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Veterans Health Administration is Hiring a Nurse Practitioner (NP) Near Aurora, CO

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.

Preferred Experience:

• At least 1-2 years of Renal experience
• Knowledge of dialysis and chronic kidney disease

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 III - Master's degree in nursing (MSN) and no additional nursing practice/experience.
• Nurse II - Master's degree in nursing and approximately 1-2 year's 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 and approximately 2-3 year's of nursing practice/experience; OR a Doctoral degree and approximately 2-3 year's of nursing practice/experience.

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 NP executes position responsibilities that demonstrates leadership, experience, and creative approaches to management of complex patient care. The NP demonstrates
(a) Leading and organizing delivery of care lo assure continuity of care and peer accountability for practice, including access to care and discharge planning
(b) Using advanced clinical knowledge/judgment to promote staff Involvement in planning, decision-making, and evaluating outcomes
(c) Functioning as an expert in clinical practice and/or areas related to the assigned roles and responsibilities
(d) Systematically evaluating current practice, and formulating outcomes for groups of patients and/or organizational processes within an area of expertise
(e) Guiding, developing, and supporting staff from a leadership perspective, and
(f) Using professional standards of care, scientific evidence, and practice to evaluate programs and/or service activities, (VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G5). The NP is an expert nurse who demonstrates expertise in leadership at the systems level that is sustainable, experience, and creative approaches to management of complex situations. Roles may include, but are not limited to clinical nurse leader, clinical nurse specialist, nurse coordinator, nurse educator, expert clinician, nurse manager, nurse practitioner, nurse recruiter, or researcher. Program or service level outcomes must be broad and complex and can be demonstrated at any organizational level within a program, service, facility level, VISN, or VACO. The focus must be broad and complex and must be demonstrated at the macrosystem level. The expert nurse incorporates professional standards and implements broad-reaching evidence-based change. Leads and organizes delivery of services at the to assure continuity and peer accountability for practice.

The NP

• provides leadership in the application of the nursing process to patient care, organizational processes and/or systems, improving outcomes at the program or service level
• provides leadership in identifying and addressing ethical issues that impact patients and staff, including initiating and participating in ethics consultation
• manages program resources (financial, human, material, or informational) to facilitate safe, effective, and efficient care
• implements an educational plan to meet changing program or service needs for self and others
• maintains knowledge of current techniques, trends, and professional issues
• uses professional standards of care and practice to evaluate programs and/or service activities
• uses the group process to identify, analyze, and resolve care problems
• coaches colleagues in team building
• makes sustained contributions to health care by sharing expertise within and/or outside the medical center
• initiates interdisciplinary projects to improve organizational performance
• collaborates with others in research activities to improve care

The NP provides primary care to adults followed In the Renal Section which includes the chronic dialysis unit, renal transplant, and the renal clinics. Primary care includes assessment, diagnosis, treatment and outcome measures of healthcare problems. This includes the following: initiating and adjusting therapeutic regimens, performing histories and physicals, ordering diagnostic and therapeutic tests/studies, initiating consults and referrals, and prescribing medications/supplies in accordance with VA policy, VA formulary, State regulations and scope of practice. In addition to providing primary health care, the NP serves as a consultant to both nursing, as well as medical staff for patients with complex treatment or care needs. The NP works collaboratively with other interdisciplinary team members in providing quality care, and patient education, participating in research activities, and assisting patients in acute and chronic rehabilitation techniques. The NP serves on medical center, VISN and/or national committees and assists in the development, evaluation and communication of policies and standards of advanced nursing practice.

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: Tour of duty will be 8:00 am to 4:30pm
Compressed/Flexible: Not available
Telework: Available (ADHOC only)
Virtual: This is not a virtual position
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Job Summary