Summary
The Nurse 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. This nurse provides direct Veteran care and care coordination - as it pertains - to Veterans and their care within the Primary Care Department.
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/12829413
- 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 Experiences: 5 years Med/Surg RN Experience or 2 Years RN ER/ICU
- Experience within the last 3 years 1 year RN Adult Outpatient Primary Care Experience within the past 3 years BSN or above AAACN Ambulatory Care Certification Veteran's Healthcare experience Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
- Physical Requirements: Moderate lifting - 15-44 pounds
- Light lifting - under 15 pounds
- Moderate carrying - 15-44 pounds
- Light carrying - under 15 pounds
- Pulling hand over hand (8-12 hours)
- Pushing (8-12 hours)
- Reaching above shoulder
- Use of fingers
- Both hands required
- Walking (8-12 hours)
- Standing (8-12 hours)
- Kneeling (8-12 hours)
- Repeated bending (8-12 hours)
- Climbing - legs only
- Climbing - use of legs and arms
- Both legs required
- Near vision correctable at 13"" to 16"" to Jaeger 1 to 4
- Ability to distinguish basic colors
- Hearing (aid permitted).
Duties
- The Registered Nurse - Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT) duties include - but are not limited to the following: - Completes face to face - telephone - and video assessments to establish nursing diagnoses as needed
- - Assesses - plans - implements - and evaluates care based on population specific components
- - Knowledge and ability to appropriately carry out assigned patient care based on the patients' conditions
- to use judgment in selecting the appropriate order and sequence of procedures and treatments
- and to accurately recognize - report and record relevant patient information
- - Ability to observe - identify and respond to the patient's needs for care - including medication - equipment-assisted care - and patient/family education
- - Providing health education and procedural teaching to patients and significant others
- - Perform procedures per established policies and guidelines
- - Influences care outcomes using effective communication and collaboration with members of the interdisciplinary team
- - Administering medicine per established policies and guidelines
- - Establishing priorities and making ethically-sound decisions to ensure safe patient care
- - Assisting the physicians during diagnostic and therapeutic procedures to promote optimal patient outcomes by team collaboration
- - Responding to emergency situations to promote optimal patient outcomes by recognizing changes in patient's health status
- - Performing diagnostic studies within the scope of nursing practice as ordered by the physician
- - Documenting patient data to ensure continuity in the provision and coordination of patient care
- - Collaborating with other health care professionals
- - Communicating with veterans and family members regarding veteran's care
- - Knowledge and understanding of human behavior - patient motivations and reactions to situations - and ability to appropriately utilize this knowledge in working effectively with patients - family members and other staff
- - Establishes constructive relationships with individual patients and their families to promote positive relationships and communication
- - Fosters an environment of respect for individual patient and family rights to privacy and dignity in all aspects of care delivery
- - May be responsible for charge nurse duties
- - Managing follow-up care
- - Acting as resource to others
- - Participating in continuing education - achieving/maintaining certification
- - Possess knowledge of unit level quality improvement indicators
- - Applies knowledge and actively participates in unit/program level quality improvement processes and initiatives
- - Provides excellent customer service according to ICARE values
- - Executes position responsibilities that demonstrate leadership - experience - and creative approaches in the management of complex patient care
- - Additional duties as assigned such as covering/float to other teams (Teamlet)
- 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 through Friday - 7:30am to 4:00pm OR 9:30am to 6:00pm CST Virtual: This is not a virtual position
- Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
