This is an Open Continuous Announcement for Central Texas Veterans Health Care System at the Copperas Cove, TX duty location for use when vacancies occur for Certified Nurse Practitioners. 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: Participation as a member of a multi-disciplinary treatment team providing a full range of Mental Health services to patients. Demonstrates a high level of practice using evidence-based nursing principles involving caring for patients with complex mental health illness. Experience in maintaining appropriate clinical records and follow-up data on patients who are under their clinical care and responsibility. Comfortable in providing Mental Health care through Telehealth modalities Ability to treat a wide range of psychiatric diagnoses in an adult population Works well within a team framework Ability to work autonomously 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: The position requires moderate to heavy lifting (15-44 pounds and over), light to heavy carrying (45 pounds and over), straight pulling (1-2 hours), pushing (1 hour), reaching above shoulder, use of fingers, walking (8-10 hours), standing (8-10 hours), repeated bending (0.5 hours), both legs required, ability for rapid mental and 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, both eyes required, depth perception, ability to distinguish basic colors, ability to distinguish shades of colors, hearing (aid permitted), mental and emotional stability, simple grasping (2 ["The Psychiatry Nurse Practitioner position is located at the VA Community Based Outpatient clinic in Copperas Cove, Texas. The incumbent has direct line authority, responsibility and accountability for the nursing administration, operations and nursing care provision as assigned and/or delegated by the Associate Chief of Mental Health. 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. This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until December 29, 2023. The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be March 27, 2023. Eligible applications received after that date will be referred at regular intervals or as additional vacancies occur on an as-needed basis until positions are filled. VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Nurse Total Rewards Duties: The Psychiatry Nurse Practitioner will be assigned to the Mental Health and Behavioral Medicine (MH&BM) Service in Copperas Cove, Texas. The incumbent will provide psychiatric services to patients seeking scheduled treatment services in the Primary Care Mental Health Integration Clinic and may be required as needed to assist with evaluating patients who seek treatment on an unscheduled walk-in basis. Primary responsibilities will be diagnostic assessment, medication management and coordination of care, which could be done in-person or by Telehealth modalities including VA Video Connect (WC), for individuals with serious mental illnesses, including Major Depressive Disorders, Bipolar Disorder, Schizophrenia, PTSD and Substance Use Disorders as well as co-morbid medical conditions. The incumbent will order laboratory tests, x-rays, EK G's and comparable diagnostic procedures as necessary. The incumbent will provide education and counseling of patients and family in preventative care, psychiatric and medical conditions, and use of prescribed medications. The incumbent may also be required to assist in facilitating transfers to the Waco Inpatient Psychiatry Unit or Non-VA inpatient psychiatry units for those Veterans requiring acute psychiatric hospitalization. All progress notes, consultation requests, reports of histories and physicals, and summaries written by the incumbent will clearly identify him/her as a Nurse Practitioner. The incumbent will perform teaching activities and supervision of advanced nurse practitioner trainees, as available. The incumbent will be under the supervision of the supervisory psychiatrist or designee. The incumbent may be assigned other clinical and/or administrative tasks as needed in accordance with their credentialing privileges. 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: Monday - Friday 8:00am-4:30pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Contact VISN17EDRP2@va.gov,, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]
The Veterans Health Administration is America’s largest integrated health care system, providing care at 1,298 health care facilities, including 171 medical centers and 1,113 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics), serving 9 million enrolled Veterans each year.
