Nurse- Acute Psychiatric with EDRP

Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration
Waco, TX

Summary

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) - a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval - award amount (up to $200 -000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply.

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.) 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:
  • 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
  • Preferred Experience: Evidence of Belt/Systems Redesign training/experience/certification SNT/GNT/RNTTP completion <5 years Professional Governance participation Preceptor/charge nurse experience/training (combination of experience and training is acceptable) Evidence-Based Practice experience/training (combination of experience and training is acceptable) Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit
  • Physical Requirements: This position may require potentially long periods of continued Heavy lifting of 45 pounds and over - Moderate lifting of 15-44 pounds - Heavy carrying of 45 pounds and over - Moderate carrying of 15-44 pounds - Light carrying under 15 pounds - Straight pulling for 1-2 hours - Pushing for 1 hour - Reaching above shoulder - Use of fingers - Walking for 8-10 hours - Standing for 8-10 hours - Repeated bending .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 may be permitted) Mental and emotional stability - Simple grasping for 2-4 hours - Sitting for 8 hours - Fine manipulation for 4-8 hours - Twisting for 2 hours.

Duties

  • The Acute Psychiatric Nurse duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to the following: Provides and leads the provision of competent - evidence-based care - the psychiatric mental health (MH) nurse independently provides patient-centered and recovery-oriented care - milieu management - and maintains self-awareness while caring for patients living with MH conditions
  • Facilitate shift reports - warm hand-offs - and nurse-led psychoeducational groups
  • Use therapeutic communication techniques
  • Practice de-escalation techniques
  • Utilize recovery-oriented language
  • Actively participates in MH interdisciplinary treatment team & MH Environment of Care rounds
  • Assumes team lead for psychiatric emergencies
  • Reports and assists in resolving safety concerns
  • Documents nursing assessments - nursing plan of care - patient safety observations - and environmental safety rounds according to facility policy
  • Maintains professional boundaries to protect patient vulnerabilities and act in the best interest of the patient
  • Has oversight of licensed vocational nurses/nursing assistants - as appropriate to the setting
  • Assist in directing the provision of nursing education - orientation - competencies and providing quality improvement and outcomes utilization consultation
  • Provides peers with informal constructive feedback for improvement
  • Fosters a safe and supportive environment conducive to the professional development of healthcare professionals
  • Contributes professional nursing perspective in discussions with the MH interdisciplinary team
  • Supports colleagues through MH knowledge sharing to provide safe - quality nursing care
  • Shares MH educational findings - experiences - and ideas with peers
  • Questions clinical practices for the purpose of providing evidence-based care
  • Participates in activities and strategies to sustain an evidence-based MH practice culture
  • 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: 7:30am - 4:00pm - Rotating weekends and holidays Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
  • Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authoirized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
  • Contact [email protected] - the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance
  • Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Create a Job Match for Similar Jobs

The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is the largest integrated health care system in the United States, providing care at 1,321 health care facilities, including 172 VA Medical Centers and 1,138 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics) to over 9 million Veterans enrolled in the VA health care program. VHA Medical Centers provide a wide range of services including traditional hospital-based services such as surgery, critical care, mental health, orthopedics, pharmacy, radiology and physical therapy. In addition, most of our medical centers offer additional medical and surgical specialty services including audiology & speech pathology, dermatology, dental, geriatrics, neurology, oncology, podiatry, prosthetics, urology, and vision care. Some medical centers also offer advanced services such as organ transplants and plastic surgery.

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Posted 2026-06-12

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