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.

Duties

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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: M-F 8:00am-4:30pm

Telework: Ad-hoc may be available

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact , the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more

The Advanced Practice Nurse (APN) III Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) practices in Mental Health (MH) Service to provide a full range of services emphasizing quality, timeliness, and the advancement of the Veterans Affairs (VA) mission. The PMHNP provides advanced clinical practice, consultation, and management on a Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP) team in the General Mental Health Clinic.

The PMHNP is a licensed independent practitioner with advanced education and national certification who provides evidence-based care for a population of patients.

Major duties and responsibilities:

•Uses advanced clinical judgment to independently provide evidence-based treatment to Veterans with acute or chronic mental illness including use of psychotropic medications, and other modalities.

•Provides patient and family education on medical/MH conditions, preventive measures, and prescribed treatments.

•Demonstrates leadership and engages in collaboration with other MH and specialty care professionals while involving Veterans and their families (as appropriate), in treatment plan development.

•Assesses and adjusts the plan of care as needed to achieve optimal patient outcomes.

•Counsels and treats patients with substance use disorders.

•Orders and interprets labs, tests, and diagnostic studies.

•Initiates referrals and consults to specialty services.

•Exemplifies the ICARE core values of-Integrity, Commitment, Advocacy, Respect, and Excellence.

License and DEA requirements: The PMHNP practices to the full extent of their education, training, and certification. However, per the Controlled Substances Act, 21 U.S.C. 801 et seq., which is enforced by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), PMHNPs prescribing controlled substances will need to meet North Carolina (NC) rules regarding prescribing. The PMHNP will be required to have a collaborative practice agreement with a physician ONLY as it pertains to prescribing controlled substances. Such agreement is embedded in the PMHNP's privileging forms. Furthermore, PMHNPs who are NOT prescribing controlled substances will not have a collaborative agreement of any category.

It is a preferred qualification of the DVAHCS for all NPs to obtain a DEA (even if he/she is not prescribing controlled substances). Greater than 1 year experience in outpatient mental health is strongly preferred.

The DVAHCS cannot mandate that a PMHNP obtain a North Carolina NP approval to practice (aka NP license). However; if a PMHNP requests to maintain an NP license in a Non-FPA state, and that state's regulation requires that all PMHNPs must collaborate with a physician who also holds a license in that same non FPA state, then the PMHNP must abide by that state's practice act/ state's regulation. If there is NOT a physician collaborator at the DVAHCS who holds a matching state license in the Non-FPA state, and if it is a condition of the PMHNP's employment to order/ prescribe controlled substances in MH, then the PMHNP will need to consider applying for a North Carolina NP approval to practice in order to fulfill his/her commitment to the assigned job duties. PMHNPs maintaining a license in a Non-Full Practice Authority (FPA) State while working at the DVAHCS must be aware of and must abide by that state board's regulation and practice act. It is the PMHNP's responsibility to provide information regarding his/her state's practice act/state's regulation to members of the Durham VA Health Care System when requested.

PMHNPs maintaining a license in a Full Practice Authority (FPA) State while working at the DVAHCS must be aware of and must abide by that state board's regulation and practice act. It is the PMHNP's responsibility to provide information regarding his/her state's practice act/state's regulation to members of the Durham VA Health Care System when requested.

Requirements

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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. 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).

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.

NOTE: Grandfathering Provision - All persons currently employed in VHA in 0610 series and an APN (NP) assignment that are also 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.

The following Scope, Education and Experience, and Dimension criteria must be met to qualify for Advanced Practice Nurse (Nurse Practitioner) II:

Exception to Licensure for Graduate Nurse Technicians. Candidates who otherwise meet the basic requirements, but do not possess the required licensure and/or certification, may be appointed at the entry step of the Nurse II, as a Graduate Nurse Technician - Nurse Practitioner on a temporary appointment up to any period not-to-exceed one year and a day under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 405(c)(2)(B).

•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.

The following Scope, Education and Experience, and Dimension criteria must be met to qualify for Advanced Practice Nurse (Nurse Practitioner) III:

•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

Physical Requirements: This position requires visual acuity, keen hearing; clear distinctive speech, and manual dexterity. This position requires potentially long periods of continued walking, standing, stooping, sitting, bending, pulling, and pushing. Transferring patients and objects may be required. Mechanical inpatient lifts are provided. The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations, operative/invasive procedures, or home settings. The incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patients who" are combative secondary to delirium, dementia, or psychiatric disorders. The incumbent must be a mature, flexible, sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations, able to shift priorities based on patient needs. Must complete- annual Employee Health requirements, such as annual TB screening or testing, as a condition of employment.

Additional information

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.

VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.

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Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Benefits

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

Outpatient Nurse Practitioner - Mental Health on a BHIP team

About this role

Major duties and responsibilities:

The following Scope, Education and Experience, and Dimension criteria must be met to qualify for Advanced Practice Nurse (Nurse Practitioner) II:

The following Scope, Education and Experience, and Dimension criteria must be met to qualify for Advanced Practice Nurse (Nurse Practitioner) III:

About Veterans Health Administration

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