Nurse Practitioner (Regional Anesthesia, Acute, and Transitional Pain)

The Nurse Practitioner provides full-scope advanced practice care within the Regional Anesthesiology and Acute Pain Medicine and Transitional Pain Service, delivering perioperative and transitional pain management services for Veterans in both inpatient and outpatient settings. The NP practices as a licensed independent practitioner to the full extent of education, training, licensure, and national certification.

Qualifications:

Advanced Practice Nurse (Nurse Practitioner) Basic Requirements

Education: A post-master's certificate or master's or doctoral degree as a Nurse Practitioner. (Applicants pending the completion of educational requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until the education requirements are met.) Must be a 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)
• NOTE: Foreign Education. Graduates of foreign schools of professional nursing programs, the nurse practitioner degree equivalency must be validated through an Agency recognized degree equivalency evaluation agency, such as the International Consultants of Delaware (ICD). Candidates with equivalent nurse practitioner masters or doctorate level degrees who possess current, full, active, and unrestricted registration and certification will meet the requirement of graduation from an approved school of professional nursing to warrant appointment.

License - All APN (NPs) must possess and maintain an active, current, full, and unrestricted APN license to practice as an NP in a State, Territory or Commonwealth of the United States, or in the District of Columbia.

Basic Board Certification - All APN (NPs) must maintain a current, full, active, and unrestricted national board certification as an Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP-BC or ACNPC-AG) from one of the following: the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (AANPCB), or other nationally recognized certifying body in the area in which the Nurse Practitioner is academically prepared and consistent with the acute care scope of this position.

• NOTE: Grandfathering Provision - All persons currently employed in VHA in the 0610 series and an APN (NP) assignment that are also 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.

The following Scope, Education and Experience, and Dimension criteria must be met to qualify for Advanced Practice Nurse (Nurse Practitioner) II:

Scope: Demonstrates leadership in delivering and improving holistic care through collaborative strategies with others.

Education and Experience Requirement: Meets basic education requirement for APN (NP). Nurse II is considered the entry grade level for APN (NPs); no experience is required.

Dimension Requirement: APNs (NPs) at level II are expected to meet the following dimension requirements:

• Clinical Practice. Delivers evidence-based health care, demonstrating proficiency in the ability to manage a patient panel, population, or program.

• Outcome Focus. Utilizes research and evidence-based practice to evaluate the patient care delivery system within a patient panel or program, presents findings and contributes to changes that enhance the quality and timeliness of Veteran/patient care.

• Leadership. Works effectively as a leader within a team/unit/group and seeks interdisciplinary collaboration as appropriate to enhance patient care.

• Professional Development. Acquires knowledge and skills to develop expertise in area of practice.

• Professionalism/Collegiality. Demonstrates effective communication skills and professional behavior, promoting cooperation and teamwork. Participates in interdisciplinary teams and processes that positively impact patient outcomes.

The following Scope, Education and Experience, and Dimension criteria must be met to qualify for Advanced Practice Nurse (Nurse Practitioner) III:

Scope: Executes position responsibilities that demonstrate leadership, experience, and creative approaches to management of complex client care.

Education and Experience Requirement: Meets basic education requirement for an APN (NP) AND one year of specialized APN (NP) experience equivalent to the Nurse II grade level.

Dimension Requirement: APN (Nurse Practitioners) at grade III are expected to meet the following dimension requirements:

• Clinical Practice. Influences and models the delivery of evidence-based health care, demonstrating expertise in the ability to manage a patient panel, population, or program.

• Outcome Focus. Leads and implements changes that enhance the quality and timeliness of Veteran/patient care applying research and evidence in the delivery of healthcare for patient populations.

• Leadership. Initiates and leads interdisciplinary teams informed by structured approaches and processes to improve outcomes that positively impact care for a patient panel, population, or program.

• Professional Development. Acquires knowledge and skills, then disseminates acquired information within and/or outside the medical facility.

• Professionalism/Collegiality. Initiates and leads interdisciplinary teams developing systems that positively impact outcomes at the panel, population, or program level. Demonstrates effective communication skills and professional behavior, promoting cooperation and teamwork.

Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019

Responsibilities:

Major duties and responsibilities of the position:

• Independently manages a panel of patients with acute and chronic health conditions with an emphasis on health promotion and disease prevention using evidence-based practice.
• Independently manages Veterans with perioperative and transitional pain needs, including preoperative assessment, postoperative acute pain management, regional anesthesia support, and post-discharge opioid tapering within the Regional Anesthesiology and Acute Pain Medicine (RAAPM) and Transitional Pain Service (TPS).
• Demonstrates leadership and works collaboratively with the interdisciplinary team, including surgeons, anesthesiologists, Addiction Medicine, Behavioral Health, Physical Therapy, and Primary Care.
• Orders and interprets labs, imaging, and diagnostic studies to support perioperative and pain-related clinical decision-making.
• Prescribes pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic interventions, including multimodal analgesic regimens and buprenorphine for pain management, consistent with scope of practice and VAPAHCS policy.
• Initiates referrals and consults to specialty services to optimize perioperative and transitional pain care and support safe opioid stewardship.
• Provides education to patients and their families regarding regional anesthesia techniques, analgesic options, non-pharmacological pain strategies, fall prevention, and expectations for recovery and opioid tapering.
• Assesses and adjusts the plan of care as needed, incorporating risk stratification for persistent opioid use, to achieve optimal patient outcomes.
• Exemplifies the ICARE core values of - Integrity, Commitment, Advocacy, Respect, and Excellence.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm; schedule flexibility may be required based on operational needs

Telework: Not Available

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Salary : $189,549