kandidatu USA

Inpatient Mental Health Registered Nurse

Veterans Health Administration · Department of Veterans Affairs

This job in plain English

This is a full-time inpatient mental health registered nurse job at the Eastern Oklahoma VA Health Care System in Muskogee, Oklahoma, part of the Veterans Health Administration. The nurse cares for Veterans in the inpatient behavioral health unit, and the job can require floating to other patient care areas. It is an open continuous announcement for 3 vacancies, so it may close early once the positions are filled.

3 vacancies (the announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies)

It may close early. This is an open continuous announcement, so it may close before the closing date once the vacancies are filled. The first group of applicants is scheduled for review on November 13, 2026.

Can you apply?

Yes, if you are a U.S. citizen: this job is open to everyone.

  • Agency employees onlyOnly current employees of the hiring agency.
  • Open to everyoneAny U.S. citizen or national can apply. Some jobs also accept non-citizens; the announcement says so.

Other groups listed above may get extra consideration, for example veterans' preference.

Open to all U.S. citizens. First consideration goes to current permanent employees of the Eastern Oklahoma VA Health Care System. Veterans' preference does not apply to current agency employees.

What you would do

  • Provide patient-centered, recovery-oriented care to patients with mental health conditions.
  • Lead shift reports, warm hand-offs, and nurse-led psychoeducational groups.
  • Use therapeutic communication and de-escalation techniques with patients.
  • Report and help resolve patient safety concerns.
  • Document nursing assessments, care plans, and patient safety observations.
  • Float to other patient care areas as needed.

Do you qualify for VN?

With experience: Your nursing experience is matched to a grade level. For example, Nurse I, Level II requires 1 year of specialized nursing experience at the Level I standard, unless you have a bachelor's degree in nursing. Mental health experience is preferred but not required. Paid and unpaid work, including volunteer work, counts.

With education: An associate degree or diploma in nursing qualifies you for Nurse I, Level I. A bachelor's degree in nursing (BSN) can qualify you for Nurse I, Level II with no extra nursing experience. A master's degree in nursing (MSN) can qualify you for Nurse I, Level III with no extra nursing experience. Your nursing program must be accredited by ACEN or CCNE. Foreign nursing degrees do not count as related degrees.

Licenses and certifications you need:

  • Current, full, active, and unrestricted registered nurse (RN) license from a U.S. state, territory, Puerto Rico, or D.C.
  • A temporary Graduate Nurse Technician appointment may be possible while you pursue your license.

How to apply well

What to send:

  • Long-form resume or curriculum vitae (CV)
  • Transcripts if you qualify through education
  • Professional certification or license copy if requested
  • DD-214 if you claim veterans' preference
  • SF-15 if you claim 10-point veterans' preference
  • Most recent non-award SF-50 if you are a current permanent VHA or federal employee

How you will be rated: You are rated on how well you meet the qualifications, using an online questionnaire. Your experience is reviewed against five nursing areas: practice, Veteran/patient-driven care, leadership, professional development, and evidence-based practice/research. Your documents will be verified, and errors or missing information may lower your rating.

Tips for this job:

  • Upload a long-form resume or CV. The 2-page resume limit does not apply to this job.
  • Describe your nursing work clearly, with dates, hours, and duties, because your experience will be verified.
  • If you want EDRP loan repayment, plan to submit that separate application within four months of appointment.

Good to know before you apply

Schedule: Full-time. One of three shifts is assigned at selection: 6:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. with rotating days off; 6:30 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. with rotating days off; or 2:30 p.m. to 11:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Incentives and relocation: Relocation and recruitment incentives are not authorized. This job is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), which repays student loans, with awards up to $200,000. You must apply within four months of appointment, and former EDRP participants cannot apply.

Conditions of employment:

  • U.S. citizenship (non-citizens only when citizens cannot be recruited)
  • Drug test (urinalysis) before appointment
  • Selective Service registration for men born after 12/31/1959
  • Background and security investigation
  • Online onboarding with acceptable ID; the ID must be REAL ID compliant
  • Pre-employment physical evaluation
  • Annual seasonal flu vaccination or an approved exemption
  • English proficiency required for direct patient care
  • Possible probationary period

We wrote this summary automatically from the official announcement. The announcement on USAJOBS is the only one that counts: read it before you apply.

Job details

Salary
$82,817 – $149,876 per year
Pay scale and grade
VN · VA nursing
Location
Muskogee, Oklahoma
Appointment
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Excepted
Openings
3
Security clearance
Not Required
Travel
Not required
Drug test
Not required
Supervisory
No
Occupation
Nurse (0610)
Announcement
CBSU-13106390-27-AMN

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