Clarification from the agency

NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

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The Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP) Nurse Practitioner (NP) will report directly to the BHIP Team Supervisor on their respective BHIP Team, who is supervised by the BHIP Program Coordinator. The incumbent is accountable for the behavioral health medication management and evaluation of patients under their care and holds clinical privileges and practices in collaboration with the Mental Health team. Clinical core privileges will include medical management, treatment, and ordering, performing, and interpreting labs, radiography, and other diagnostic tests for a broad variety of mental health disorders and patients. The BHIP NP will be responsible for familiarizing themselves with the various mental health disorders and management guidelines, as provided by the American Psychiatric Association DSM 5-TR. Location of duty is either at the main campus within the Mental Health Clinic in Tucson, AZ or at one of the seven Community Based Outpatient Clinics.
Duties:

• Required certification Psychiatric Mental Health NP
• The BHIP NP provides treatment for opiate use disorder maintenance and maintains clinic for treatment of opiate use disorder.
• The Incumbent will assist with coverage of BHIP psychiatric providers to include other nurse practitioners, physicians, and pharmacists, as their privileges permit.
• The incumbent will provide care to patients in the outpatient general mental health setting (BHIP) either on the main campus or in one of the Community Based Outpatient Clinics, acting on behalf of the patient to assure that necessary clinical services are received, and that progress is being made toward Mental Health care goals.
• The BHIP NP may also care for patients through My HealtheVet web site secure messaging or by telephone communication.
• The BHIP NP follows national guidelines and processes to execute core clinical privileges. The incumbent may request additional delineated privileges per Credentialing and Privileging policy and regulation.
• The incumbent examines patients and establishes a medical diagnosis by patient history, physical examination and relevant data such as laboratory and radiographic studies. The NP is responsible for ordering and interpreting diagnostic studies to identify, develop and implement a plan of care for patient medical need.
• The Incumbent consults and acquires, and coordinates services based on the patient need and demonstrates sound decision-making skills in determining plan of care and recognizes when patients are beyond their education, credentialing and responsibilities and arrange for transfer to appropriate provider or service.
• The BHIP NP prescribe and dispenses medication in accordance with Arizona Board of Nursing Practice Act, SAVAHCS policies the Drug Enforcement (DEA) Act. DEA registration is required. The BHIP NP also adheres to VHA and SAVAHCS documentation and compliance standards.
• The scope of service coordination will be throughout the continuum of care to assure that care is timely, appropriate, of high quality and cost effective. In addition, the BHIP NP coordinates care to the BHIP NP refers patients to their PACT team for follow up care as needed. Follow up diagnostic studies in addition to the acute needs for diagnosis and treatment will be referred again to the assigned BHIP NP panel for ongoing care management services.
• The incumbent will provide a leadership role in the department that includes innovation, consultation, advocacy, accountability, and responsibility for improved Mental Health services and participate in the development, implementation, and evaluation of quality improvement in Mental Health and Community Clinics. The incumbent will make appropriate recommendations or changes in practice based on feedback and data collected on patients and assume accountability as a NP by accepting responsibility as a care provider, recognizing own abilities and limitations, and consistently seeks guidance and learning experiences that provide professional and personal growth.
• Mental Health Service values cultural diversity across our staff and training programs. Our staff represent a variety of cultural backgrounds, competencies, interests, and theoretical orientations

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.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• 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).
• You may be required to serve a probationary period.
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

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 - 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 Board Certification - All APN (NPs) must maintain full and current basic board certification as a Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) 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: Demonstrates leadership in delivering and improving holistic care through collaborative strategies with others
• Education and Experience Requirement: Meets basic education requirement for APN (NP). Nurse II is considered the entry grade level for APN (NPs); no experience is required.
• Dimension Requirement: APNs (NPs) at level II are expected to meet the following dimension requirements:
  • Clinical Practice. Delivers evidence-based health care, demonstrating proficiency in the ability to manage a patient panel, population, or program.
  • Outcome Focus. Utilizes research and evidence-based practice to evaluate the patient care delivery system within a patient panel or program, presents findings and contributes to changes that enhance the quality and timeliness of veteran/patient care.
  • Leadership. Works effectively as a leader within a team/unit/group and seeks interdisciplinary collaboration as appropriate to enhance patient care.
  • Professional Development. Acquires knowledge and skills to develop expertise in area of practice.
  • Professionalism/Collegiality. Demonstrates effective communication skills and professional behavior, promoting cooperation and teamwork. Participates in interdisciplinary teams and processes that positively impact patient outcomes.

• 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

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.