Registered Nurse - Community Services

The Community Services RN provides patient-centered nursing care, counseling, health promotion, illness and injury prevention, assessment, health education, treatment, and care coordination using the nursing process. The RN demonstrates leadership in the delivery and improvement of holistic, evidence-based care and collaborates with providers, VA facilities, community facilities, and interdisciplinary team members to coordinate services and promote optimal patient outcomes.

The Community Services Registered Nurse functions as a clinical leader and resource within the assigned practice setting. Responsibilities include providing competent, evidence-based nursing care; overseeing licensed vocational nurses and nursing assistants as appropriate; supporting nursing education, orientation, and competency development; participating in quality improvement; and promoting professional development and evidence-based practice. Major duties that include, but are not limited to: Provides and leads competent, evidence-based nursing care for Veterans, including patients with complex care needs, utilizing the nursing process of assessment, diagnosis, outcome identification, planning, implementation, and evaluation.

Coordinates inpatient and outpatient care and services, assists with appointment scheduling as needed, communicates patient conditions and care needs with physicians/providers, and collaborates with VA and community facilities to support interdisciplinary care. Identifies patient care problems and initiates appropriate referrals to other disciplines and services; accurately documents patient findings, assessments, interventions, and care provided in the medical record. Provides oversight of licensed vocational nurses and nursing assistants, as appropriate to the practice setting, and maintains accountability for the evaluation of delegated nursing activities.

Promotes Veteran/patient-driven care by addressing coordination, timeliness, safety, patient experience, and other care-delivery concerns and serves as an advocate and resource for Veterans, families, and caregivers. Leads and collaborates with interdisciplinary teams in patient care planning, decision-making, and evaluation of outcomes; promotes effective communication, teamwork, cooperation, and professional practice. Assists with nursing education, orientation, competency development, mentoring, precepting, and teaching and supports the professional development of nursing and other healthcare staff.

Integrates evidence-based practice and research into clinical practice and leads patient-care improvement through monitoring, analysis, and evaluation of outcomes and identification of efficient, cost-effective approaches to care delivery. Responds appropriately to emergency situations and maintains compliance with infection prevention, patient safety, occupational safety, and emergency preparedness requirements. - Provides age-appropriate care that considers Veterans' cognitive, emotional, developmental, chronological, and lifestyle needs while promoting dignity, autonomy, safety, self-care, and independence. Protects sensitive patient information and printed and electronic records in accordance with the Privacy Act, federal regulations, VA policy, and VHA requirements.

Maintains Basic Life Support (BLS), completes required orientation and ongoing mandatory education, and participates in competency assessment and validation. Supports continued accreditation readiness by maintaining standards of care, complete and timely documentation, safety and infection-control practices, patient privacy, and participation in performance-improvement activities. Maintains flexibility in work schedules and assignments based on the operational needs of a 24/7 hospital and performs other duties as assigned.

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: To be determined based on the needs of the service. Work schedules may include varying tours and are subject to change based on operational needs. Telework: AD-HOC telework available as needed by service. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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/13062575. 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 Work Experience/

Education

BSN Three years of community nursing experience Five years of Acute Critical Care experience Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. 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 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.

Must complete annual Employee Health requirements 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.

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.…