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The Primary Care Mental Health Integration (PCMHI) Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) is a member of an interdisciplinary team that provides recovery oriented, Veteran centered clinical care for Veterans with a variety of medical, surgical, and psychiatric diagnoses in collaboration with the primary care teams in a co-located, collaborative care model.

The Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner provides mental health services for any eligible Veteran; requested services to include, but are not limited to:
-Supporting behavioral health care provided by primary care teams (Patient Aligned Care Teams(PACTs)) that include PCMHI Collocated Collaborative Care Providers and Care Managers.
-Colocation with Primary Care (PC) to provide both curb-side and electronic consultation to Primary Care Provider's (PCP) regarding the prescribing of psychotropic medication within Primary Care and maintaining a patient panel consistent with the PCMHI treatment milieu and goals.
-Participating in the clinical oversight of PCMHI Care Management, overseeing patient panels and clinical outcomes using an electronic registry capable of tracking clinical processes and patient outcomes (e.g., Behavioral Health Lab).
-Recommending treatment plan changes, including medication recommendations and supporting additional behavioral health treatment for patients who are not improving as expected through referral management.

May participate in the on-call pool for evening and weekend coverage of either David Grant Medical Center (DGMC) or Behavioral Health Inpatient Care Unit (BHICU) depending on physical location providing inpatient care and medical/surgical psychiatric consultations, and include additional compensation

Clinical duties include, but are not limited to:

• Independently obtains medical histories and conducts medication evaluations and psychosocial assessments; diagnose and establishes and enacts treatment plans, provides psychoeducation to patients and, if appropriate, their family members.
• Make arrangements for further care if appropriate (e.g., by entering consults), orders and interprets lab and diagnostic tests, prescribes and manages medications, and serves as a consultant to other providers
• Manages Veterans with chronic suicidal and/or homicidal thoughts; conduct risk assessment and develop safety plan
• Coordinates patient care and reviews patient's progress with other members of health care team and other service providers
• Documents outpatient encounters in VA electronic medical record in a timely basis (per Mental Health Product Line policy)
• Instruct medical/nursing students, residents, and other learners that rotate through the e Primary Care-Mental Health Integration Clinic
• Demonstrates clinical competencies in such areas as age-specific care, cultural assessment, and health education
• Effectively functions both autonomously as well as a member of an interdisciplinary team, participating in treatment team and staff meetings
• Respects patients' cultural and spiritual values
• Coordinate the process of care with the other team members and other service providers to maximize efficiency
• Assesses the patient's continuing need for outpatient behavioral health care, and plan for discharge when clinically indicated
• If elects to participate, when on-call, evaluates patient admissions, further commitment evaluations, and requested psychiatric consultations on the inpatient medical and surgical services.

Conditions of employment

• U.S. Citizenship; non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• English Language Proficiency. In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(f), no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• You may be required to serve a probationary period.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.

Qualifications

Advanced Practice Nurse (Nurse Practitioner) Basic Requirements

• Education: A post-master's certificate or master's or doctoral degree as a Nurse Practitioner. (Applicants pending the completion of educational requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until the education requirements are met.) Must be a 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).
  • NOTE: Foreign Education. Graduates of foreign schools of professional nursing programs, the nurse practitioner degree equivalency must be validated through an Agency recognized degree equivalency evaluation agency, such as the International Consultants of Delaware (ICD). Candidates with equivalent nurse practitioner masters or doctorate level degrees who possess current, full, active, and unrestricted registration and certification will meet the requirement of graduation from an approved school of professional nursing to warrant appointment.
• License and Certification:
  • License. All APN (NPs) must possess and maintain an active, current, full, and unrestricted APN license to practice as an NP in a State, Territory or Commonwealth of the United States, or in the District of Columbia.
  • Basic Certification. All APN (NPs) must maintain full and current board certification in an area of clinical specialty from one of the following: the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (AANPCB), or other nationally recognized certifying body in the area in which the Nurse Practitioner is academically prepared.

• Scope: Executes position responsibilities that demonstrate leadership, experience, and creative approaches to management of complex client care.
• Education and Experience Requirement: Meets basic education requirement for an APN (NP) AND one year of specialized APN (NP) experience equivalent to the Nurse II grade level.
• Dimension Requirement: APN (Nurse Practitioners) at grade III are expected to meet the following dimension requirements:
  • Clinical Practice. Influences and models the delivery of evidence- based health care, demonstrating expertise in the ability to manage a patient panel, population, or program.
  • Outcome Focus. Leads and implements changes that enhance the quality and timeliness of Veteran/patient care applying research and evidence in the delivery of healthcare for patient populations.
  • Leadership. Initiates and leads interdisciplinary teams informed by structured approaches and processes to improve outcomes that positively impact care for a patient panel, population, or program.
  • Professional Development. Acquires knowledge and skills, then disseminates acquired information within and/or outside the medical facility.
  • Professionalism/Collegiality. Initiates and leads interdisciplinary teams developing systems that positively impact outcomes at the panel, population, or program level. Demonstrates effective communication skills and professional behavior, promoting cooperation and teamwork.

• Involves considerable amount of standing, walking, stooping, bending, reaching, lifting and turning
• Requires carrying or lifting of objects weighing up to 25 lbs., but occasionally may require work that involves pushing or lifting in excess of 25 lbs. and going up and down flights of stairs
• The position requires visual and auditory acuity at a level to provide safe care
• The position requires driving between two clinics (Fairfield and Mare Island).
• Requires use of hands for actions such as typing, simple grasping, fine manipulation and repetitive actions
• Requires the ability to frequently respond to multiple demands and priorities
• Has potential for exposure to infectious diseases, hazardous waste and chemicals
• Ability to distinguish shades of colors
• Ability to effectively utilize a stethoscope and distinguish breath and heart, and bowel sounds.
• Emotional and mental stability
• Ability to effectively

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 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.