Nurse Practitioner - Outpatient Mental Health

The Outpatient Mental Health Specialty APRN provides care to Veterans at the Rockford Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOC). A collaborative, coordinated, interdisciplinary approach is used in meeting patients' health and mental health care needs. We accept eligible veterans from adults to the frail elderly (18-90+). The patient population includes all types of psychopathologies, both acute and chronic, such as depression, schizophrenia, bi-polar affective disorder, dementia, personality disorders and PTSD. The patient population also includes patients with addictive disorders and detoxification services are provided. Many patients express suicidal or homicidal ideation and most have significant medical co-morbidity which complicates their diagnosis and treatment.

Patients receive services in an outpatient setting that produce favorable population-based outcomes that are valued by VHA. Such outcomes are at a minimum those specified within VISN scorecards. They include timely access to appointments for treatment of common subacute or chronic problems, reduction in missed opportunities, completion of clinical reminders, access to urgent care, access to brief observational care (< 24 hours), preventive care and care for common chronic conditions using evidence-based practice guidelines. Patient care data can be obtained from all locations via the integrated computer program.

In coordination with the veteran, and in accord with MHSL protocols and guidelines, Mental Health APN conducts an initial assessment of the veteran's overall life situation and develops a comprehensive and individualized treatment/rehabilitation plan. Makes diagnoses of the veteran's mental health condition on Axes I, II, IV, and V of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM).

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.

 Salary: $93,968 - $156,651 per year

Work Schedule: Full-time, Monday - Friday 8:00am - 4:30pm (may include weekend and/or holidays)

Telework: Available

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized

Perks of a Career at the Wm. S. Middleton Memorial VA Hospital:

https://www.vacareers.va.gov/Benefits/EmploymentBenefits

• 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)
• A childcare subsidy program
• 12 weeks of paid parental leave
• Free parking or transit subsidy programs
• Workforce and leadership development programs
• Career training and enhancement programs
• Thrift Savings Plan Federal 401(k) - VA provides up to 5% employer matched/automated contributions to your plan
• Federal Employee Retirement System (FERS) - VA contributes 8.3% annually to FERS basic/defined benefit
• 11 paid Federal Holidays, 13 sick leave days, and 13-26 vacation days per year
• Social Security paid by VA - (6.2 % of taxable wages up to max of $132,900 on behalf of employee
• Medicare paid by VA (1.45% on behalf of employee)
• Flexible Spending Account (FSAFEDS)
• Life Insurance - (VA pays 1/3 of insurance cost for basic life insurance)

Rest easy knowing that VA has you and your family’s insurance needs covered. Insurance coverage may follow you into retirement after (5) years of vested service (conditions apply). For a full list of benefits, visit: VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Nurse Total Rewards (https://vacareers.va.gov/benefits/total-rewards/?issuu=vha_totalrewardsbrochure_nursing)

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.
• Current, full, active, and unrestricted registration as a graduate professional nurse AND nurse practitioner in a State, Territory or Commonwealth (i.e., Puerto Rico) of the United States, or the District of Columbia.
• A nurse practitioner must be licensed or otherwise recognized as a nurse practitioner in a State, possess a master's degree from a program accredited by the NLNAC or CCNE, and maintain full and current certification as a nurse practitioner from the American Nurses Association or another nationally recognized certifying body. The certification must be in the specialty to which the individual is being appointed or selected.

Preferred Experience:

• One year experience as a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner at a minimum

Required Specialty Area Certification:

• American Nurses Credentialing Center - Advanced Practice Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Certification (to be considered must upload to job application)

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.

To find out more about education/experience levels, visit: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/0600/nurse-series-0610/

For a full job description and to apply, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/job/742659700

Application Deadline: Tuesday, 10/31/2023

*** IMPORTANT – PLEASE READ FOR APPLICATION PURPOSES: ***

• A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week
• All experience listed on your resume must include the month and year start/end dates
• Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities
• Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment
• IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Rockford VA Clinic, 816 Featherstone Rd, Rockford, IL 61107

The United States Government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factor.