Registered Nurse (RN) - Referral Coordination Team (RCT)

Summary

This position is located at the Richard L. Roudebush VAMC - IN within the PCS Procedural Medicine service. The Referral Coordination Team (RCT) RN is responsible for executing a streamlined approach to receiving - triaging - and directing timely - coordinated care. The RCT possesses knowledge of the internal referral care process - clinical review criteria - utilization management standards - clinical documentation requirements - community care regulations - and VHA standards/guidelines.

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/12923945
• 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
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Preferred Experience: Referral Coordination - Consult Management - Case Management
• 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
• The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to wear 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.
  
  

Duties

• VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Nurse Total Rewards Duties include but are not limited to: Manage and triages all incoming consults according to current VHA guidelines to get patient to first appointment prepared with all records/ documentation needed by provider
• Demonstrates ability to educate patients and families to all available care options and advocate for the Veteran's choice of care
• Knowledgeable of RCI Guidebook - OCC Field Guidebook - VISN 10 RCI SOP - and VHA Directives and utilizes these tools to guide practice.- Provides scheduling for Veterans who choose to keep care in VA during the RCI phone call
• Competent in Consult Toolbox - CTM - RMS (or other scheduling tools) and utilizes these appropriately
• Follows Service Agreements and Triage Tools to guide consult management
• Collaborates with appropriate provider for plan of care of complex cases - or guidance is needed outside of the Triage Tool is needed
• Documents consult triage on consult - clearly outlining prework needed/completed - additional info needed per Service Agreement/Triage Tool - clear plan - scheduling instructions - and next steps for patient
• Communication with patients to discuss all appropriate care delivery options
• Liaison with PACT RN - CC RN - Specialty Area Case Managers - and CC&ICM Lead Coordinators to ensure referrals are complete with clear reason/question - consult is triaged and prepared for specialty clinic or community care visit - collaboration with Lead Coordinator RNs for high utilizers/complex patients
• Liaison with RCI RNs from other facilities to allow for timely and appropriate care for consults that are sent via IFC
• When CC chosen by patient for care delivery - places CC consult and facilitates clinical approval of CC per DOA - works with CC to ensure handoff of patient
• Communicates frequently with Community Care when Veteran is no longer eligible for Community Care and assists in having DOA or PCP enter new specialty consults as needed
• Alerts DOA to Community Care requests for review and approval/denial
• Captures Veterans' preferences for Community Care providers prior to forwarding consult to Community Care
• Prepares patients for their appointments.- Coordinates care and travel and lodging of patient for all patients including coordination with tertiary facilities.- Demonstrate ability to educate patient and families
• Collaboration and handoff to Admin RCT for identified scheduling needs
• Assists with scheduling needs.- Follows up with Nurse voicemails in timely manner
• Accurately documents all necessary information
• Accurately utilizes all tools outlined in RCI orientation to guide patient RCI discussions including but not limited to Community Care Wait Time Tracker - VISN 10 Clinical Resource Tool - etc
• Accurately utilizes the Veteran Choice Dashboard to correctly capture RCI data during Veteran phone conversations
• Demonstrates effective communication with all team members - nurses - RCI Program Manager - physicians - providers - schedulers - etc
• Has ability to handle conflict at lowest level of intervention
• Demonstrates technological capacity - access - and responsibility required for tele-working
• Responsible for checking emails daily and responding appropriately
• Responsible for following hospital policies and VHA directives related to signing on CPRS notes and alerts
• Responsible for setting a surrogate - away message - and notify team when on planned leave
• Required to attend huddles - unit meetings - in-services - competencies - and any other learning requirements
• Responsible for other duties as assigned per RCI Program Manager - facility leadership - and/or designated or delegated by VHA Directives - memorandums - hospital/unit/VISN specific SOPs
• 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 thru Friday 7:30am - 4:00pm with some flexibility Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized