Registered Nurse (Mental Health)
Veterans Health Administration
Posted: February 5, 2026 (1 day ago)
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Veterans Health Administration
Department of Veterans Affairs
Location
Salary
$79,533 - $147,284
per year
Type
Full Time
More Healthcare & Medical jobs →Closes
Base salary range: $147,649 - $221,900
Typical requirements: Executive-level leadership experience. Senior executive qualifications required.
Note: Actual salary includes locality pay (15-40%+ depending on location).
This job is for a Nurse Recruiter at a Veterans Affairs hospital in Big Spring, Texas, where you'll lead efforts to hire, onboard, and keep nursing staff to support better patient care.
It involves using your nursing knowledge to plan and improve recruitment processes while working with data and teams.
A good fit would be an experienced nurse who enjoys leadership, helping others join the healthcare field, and focusing on veteran care.
The Nurse Recruiter executes position responsibilities to improve nursing and organizational outcomes.
The Nurse Recruiter provides leadership in delivering and improving the processes of recruitment, onboarding, and retention of the nursing workforce.
The Nurse Recruiter uses their leadership and expertise of nursing practice, clinical knowledge, and data to assess, plan, coordinate, implement and evaluate recruitment and retention efforts of nursing staff.
Basic Requirements: English Language Proficiency. In accordance with 38 U.S.C.
7403(f), no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English.
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); OR Individuals attending a master's level bridge program in nursing who have completed coursework equivalent to a bachelor's level degree in Nursing may have opportunity to become registered as a nurse with a state licensing board prior to completion of the bridge program.
Upon achievement of a State license, the individual may be appointed on temporary basis and later converted to a permanent appointment upon successful completion and graduation from the bridge program.
(Reference VA Handbook 5005, Appendix G6); OR In cases of graduates of foreign schools of professional nursing, possession of a current, full, active, and unrestricted registration will meet the requirement for graduation from an approved school of professional nursing to warrant an appointment as a Nurse who has completed an associated degree/entry level Nursing education program.
Credit for foreign nursing education higher that associate degree/entry level requires a formal degree equivalency validation from a recognized equivalency evaluation accepted by VA such as International Consultants of Delaware (ICD).
Current, full, active, and unrestricted registration as a graduate professional nurse in a State, Territory or Commonwealth (i.e., Puerto Rico) of the United States, or the District of Columbia.
Graduate Nurse Technician (GNT) Exception: Candidates who otherwise meet the basic education requirements, but do not possess the required licensure, may be appointed at the entry step of the grade and level applicable to the completed nursing education as a GNT on a 120-day temporary appointment while actively pursuing licensure (may be extended up to two years on a case-by-case-basis.) HPTs who are on track to graduate/complete the requirements should respond as if they have met the requirements.
Provide details in the narrative sections of the assessment.
NOTE: Grandfathering Provision - All persons currently employed in VHA in 0610 series and 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.
Grade Determinations: The following Scope, Education and Dimension criteria must be met in determining the grade assignment of candidates, and if appropriate, the level within a grade.
The Dimension requirements (Practice, Veteran/Patient Driven Care, Leadership, Professional Development and Evidence-Based Practice/Research) are detailed for each grade and level within the online assessment: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12880227.
Grade/Level Scope Education Nurse I, Level I Delivers fundamental, knowledge-based care to assigned clients while developing technical competencies.
An Associate Degree (ADN) or Diploma in Nursing, with no additional professional nursing required.
Nurse I, Level II Demonstrates integration of biopsychosocial concepts, cognitive skills and technically competent practice in providing care to clients with basic or complex.
An ADN or Diploma in Nursing AND 1 year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I, Level 1 ;OR a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) with no additional professional nursing experience required.
Nurse I, Level III Demonstrates proficiency in practice based on conscious and deliberate planning. Self-directed in goal setting for managing complex client situations.
