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Registered Nurse- Outpatient Mental Health

Veterans Health Administration · Department of Veterans Affairs

This job in plain English

This is a full-time Registered Nurse job in the Outpatient Mental Health clinic at the VA Central Iowa Health Care System in Des Moines, Iowa, part of the Veterans Health Administration. Applications close at 11:59 PM ET on 10/31/2026.

1 vacancy, which may also be used to fill additional vacancies

Can you apply?

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

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

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

Open to the public and to U.S. citizens, nationals, or people who owe allegiance to the U.S. Current federal employees of the hiring agency can also apply, since the job is listed as internal to an agency.

What you would do

  • Provide patient-centered, recovery-oriented nursing care to Veterans with mental health conditions.
  • Lead nursing care for patients with complex care needs.
  • Teach Veterans and families about illness, medications, and treatment plans.
  • Run nurse-led psychoeducational groups and respond to psychiatric and medical emergencies.
  • Coordinate care with the interdisciplinary team and inpatient mental health units.
  • Document nursing assessments, risk screens, and plans of care.

Do you qualify for VN?

With experience: Experience is used to set your grade, and it must be professional nursing experience matched to the grade level. Two years of mental health experience is listed as preferred, not required.

With education: A Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) is listed as preferred. Higher grades can also be reached with a master's (MSN) or doctoral degree, depending on the grade. The nursing school must be accredited by ACEN or CCNE.

Licenses and certifications you need:

  • Current, full, active, and unrestricted registration as a graduate professional nurse in a U.S. state, territory, or DC

How to apply well

What to send:

  • Long-form resume or curriculum vitae (CV)
  • License showing your nursing registration
  • Professional certification, if you have one
  • Transcript, if you qualify through education
  • DD-214 showing dates and character of service, if you claim veterans' preference
  • SF-15 with proof, if you claim 10-point veterans' preference
  • SF-50 or performance appraisal, if applicable
  • VA disability letter, if applicable

How you will be rated: You are rated on how well you meet the qualifications, and your application and documents will be verified. Your RN experience is rated on five areas: practice, Veteran/patient driven care, leadership, professional development, and evidence-based practice/research. Missing information may lead to an ineligible rating or a lower score.

Tips for this job:

  • Send a long-form resume or CV. The 2-page resume limit does not apply to this job.
  • If you want the Education Debt Reduction Program, apply within four months of starting, and check eligibility first with the EDRP coordinator.
  • To claim veterans' preference, select it in the questionnaire and attach your DD-214 with dates and character of service.

Good to know before you apply

Schedule: Full-time, day shift, 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday. Compressed or flexible schedules are not authorized. You may be asked to work at other duty sites within VA Central Iowa Health Care System.

Incentives and relocation: Education Debt Reduction Program: student loan repayment up to $200,000 for one to five years, if approved. You must apply within four months of appointment, and former participants cannot apply. Relocation and recruitment incentives are not authorized.

Conditions of employment:

  • U.S. citizenship, unless citizens cannot be recruited
  • Urinalysis drug test before appointment
  • Selective Service registration for males born after 12/31/1959
  • Background and security investigation
  • Online onboarding with acceptable ID; non-REAL ID driver's licenses are not accepted
  • Pre-employment physical evaluation
  • Seasonal influenza vaccination required
  • Possible probationary period
  • English language proficiency required for direct patient care

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
$75,278 – $139,394 per year
Pay scale and grade
VN · VA nursing
Location
Des Moines, Iowa
Appointment
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Excepted
Openings
1
Security clearance
Not Required
Travel
Not required
Drug test
Not required
Supervisory
No
Occupation
Nurse (0610)
Announcement
CBSY-13097286-27-DB

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