Registered Nurse (Primary Care)

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. The focus is on individual growth and development in outpatient PACT nursing practice with increased levels of self-direction.

Typical duties include but are not limited to: Promotes a Just Culture environment in building a climate for effective performance while allocating available resources to promote safe, efficient, effective, and quality nursing/patient care. Observes and evaluates the quality of nursing care provided including interdisciplinary patient rounds, reviewing nursing documentation in clinical records, and collecting, reviewing, and analyzing data related to the delivery of patient care. Utilization of various data based registries and other programs to coordinate and facilitate care for complex populations including Homeless Veterans.

Utilization of care modalities and partnerships, including external resources to facilitate care by minimizing duplication in services. Assure the compliance with all regulatory agencies and standards of practice AORN and implementation of required actions to meet Performance Measures. Provides leadership in the application of the nursing process to patient care, organizational processes and systems, and improves outcomes at the program or service level.

Initiates an educational plan to meet changing program or service needs for self and staff. Implements an educational plan to meet changing programs or service needs for self and others. Maintains knowledge of current techniques, trends and professional issues with focus on Ambulatory care / Primary Care Evidenced Based Practice Coaches colleagues in team building.

Contributes to the strategic planning process, day-to-day operations, Logistics Management, Budget, Staffing, Human Resource actions, Hiring and attainment of goals of the organization. Ability to provide direct patient care to an assigned group of patients as needed Promote the mission, vision and values of the organization Supervise and evaluate staff and budgeting unit expenditures among other responsibilities Uses effective conflict resolution techniques Pursues professional growth and participates in professional organizations Acts as a patient advocate and maintains privacy and confidentiality of all information Participate in performance improvement activities Applies the nursing process to systems or processes at the unit/team/work group level to improve care. Demonstrates leadership by involving others in improving care.

Establishes and communicates workplace priorities and makes assignments accordingly. Skillfully performs in rapidly changing, atypical or crisis situations. Communicates and enforces policies and procedures, including nursing guidelines, Standard Operating Procedures, Ordering Protocols and other Policies.

Treats all patients and families with dignity and respect. Listens to and honors patient and family perspectives and choices. Patient and family knowledge, values, beliefs, and cultural backgrounds.

Supports and enhances client self-determination. Serves as a resource for clients and staff in addressing ethical issues. Demonstrates responsibility and accountability for own nursing judgments and actions.

Coaches staff to initiate ethical discussions with multidisciplinary team members, patients, and family. Identifies and assesses resource utilization and safety issues, taking appropriate action. Effectively directs the flow of patient care.

Serves as resource to ensure employees follow appropriate standard operating procedures related to the equipment, devices, and work practices that impact or have the potential to impact the environment. Participates in Joint Commission, OIG and other Hospital / Clinic Surveys. Serves as a mentor and preceptor for new nurses and tenured nurses Participates in facility or VISN-wide educational conferences, through serving on planning committees or making presentations.

Provides a self-evaluation for yearly performance evaluations Preferred

Experience

1-2 year's of Primary/Ambulatory care and case management experience is preferred. Work

Schedule

Monday - Friday, 07:30am to 04:00pm. May include Weekends and Holidays. Flexible schedules as per unit needs.

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/12987057. 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/.

Physical

Requirements

Heavy lifting (45 lbs and over); Heavy carrying (45 lbs and over); Straight pulling and pushing; reaching above shoulder; use of fingers; both hands required; walking and standing up to 8 hours; repeated bending; Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; hearing aid permitted. All registered nurses with less than 12-months of RN experience upon entry on duty (EOD) date, will complete a 12-month nurse residency program. The RN Transition-to-Practice (RNTTP) Residency Program complies with VHA Directive 1077. See https://www.va.gov/NURSING/workforce/RNTTP.asp for details.

U. S. Citizenship; non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.…