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Veterans Health Administration is Hiring a REGISTERED NURSE (PROGRAM COORDINATOR)-COMMUNITY NURSING HOME, RESPITE CARE AND MEDICAL FOSTER HOME Near Grand Junction, CO

Qualifications:

*** This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until March 1, 2024. The initial cutoff date for referral of eligible applications will be January 11, 2024. Eligible applications received after that date will be referred at regular intervals or as additional vacancies occur on an as needed basis until positions are filled. ***

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
n 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.

-Graduation from School of Nursing
Graduate of a school of professional nursing approved by the appropriate State 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). 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.

-Registration
A registered nurse (RN) will have a 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.

Preferred Experience: 2-3 Years of Case Management Experience

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 5005/27, Part II, Appendix G6 Nurse Qualification Standard. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office.

Physical Requirements: 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. Mechanical inpatient lifts are provided. The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations, operative/invasive procedures, or home settings. 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. Must complete annual Employee Health requirements, such as annual TB screening or testing, as a condition of employment. The incumbent who provides care in home settings or other off-site locations may be required to drive and/or ride in GSA-vehicles.

Responsibilities:

The Community Nursing Home (CNH) Registered Nurse (RN) Coordinator is administratively accountable to the CNH Program Nurse Manager. The incumbent is responsible for ensuring that Veteran care management needs are identified and that plans are made to meet these needs through active collaboration with CNH facilities as well as other health professionals within the interdisciplinary team and in the community. The incumbent will be based at the Western Colorado Health Care System (WCHCS) VA Medical Center (VAMC) but will be required to work within the community providing visits for care management for Veterans and administrative oversight of CNH facilities. In addition, the incumbent manages and coordinates the oversight, quality assurance and exclusion criteria for all nursing home facilities within the WCHCS VAMC network. The CNH RN Coordinator is responsible for coordinating a variety of treatment services and administrative needs including outreach, care management services, discharge
planning, multidisciplinary activities, assessments, and the collection and maintenance of facility inspections, reviews of state reports, member of the family reports, nursing home compare sites data, updating National-driven data for compliance and monitoring of needs of the fiscal obligations for the contract services within CNH facilities. Collects comprehensive health data and utilizes clinical practice knowledge in follow-up of patients.

Duties

-Establish relationships with professional and/or other health-related groups within the CNH program.

-Provides consultation to CNH personnel regarding Veteran and family needs and/or concerns.

-Provides clinical services to Veterans to include authorization of placement, benefits available, education, guidance, emotional support, and other support as applicable.

-Operate a Government vehicle to visit Veterans in the community. Incumbent must pass all VA requirements to operate a Government vehicle.

DIMENSION OF NURSING PRACTICE:

PRACTICE
- Uses an analytical framework, such as the nursing process, to create an environment that facilitates the delivery of care. Coordinates and evaluates integrated programs or demonstrates clinical excellence in management of population groups.

ETHICS
- Provides leadership in addressing ethical issues that impact patients and staff in or beyond the organization and the local health care community.

RESOURCE UTILIZATION
-Designs, modifies, and implements systems compatible with professional standards and within the mission and the goals of the organization to improve the cost-effective use of resources.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
- Develops staff for career progression. Forecasts new knowledge needs for changing practice environments/population groups. Plans, implements, and evaluates strategies to meet those needs.

PERFORMANCE
-Implements standards of professional practice and accrediting bodies and applicable regulations.

COLLABORATION
-Demonstrates leadership in developing productive working relationships with groups in other programs, services, academic settings, and community settings.

COLLEGIALITY
-Contributes to the professional growth and development of colleagues and other health WCHCS, Grand Junction, CO care providers at the local, state, regional, or national level.

SCIENTIFIC INQUIRY
-Provides leadership in improving and sustaining the quality and effectiveness of care in diverse or complex programs.

RESEARCH
-Collaborates with staff, other disciplines, faculty, and peers in developing, conducting, and evaluating research activities and programs.


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: M-F, 08:00AM-4:30PM
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Recruitment Incentive: May Be Authorized
EDRP Authorized: Contact Jillana Martinez, jillana.martinez@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Job Summary