Registered Nurse - Primary Care

Summary

The Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT) Outpatient Staff Registered Nurse (RN) is responsible for providing competent - evidence-based gender-specific care to primary care patients and oversight of licensed vocational nurses/nursing assistants - as appropriate to the setting.

Qualifications

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.) 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/12932091
• 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: One year medical/surgical and ambulatory care experience preferred
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: This position potentially requires flexibility in schedule and assignments
• This position requires visual acuity - keen hearing - clear - distinctive speech - and manual dexterity
• This position requires long periods of continued walking - standing - stooping - sitting - kneeling - bending - pulling - and pushing
• Transferring patients and objects may be required
• The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and must don protective clothing in isolation or during patient procedures and care
• The incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium - dementia - or psychiatric disorders
• Use of fingers - both hands and near and far vision is required
• Must complete annual Employee Health requirements - such as annual TB screening or testing - as a condition of employment.
  
  

Duties

• PACT RN provides direct Veteran care and care coordination - as it pertains - to Veterans and their care within the Primary Care Department
• Manages assigned panel(s) - utilizes registries - and ensures appropriate evaluation and access is provided to patient panels
• This nurse provides health promotion - health education and coaching on wellness - disease prevention - and chronic care management
• Major Duties Include But Not Limited To: Evaluates and documents patient response/progress towards attainment of goals/expected outcomes.2
• Consistently completes patient care assignments - including documentation - by the end of tour of duty
• Takes a leadership role in initiating effective action in emergencies
• Directs others as indicated to maintain a safe and therapeutic environment
• Examples may include: life threatening emergencies - disturbed behavior management - internal or external disaster
• Demonstrates knowledge and documented use of internal and external resources related to outpatient care issues and resources to assist clients in resolution of healthcare needs
• Demonstrates competency in the ability to initiate and facilitate emergency transfers to appropriate levels of care
• Demonstrates knowledge and competency in the use of the Co-Managed Care policy and the processes that directly relate to internal processes within the urgent care/triage area
• Participates in the education and teaching of veterans during the process of completion of ambulatory care identified clinical reminders
• Utilizes approved Protocols and Guidelines to facilitate autonomy in providing care
• Serves as a resource for patient and family rights - responsibilities - and decision-making information and processes
• Applies skills - such as health coaching to promote patient self-management toward patient-driven holistic care plan for life
• Maintains skills of accessioning lab orders - specimen collection and processing for testing both within our laboratory and those referred to other laboratories - in the absence of laboratory staff
• Coordinates care issues between outpatients and their primary care providers
• Maintains current knowledge of multidisciplinary resources - programs and services - referring patients for community resources as appropriate
• Assists with the navigation of health care systems and intervenes or refers as needed to facilitate the achievement of patient outcomes
• Enhances patient self-management by providing information regarding all options - choices - and resources
• 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 - 7:45am - 4:30pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized