Nurse (Clinical/Psychiatric) - Defense Health Agency Civilian Corps, Falls Church, VA

Nurse (Clinical/Psychiatric) Joint Base San Antonio

Time to invest in some new footwear because if you’re San Antonio-bound, you’d better show up in boots! The Alamo City is one of the military’s most envied postings and is often referred to as “Military City USA”. Lo w cost of living, affordable homes, and the lack of state tax on retirement income are a few financial perks to living and retiring in this Texas city. A robust job market that seems partial to government and defense/security contracting ensures employment opportunities for spouses or transitioning service members. San Antonio is the country’s seventh fastest growing city yet has somehow managed to retain a “small town feel.” Quality schools and friendly locals (most with military ties) are additional  perks to living in San Antonio.

Some things you should know before you get here: trucks are the norm (the bigger, the better), love for The Spurs (NBA) runs deep, the H-E-B obsession is real (it’s a grocery store), rodeos are life, and don’t call it “San Antone”—that’s just wrong. The community boasts a vibrant Hispanic population, and enhances everything from the food, to the music, to community events. You don’t necessarily need to speak Spanish to get around, but you’d better know how to say barbacoa, tamales, and cascarones.

Name brand shopping (IKEA is the latest arrival of note), restaurants, and all variety of entertainment all add to San Antonio’s quality of life. SeaWorld, the San Antonio Zoo, Six Flags Fiesta Texas, and downtown museums are all fun outings for kids and families. Tube or kayak down a river, play or fish in the lakes, or relax by San Antonio’s famous downtown River Walk. Museums, art galleries, and historical landmarks—remember The Alamo?—round out San Antonio’s cultural offerings. Tex-mex cuisine arguably originated here, and some up and coming culinary trendsetters are making a name for themselves in the Pearl District downtown, alongside several notable breweries.

San Antonio has over 300 days of sunshine with some hot summers, mild winters and pleasant spring and fall seasons. San Antonio is in Bexar County (it’s pronounced “BEAR”) in south central Texas, and is just south of the gorgeous Hill Country. It’s only about two hours from Austin, the beach, or the desert.

Working for the Department of Defense comes with an abundance of benefits and perks to include competitive compensation packages, paid-time off, medical benefits, student loan repayments, and retirement package with Thrift Savings Plan to include matching employer contributions.

MAJOR DUTIES:

1. Performs a comprehensive behavioral health nursing assessment and history to plan, provide and direct nursing care across the continuum of care. Utilizes appropriate interview skills to identify existing and potential problems and formulates a nursing plan of care. Describes in writing the patient's appearance, emotional status, interaction with staff and/or family, and knowledge level of disease process. Utilizes and instruct others in the use of single and specialized equipment as appropriate to clinical area. Utilizes the nursing process to identify patient problems and generate nursing diagnoses; designs a plan of care, writes and implements nursing orders to achieve established goals, evaluates nursing interventions based upon the patient's response to care, documents patients' status on a continual basis and revises plan of care accordingly. 

2. Develops and initiates an innovative teaching program for patients requiring special approaches. Teaches patient and family members regarding the disease process; treatment modalities; diagnostic procedures; use of equipment related to disease/care; expected and possible adverse reactions to medications; discharge planning; health maintenance; and illness prevention. Communicates progress and/or changes to the patient, family and members of the health care team. Initiates emergency measures as appropriate. Makes interdisciplinary referrals. Identify pending crisis situations and handle appropriately. 

3. Administers many psychotropic and complex medications via the oral, intramuscular, subcutaneous, intradermal, topical, rectal, respiratory, intravenous routes. Makes independent judgments in the administration of PRN medication. Reinforces the basic knowledge of the patient regarding their prescribed medication regimen and the importance of compliance. 

4. Develops and present classes related to psychiatric/behavioral health nursing to enhance the knowledge base of peers and subordinates. Participates as an active member in classes that are sponsored by other members of the multidisciplinary team; in that the classes are part of the program established for patient care. Participates in group and milieu therapy as well as individual therapies. Coordinates patient enrollment in experiential classes that are conducted by various members of the interdisciplinary team. Participates in inter-disciplinary team planning conferences. Serves as role model and teacher for other personnel, including experienced and fully trained nurses. 

5. Directs the work of Psychiatric Technicians, Licensed Practical Nurses, Registered nurses, students and volunteers. Assumes charge nurse responsibilities as assigned. 

PERFORMS OTHER DUTIES AS ASSIGNED.

Basic Requirements:

US Citizenship required

Employee must have a current, active, unrestricted, valid Registered Nurse license in at least one US state or province/territory of the United States.

Employee must have a current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification.

Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) is highly desirable.

Position is Designated Testing Position (DTP) for drugs.

Position requires the incumbent to have passed a Child Background Check (works with Adolescent patient).

Position may require incumbent to work alternate shifts.

* This position is subject to drug testing if the incumbent:

Has direct patient contact or performs diagnostic or therapeutic functions

Extracts or works with patients' body fluids or tissues; prepares patient specimens for examination, performs specialized or non-routine tests on body fluids or tissue samples, or confirms patients' test results

Maintains, stores, safeguards, inputs, fills or distributes drugs and medicines

This position has a mandatory seasonal influenza vaccination requirement and is therefore subject to annual seasonal influenza vaccinations. Applicants tentatively selected for appointment to this position will be required to sign a statement (Condition of Employment) consenting to seasonal influenza vaccinations.