An ADN or Diploma in Nursing AND 2 years of professional nursing experience in which one year is equivalent to Nurse I, Level 2; OR a BSN and 1 year of professional nursing experience equivalent to the Nurse I, Level 2; OR a Master's degree in nursing (MSN) and no additional professional nursing experience; OR a Master's degree in a *related field with a BSN and no additional professional nursing experience.
Nurse II Demonstrates leadership in delivering and improving holistic care through collaborative strategies with others.
A BSN with 2 years of professional nursing equivalent to Nurse I, Level 3; OR an MSN with one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I, Level 3; OR a Master's degree in a *related field with a BSN and one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I, Level 3; OR a Doctoral degree in Nursing with no professional nursing experience; OR a Doctoral degree in a *related field with a BSN with no additional professional nursing experience.
Nurse III Executes position responsibilities that demonstrate leadership, experience and creative approaches to management of complex client care beyond the immediate practice setting.
MSN and 2 years of specialized nursing experience, one of which is equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III; OR a Master's degree in *related field with BSN and two years of specialized nursing experience, one of which is equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III; OR a Doctoral degree in Nursing with and one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III; OR a Doctoral degree in a *related field with a BSN and one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III.
*Note: Foreign education programs/degrees are not creditable as related degrees.
Preferred Experience: BSN required, MSN preferred A minimum of four (4) years of nursing practice Minimum 1 year experience with proficiency/resume development Leadership experience Proficient use of Microsoft programs (Word, Excel, SharePoint, Etc.) Nurse Recruiter/Human Resources experience preferred Informatics experience Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.
Physical Requirements: Lifting up to 35·pounds for 8-12 hours, intermittently, moderate carrying (15-35 pounds) for 8 to 12 hours, intermittently, lifting over 35 pounds with assistive devices in accordance with the Safe Patient Handling Policy except in emergent situations requiring prompt patient care, pulling for 8 to 12 hours intermittently, pushing for 8-12 hours, intermittently, reaching above the shoulders for 8-12 hours, intermittently, both hands required, walking 8-12 hours, intermittently, standing 8-12 hours intermittently, kneeling 8 to 12 hours, intermittently, repeated bending for 8-12 hours, intermittently, climbing and use of both legs and arms for 8-12 hours, intermittently, both legs required, near vision at 13 to 16" Jaeger 1 to 4, far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other eye, ability to distinguish basic colors, hearing aid permitted, twisting, simple grasp and fine manipulation.
Major Duties:
The Nurse Recruiter provides advance understanding in the effort to identify highly qualified talent for their facilities. Ensures candidates align with the mission of caring for Veterans.
The Nurse Recruiter utilizes clinical knowledge, skills, and abilities to personalize the experience for the candidate, improve the recruitment and retention experience for all stakeholders' and deliver compassionate nurses ready to provide care.
The Nurse Recruiter develops strategic partnerships with internal (facility leadership, current nursing staff, HR) and external (colleges, universities, associations) stakeholders to garner an applicable pipeline of candidates.
The Nurse Recruiter successfully transitions nursing students into the workforce from clinical rotations, student programs, Veterans Affairs (VA) Learning Opportunity Residencies, Post Baccalaureate Residency Programs, and others.
The Nurse Recruiter utilizes their clinical practice to assess the knowledge and experience of the candidate to assure they are in alignment with the outlined job requirements.
The Nurse Recruiter's personalized clinical experience will facilitate a mutually beneficial, tenured employment.
The Nurse Recruiter will analyze recruitment and retention data to lead the facility in the development of nursing workforce recruitment and retention strategies and initiatives.
The Nurse Recruiter serves as a clinical advisor to Senior Leadership and nursing management as it pertains to the nursing workforce planning and fosters a safe and supportive environment conducive to the professional development of health care professionals.
The Nurse Recruiter incorporates professional standards and implements broad-reaching evidence-based change with documented programmatic outcomes.
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: Monday-Friday, 08:00am-04:30pm Telework: Available Ad Hoc Only Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: May be authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
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