoring of medication adherence and response, as well as other protocol-driven services. These services are provided in the outpatient PC setting utilizing all aspects of the nursing process within a collaborative, interdisciplinary practice setting.
Duties include but not limited to:
- Applies the nursing process to systems or processes at the team level to improve patient care.
- Provides telephonic triage and initial assessments in order to determine veteran's mental health needs and to prevent delay in care.
- Utilizing appropriate knowledge and judgment, initiates mental health plan of care, places appropriate consults, and provides follow up as indicated.
- Applies a collaborative team approach in identifying, analyzing and resolving problems. Participation in weekly caseload consultations.
- Participates in educational activities to improve clinical knowledge and skills, maintain expertise, and enhance role performance in area of practice.
- Demonstrates positive, effective communication skills and professional behavior that promote cooperation and teamwork with internal and external customers.
- Effectively communicates information to appropriate staff, in a timely manner, regarding patient care issues.
- Follow Referral Management protocol (RM) and Consult procedure (within scope of practice).
- BHL desktop software and managing PCMHI data trackers.
- The PCMHI CoCM conducts relapse prevention planning throughout care, including transition from active treatment to maintenance as goals are achieved.
PCMHI CoCM conducts relapse prevention planning throughout care, including transition from active treatment to maintenance as goals are achieved. Effectively communicate with patients, families, caregivers, VA leadership, and members of the interdisciplinary team using therapeutic communication techniques, practices de-escalation techniques, and utilizes recovery-oriented language
Evidence-Based Practice/Research:
Awareness of evidence-based practice/research to improve quality of care and resource utilization.
Expectations:
1. Applies evidence-based practice/research to patient care.
2. Participates in unit-based activities to improve and deliver cost effective patient care.
3. Demonstrates knowledge of specific unit level performance improvement activities.
4. Incorporates patient preferences into shared care delivery decisions
Veteran/Patient Driven Care:
Knowledge of Veteran/patient driven care, patient experience, satisfaction, and safety.
Expectations:
1. Establishes a therapeutic relationship, allowing the patient to attain, maintain or regain optimal function through assessment and treatment.
2. Engages patients, families, and other caregivers to incorporate knowledge, values, and beliefs into care planning without judgement or discrimination.
3. Knowledgeable of ethical issues related to professional nursing practice and follows established policies of the practice setting, VA, and ANA Code of Ethics for Nurses.
4. Aware of high reliability principles to deliver consistent care and improve patient outcomes
VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package:
VA Nurse Total Rewards
Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 0800 -- 1630
Telework: Not available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
How You Will Be Evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.
NOTE: Candidate's education, scope, and length of nursing practice (experience) will be considered in determining the grade and salary of the applicant selected. The recommended salary may be at any point in the range listed for this vacancy.
Experience as an RN will be evaluated to determine if the experience is of an acceptable level of quality with regard to the following five dimensions of nursing: Practice, Veteran/Patient Driven Care, Leadership, Professional Development, and Evidence/Based Practice/Research. Each dimension of practice has criteria that demonstrate essential core competencies for VHA Nursing Personnel.
Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.
It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.
Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.
How to Apply
All applicants are encouraged to apply online. To apply for this position, you must complete the full questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 06/02/2025 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12740391.
- To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USA JOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire.
- Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package.
NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date.
During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.
Next steps
Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. After we receive application packages (including all required documents) and the vacancy announcement closes, we will review applications to ensure qualification and eligibility requirements are met. After the review is complete, a referral certificate(s) is issued and applicants will be notified of their status by email. Referred applicants will be notified as such and may be contacted directly by the hiring office for an interview. All referred applicants receive a final notification once a selection decision has been made.
You may check the status of your application at any time by logging into your USA Jobs account and clicking on Applications. Information regarding your application status can be found in the USAJobs Help Center.
NOTE: Participation in the seasonal influenza program is a condition of employment and a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). It is a requirement that all HCP to receive annual seasonal influenza vaccination or obtain an exemption for medical or religious reasons. Wearing a face mask is required when an exemption to the influenza vaccination has been granted. HCP in violation of this directive may face disciplinary action up to and including removal from federal service. HCP are individuals who, during the influenza season, work in VHA locations or who come into contact with VA patients or other HCP as part of their duties. VHA locations include, but are not limited to, VA hospitals and associated clinics, community living centers (CLCs), community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs), domiciliary units, Vet centers and VA-leased medical facilities. HCP include all VA licensed and unlicensed, clinical and administrative, remote and onsite, paid and without compensation, full- and part-time employees, intermittent employees, fee basis employees, VA contractors, researchers, volunteers and health professions trainees (HPTs) who are expected to perform any or all of their work at these facilities. HPTs may be paid or unpaid and include residents, interns, fellows and students. HCP also includes VHA personnel providing home-based care to Veterans and drivers and other personnel whose duties put them in contact with patients outside VA medical facilities.