Registered Nurse (PACT) - Outpatient

Summary

The Nurse Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT) Outpatient Staff Registered Nurse (RN) executes position responsibilities that demonstrate leadership - experience - and creative approaches to management of complex primary care. This nurse provides sex-specific direct Veteran care and care coordination - as it pertains - to Veterans and their care within the Primary Care Department. Manages assigned panel(s) - utilizes registries - and ensures appropriate evaluation and access is provided to patient panels.

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:
• 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 Experience Preferred BLS Certification Preferred ambulatory care experience Preferred primary care experience Preferred women's health experience Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit
• Physical Requirements: Eligible applicants must be physically and mentally able to perform efficiently the essential functions of the position - with or without reasonable accommodation - without hazard to themselves or others
• Depending on the essential duties of a specific position - usable vision - color vision - hearing or speech may be required
• However - in most cases - a specific physical condition or impairment of a specific function may be compensated for by the satisfactory use of a prosthesis or mechanical aid
• This position includes a level of physicality normally associated with duties performed by nurses such as direct patient care
• and potentially long periods of walking - standing - sitting - moderate lifting
• repeated bending - or kneeling
• Examples may include - but are not limited to: significant amounts of time standing assisting assigned patients utilization of safe patient handling and mobility protocols

Duties

• Duties include - but are not limited to: Demonstrates advanced clinical knowledge in assessing planning - implementing - documenting - and evaluating care for a designated group of patients across the continuum of care: Recognizing the age related cognitive - physical - emotional - and chronological maturation needs of the adult and geriatric patient
• Triages and applies a collaborative team approach in identifying - analyzing - and resolving patient care problems
• Collaborates with patients to assess and identify needs - issues - care goals - and resources in critical factors for achieving desired outcomes for discharge - post hospital recovery and health maintenance/wellness
• Maintains current knowledge of multidisciplinary resources - programs and services - referring patients for community resources as appropriate
• Demonstrates ability to collaborate with all levels of services and disciplines
• Collaborates with patient - family and care providers in all settings where care is being provided to evaluate and update changes in the patient-driven life plan and patient management
• Reviews options with patients and families - including costs - alternatives - risks/benefits and services
• - Advocates fiscal responsibility through monitoring utilization of resources
• Assists with the navigation of health care systems and intervenes or refers as needed to facilitate the achievement of patient outcomes
• Enhances patient self-management by providing information regarding all options - choices - and resources
• Provides care - respecting patient's personal values - cultural - and belief system
• Actively participates in care delivery with priority attention to patient preference
• Provides and promotes patient-driven care in a safe - efficient and cost-effective manner - using evidence-based principles
• Promotes cost effective use of resources
• effective least-expensive strategies expected in non-face-to- face approaches (including telehealth) Maintains privacy and confidentiality of all patient information - including electronic - print - and conversations
• Serves as a resource for patient and family rights - responsibilities - and decision-making information and processes
• Applies skills - such as motivational interviewing to promote patient self-management toward patient-driven holistic care plan for life
• Supports the facility's EEO/affirmative action programs by executing assigned duties and responsibilities in a professional manner
• Guides others in the recognition of and participates in the resolution of ethical issues
• Works with interdisciplinary teams on care coordination - disease prevention and population health management
• Maintains professional knowledge and skills based on current evidence-based practice
• Demonstrates leadership by sharing knowledge with colleagues or students to enhance professional growth - development and practice
• Formally shares information gained from continuing education experiences within or across units and/or within the medical center
• Acts as a role model in fulfilling work commitments - seeking out and assuming additional responsibilities and assisting others with career development
• Promotes wellness by empowering the patient to self-management through education and patient-driven health care delivery
• Actively participates in policies - procedures and standards to promote evidence-based patient- driven care
• Completes mandatory reviews - including motivational interviewing - to promote patient self- management toward individualized life plan of care
• Maintains expertise in chronic care/disease management and Health Promotion/Disease Prevention
• Promotes patient - family and team interactions and problem solving by actively participating in interdisciplinary meetings to facilitate collaboration and the achievement of identified goals
• Functions as a resource to others to incorporate the principles of communication and the team concept
• Initiates/actively participates in interdisciplinary opportunities to improve patient care at the program level
• Follows infection control and medical center policies - including reusable patient equipment
• 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 - Friday - 8am to 4:30pm Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized

The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is the largest integrated health care system in the United States, providing care at 1,321 health care facilities, including 172 VA Medical Centers and 1,138 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics) to over 9 million Veterans enrolled in the VA health care program. VHA Medical Centers provide a wide range of services including traditional hospital-based services such as surgery, critical care, mental health, orthopedics, pharmacy, radiology and physical therapy. In addition, most of our medical centers offer additional medical and surgical specialty services including audiology & speech pathology, dermatology, dental, geriatrics, neurology, oncology, podiatry, prosthetics, urology, and vision care. Some medical centers also offer advanced services such as organ transplants and plastic surgery.