Environmental Health Nurse Practitioner - Toxic Exposure Navigator

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.

Qualifications:

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

Basic Requirements:

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• English Language Proficiency. In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), 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 State-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). In cases of graduates of foreign schools of professional nursing, possession of current, full, active and unrestricted registration will meet the requirement of graduation from an approved school of professional nursing. OR The completion of coursework equivalent to a nursing degree in a MSN Bridge Program that qualifies for professional nursing registration constitutes the completion of an approved course of study of professional nursing. Students should submit the certificate of professional nursing to sit for the NCLEX to the VA along with a copy of the MSN transcript. (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.
• 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.
• Nurse Practitioners and Clinical Nurse Specialists. On and after [March 17, 2009], registered nurses appointed or otherwise moving into these assignments must meet and maintain the following additional qualifications. This includes employees appointed before [March 17, 2009], who obtain such qualifications on or after [March 17, 2009.]
• Nurse Practitioners. A nurse practitioner must be licensed or otherwise recognized as a nurse practitioner in a State, possess a master's degree from a program accredited by the NLNAC or CCNE, and maintain full and current certification as a nurse practitioner from the American Nurses Association or another nationally recognized certifying body. [Must hold certification as a: Adult Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner, or Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner ]

Grade Determinations: The following criteria must be met in determining the grade assignment of candidates, and if appropriate, the level within a grade:

• Nurse II - A BSN with approximately 2-3 years of nursing practice/experience; OR ADN or Diploma in Nursing and a Bachelor's degree in a related field and approximately 2-3 year's of nursing practice/experience; OR a Master's degree in nursing or related field with a BSN and approximately 1-2 year's of nursing practice/experience; OR a Doctoral degree in nursing or meets basic requirements for appointment and has doctoral degree in a related field with no additional nursing practice/experience required.
• Nurse III - Master's degree in nursing or related field with BSN and approximately 2-3 year's of nursing practice/experience; OR a Doctoral degree and approximately 2-3 year's of nursing practice/experience.

Preferred Experience: Experience in a team environment preferred. Primary Care experience. Registry exam/ Environmental Hazards experience.
Reference: VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G-6 Nurse Qualification Standard. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office.

Physical Requirements: The position requires visual acuity, keen hearing, clear distinctive speech, and manual dexterity. This position requires potentially long periods of continued walking, standing, stooping, sitting, bending, pulling, and pushing. Transferring Veterans and objects may be required. May be required to don protective equipment in isolation situations or operative/invasive procedures. Responsible for the reprocessing of reusable medical equipment, according to the medical center policies. Required to use available safe patient handling lifting devices in all clinical areas. May also be exposed to Veterans who are combative, secondary to delirium, dementia, or psychiatric disorders.

Responsibilities:

Scope of Practice:

1. Preforms independent clinical evaluation of Veterans in the Environmental Hazards Clinic for registry examinations
2. May provide coverage in Primary Care Clinics as needed
3. Supports Occupational Health Clinic and provides coverage to employee health clinic as needed
4. Care may be provided in many modalities, from direct face to face care, virtual care (including telephonic, video, secured messaging and others)
5. Keeps abreast of latest trends, skills, procedures, and protocols relevant in the area of primary care and environmental exposure
6. Participates in population health when needed

Administrative:

1. Act as subject matter expert (SME) for Toxic Exposure Screening and facilitate streamlined rollout, coordination, and optimization of the Toxic Exposure Screening implementation
2. Able to administer the Toxic Exposure Screening to Veterans, enters consults for follow-up care, and enter diagnosis codes into the health record when appropriate. They may also need to connect Veterans with follow-up care and will solicit assistance from supporting providers when Veteran needs are outside of the TES Navigator's scope of practice.
3. Serve as the point of contact for disseminating information about the Toxic Exposure Screening and report information and data back to PACT Act implementation leaders
4. Participate in the Community of Practice (CoP) to identify risks and barriers and share best practices associated with the implementation of the TES 5. Serve as the point of contact for Veteran concerns and ensuring swift response to those concerns during independent contact and follow up
6. Works with Environmental Health Clinical Coordinator to track and communicate data for follow up needs, reminder resolution and report data to leadership as requested
7. Complete training in TMS for Military exposures
8. Serves as a resource person for the health care system staff in Environmental Health.

SUPERVISORY CONTROLS.

Nurse Practitioner reporting to the Medical Director of Occupational Health will function independently to evaluate and provide high quality care, consultation, education, and screening for Veterans in the Durham VA Health Care System

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 7:45AM - 4:30PM
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
EDRP Authorized: Contact Caronda Slocum (email address) caronda.slocum@va.gov the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Salary : $200,000 - $0