Nurse

Summary The Caregiver Support Program Registered Nurse (RN) Clinical Assessor is responsible for knowledge of eligibility criteria for the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC), day-to-day operation of the Caregiver Support Program (CSP), and all reporting requirements within the assigned Veterans Integrated Systems Network (VISN). The CSP includes the PCAFC and the Program of General Caregiver Support Services (PGCSS) within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). Responsibilities VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Nurse Total Rewards Duties including but not limited to: Practice Leads and organizes delivery of care to ensure continuity of care and peer accountability or practice in alignment with the ANA Standards of Nursing Practice. Applies advanced clinical knowledge/judgment to lead staff involvement in planning, decision-making, and evaluating outcomes beyond the immediate practice setting. Applies nursing expertise to lead improvement, with demonstrated outcomes, beyond the immediate practice setting. Veteran/Patient Driven Care Leads initiatives to improve the Veteran experience i.e., care coordination, timeliness to resolve issues, negative trends, or environment of care concerns, beyond the immediate practice setting. Demonstrates leadership in patient advocacy by protecting the health, safety, and rights of patient population groups beyond the immediate practice setting. Leads staff to identify, analyze and address ethical issues that impact patients, caregivers, and staff beyond the immediate practice setting. Models' high reliability principles and I CARE values to improve the consistency of care delivery and patient outcomes beyond the immediate practice setting. Leadership: Demonstrates positive, effective communication skills, professional behaviors and leadership that promotes a commitment to excellence, improving nursing practice, and fostering collaboration among customers beyond the immediate practice setting. Makes sustained contributions to healthcare by actively participating in healthcare facility or service-level committees or councils, establishing active relationships and demonstrating leadership in improving care beyond the immediate practice setting. Leads with emotional and social intelligence. Demonstrates resilience in coping with challenging and stressful situations, to assist others in increasing their self­ determination and competence beyond the immediate practice setting. Excels in making appropriate judgements. Demonstrates integrity in the workplace and facilitates formal and informal mentoring opportunities to develop current and future leaders beyond the immediate practice setting. Initiates and leads interdisciplinary teams that utilize critical thinking to improve nursing practice beyond the immediate practice setting. Professional Development: Leads educational initiatives that expand knowledge to improve outcomes beyond the immediate practice setting. Accountable for personal and professional career goals with outcomes that have an impact beyond the immediate practice setting. Guides the professional growth of others beyond the immediate practice setting. Advances nursing practice through contributions to knowledge development or education beyond the immediate practice setting. Evidence-Based Practice/Research: Demonstrates expertise in evidence-based practice/research resulting in improved outcomes beyond the immediate practice setting. Demonstrates expertise in managing resources that contribute to efficient, cost­ effective care and sharing knowledge beyond the immediate practice setting. Demonstrates expertise in performance improvement by leading initiatives and sharing outcomes beyond the immediate practice setting. Demonstrates expertise by integrating patient preferences into care delivery decisions and sharing knowledge and outcomes with peers beyond the immediate practice setting. 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, 8:00am-4:30pm Requirements Conditions of Employment 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. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements ( Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Must pass pre-employment physical examination. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). You may be required to serve a probationary period. Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement. 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. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit Physical Requirements: 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. Position specific duties/expectations are detailed in the associated competency and should be performed once the competency has been validated. This position potentially requires flexibility in schedule and assignments. In carrying out responsibilities, it is necessary for the incumbent to travel into the community where they provide services to Veterans and Caregivers. Services provided in homes or other community locations may require the use of stairs, walking on uneven terrain and reasonable exposure to the elements Education Additional Information This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.