Registered Nurse Outpatient – Mental Health

Department of Veterans Affairs

Clarksville, Tennessee Full-time $72,609 – $129,726 Closes Jul 10, 2026

Summary

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application.

Duties

  • This position in located in Clarksville, TN The Outpatient Mental Health (MH) Registered Nurse (RN) executes position responsibilities to improve patient and organizational outcomes.
  • The psychiatric MH RN executes their position duties by providing patient-centered and recovery-oriented care and maintaining self-awareness while caring for patients living with MH conditions.
  • The MH RN facilitates care coordination, linking with the Inpatient MH Units to facilitate continuity of care, MH interdisciplinary treatment team huddles and meetings, warm hand-offs, and develops content as well as facilitates nurse-led psychoeducational groups.
  • The MH RN uses therapeutic communication techniques, practices de-escalation techniques, utilizes recovery-oriented language, and provides Veterans, their family members, and/or significant others with education regarding their illness, medications, and treatment plan.
  • The MH RN reports and assists and/or directs safety concern resolution and collaborates with program leadership to help improve patient and program outcomes; and directs team response to psychiatric and medical emergencies.
  • The MH RN executes position responsibilities that demonstrate leadership, experience, and creative approaches to management of complex client care.
  • The MH RN documents nursing triage assessments, risk screens, measurement-based care tools, clinical reminders, and patient plan of care according to facility policy.
  • The MH RN maintains professional boundaries to protect patient vulnerabilities and act in the best interest of the patient.
  • Provides peers with formal or informal constructive feedback for improvement.
  • Supports colleagues and other nurses through knowledge sharing to provide safe, quality nursing care.
  • Fosters a safe and supportive environment conducive to the professional development of health care professionals.
  • 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: Based on the needs of the service Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
  • Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive.
  • Contact visn9hredrp@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance.
  • Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Pay Scale: NY 48

Requirements

  • 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.
  • 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 identification 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.

Required Documents

  • To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:
  • Resume Special Note for
  • Applications: To complete your application, please use the following link https://vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Resume.docx to download the standard Clinical Resume
  • This one-page document does not need to be modified and must be uploaded into the two-page restricted 'Resume' document upload field.
  • Your full resume/CV may be uploaded without page limitation into the 'Other' document upload field.
  • The following documents are accepted and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position.
  • DD-214/ Statement of Service Disability Letter (VA) License Other (1) Performance Appraisal Professional Certification Resume Separation Notice (RIF)
  • SF-15 SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action Transcript Veterans' Preference
  • Preference eligible candidates and other
  • Veterans will be given preference when qualification of candidates are approximately equal for
  • Title 38 positions in
  • VHA. When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible
  • Veterans should claim preference for 5pt (TP), 10pt (CP/CPS/XP), or for Sole Survivor
  • Preference (SSP) in the questionnaire. You must provide a legible copy of your
  • DD214(s) which shows dates and character of service (honorable, general, etc.).
  • If you are currently serving on active duty and expect to be released or discharged within 120 days you must submit documentation related to your active duty service which reflects the dates of service, character of service (honorable,
  • General, etc.), and dates of impending separation.
  • Additionally, disabled veterans and others eligible for 10-point preference (such as widows or mothers of eligible
  • Veterans) must also submit an
  • SF-15 "Application for 10 Point Veteran
  • Preference" with required proof as stated on the form. Documentation is required to award preference. For more information on
  • Veterans' Preference, please visit Feds Hire Vets

About this role

The Registered Nurse Outpatient – Mental Health position and is based in Clarksville, Tennessee. This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program.

Day to day, the work involves the psychiatric MH RN executes their position duties by providing patient-centered and recovery-oriented care and maintaining self-awareness while caring for patients living with MH conditions. The full list of duties, conditions, and required documents appears in the official announcement linked on this page.

Who should apply

This role calls for United States citizenship and a valid driver's license. Be prepared for a pre-employment drug screening and physical or medical requirements as part of the hiring process. Match your federal resume directly to the announcement's wording so a reviewer can confirm each requirement in writing. For this Registered Nurse Outpatient – Mental Health position in Clarksville, Tennessee, confirm you meet each requirement before applying.

How competitive it is

Competitiveness for this Registered Nurse Outpatient – Mental Health role depends mainly on how closely applicants match the stated qualifications. Based in Clarksville, Tennessee, it competes within that local market, which can mean lighter competition than major metropolitan postings.

This overview is general guidance from Job Army to help you understand the role. Always read the official announcement for exact duties, qualifications, and requirements before applying.

Job Details

Department Department of Veterans Affairs
Job Type Full-time
Location Clarksville, Tennessee
Salary $72,609 – $129,726
Pay Period Per Year
Closing Date Jul 10, 2026
Posted Jul 2, 2026
Source ID CBTG-12997342-26-UJ
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