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Veterans Health Administration is Hiring a Nurse Practitioner - Primary Care Float Near Clarksville, TN

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 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). The approving official may authorize a waiver of the requirement for ACEN or CCNE accreditation of any degree in nursing provided the college or university has regional accreditation from an accrediting body recognized by the Department of Education at the time of the candidate's graduation and the composite qualifications of the applicant warrant such consideration. 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 must be licensed or otherwise recognized as a nurse practitioner in a State and maintain full and current certification as a nurse practitioner from the American Nurses Association or another nationally recognized certifying body. The certification must be in the specialty to which the individual is being appointed or selected.

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

• Nurse I Level I - An Associate Degree (ADN) or Diploma in Nursing, with no additional nursing practice/experience required.
• Nurse I Level II - An ADN or Diploma in Nursing and approximately 1 year of nursing practice/experience; OR an ADN or Diploma in Nursing and a bachelor's degree in a related field with no additional nursing practice/experience; OR a Bachelor's of Science in Nursing (BSN) with no additional nursing practice/experience.
• Nurse I Level III - An ADN or Diploma in Nursing and approximately 2-3 years of nursing practice/experience; OR an ADN or Diploma in Nursing and a Bachelor's degree in a related field and approximately 1-2 years of nursing practice/experience; OR a BSN with approximately 1-2 years of nursing practice/experience; OR a Master's degree in nursing (MSN) or related field with a BSN and no additional nursing practice/experience.
• 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 years of nursing practice/experience; OR a Master's degree in nursing or related field with a BSN and approximately 1-2 years 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 years of nursing practice/experience; OR a Doctoral degree and approximately 2-3 years of nursing practice/experience.

Note regarding MSN degrees: If your MSN was obtained via a Bridge Program that qualifies for professional nursing registration, a BSN is not required.

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: All applicants must be physically and mentally able to perform efficiently the duties of the position. Must be able to lift (30 lbs or more); twisting and/or bending, standing. This 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 patients and objects may be required. The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations or operative/invasive procedures. The incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium, dementia, or psychiatric disorders. The incumbent must be a mature, flexible, sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations, able to shift priorities based on patient needs. The incumbent must complete all annual Employee Health requirements, such as annual TB Screening or testing, as a condition of employment.

Responsibilities:

The NP Float Primary Care Provider shall be proficient in all aspects of the general practice of Primary Care. Specifically, the provider should possess the expertise and competency to perform the following:

1. Fully implements the components and processes relative to the VHA Primary Care Medical Home (PCMH) healthcare system design.
2. Coordinate care for a panel of outpatients as assigned by TVHS.
3. Evaluate and treat acute and chronic health problems for scheduled and unscheduled patients in the clinic setting.
4. Perform histories and physical exams.
5. Provides appropriate documentation to minimally include history, physical exam findings, diagnosis, definitive care plan and disposition of the patient.
6. Ensures that patients are appropriately closed-out including disposition that clearly indicates the next steps of care.
7. Ensures that each patient is provided a list of current medications and an appointment list at close-out.
8. Perform office procedures contained within their approved privileges.
9. Prescribe medications as appropriate.
10. Order routine laboratory, radiological and diagnostic tests and provide initial interpretation of results.
11. Communicate test results to patients.
12. Respond to questions and other inquiries from patients.
13. Initiate or expedite requests for consultations and special tests.
14. Provide education to the patient and family as necessary.
15. Order immunizations and other preventive or screening services as necessary.
16. Screen patients to determine the need for hospitalization.
17. Perform Basic Life Support as necessary.
18. Communicate clinical findings to other providers using the Computerized Patient Record System.
19. The Primary Care Staff Physician, Float NP, has responsibility for providing primary care to Primary Care (PC) patients at one or more Primary Care Clinics. The Staff NP, Float NP, can assume responsibility for a defined panel of patients. The incumbent may be required to travel to various clinic locations to provide clinical coverage in the absence of a provider and may also be required to staff a walk-in, group, or Employee Health clinic during hours specified by management. The incumbent is responsible to contribute to the achievement of quality of care standards, patient access, efficiency, process improvement and patient satisfaction within the Primary Care Division through individual patient care and panel/registry management. The incumbent is expected to practice in accordance with professional standards, core values, and with a commitment to service excellence.

VA offers a comprehensive total rewards pkage: 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 8:00am - 4:30pm
Telework: Ad Hoc
Recruitment Incentive: A $12,000 recruitment incentive if authorized
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required
Pay Schedule: NY60

Job Summary