Registered Nurse - Outpatient Patient Aligned Care Team

Summary

The Patient Aligned Care Team Outpatient (PACT) Registered Nurse (RN) leads and coordinates complex primary care, providing sex-specific direct Veteran care, care coordination, and panel management using registries. Promotes health education, wellness coaching, chronic disease prevention, and collaborates on policy and procedure development, implementation, evaluation, and revision. Demonstrates leadership, experience, and innovation in care delivery.

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Duties

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Major Duties Include, but are not limited to:

• Responsible and accountable for all elements of the nursing process in patient care delivery.
• Assesses, plans, implements, and evaluates care based on age-specific needs.
• Coordinates care focusing on patient education and self-management.
• Ensures customer satisfaction throughout the continuum of care.
• Administers medications per established policies and guidelines.
• Performs clinical procedures in accordance with policy.
• Collaborates with interdisciplinary team members to influence care outcomes.
• Provides direct, sex-specific care and care coordination to Veterans.
• Manages assigned patient panels utilizing care registries.
• Ensures proper evaluation and access for patient panels.
• Delivers health promotion and wellness education.
• Coaches patients on disease prevention and chronic care management.
• Participates in policy, procedure, and guideline development and evaluation.
• Provides constructive feedback to peers for improvement.
• Shares primary care knowledge to support colleagues and safe nursing care.
• Fosters a safe and supportive environment for health care professional development.
• Evaluates outpatient outcomes based on evidence-based practice changes.
• Documents and tracks PACT outcomes at program/service level.
• Demonstrates leadership that improves care for Primary Care Department and facility.
• Flexible with scheduling and assignments as needed.
• Maintains physical ability for prolonged walking, standing, sitting, lifting, bending, kneeling.
• Utilizes safe patient handling and mobility protocols.
• Stands for significant periods assisting assigned patients.
• Responsible to assigned supervisors and accountable to ADPCS.
• Adheres to VA qualification standards for Nurse III.
• Demonstrates expertise in professional practice using the nursing process.
• Leads and organizes care delivery ensuring continuity and peer accountability.
• Applies advanced clinical knowledge to lead staff involvement and decision-making.
• Leads staff in planning and outcome evaluation.
• Makes improvements in nursing practice with outcomes beyond immediate setting.
• Leads initiatives to improve Veteran experience, satisfaction, and safety.
• Advocates for Veteran health, safety, and rights.
• Identifies, analyzes, and addresses ethical issues impacting patients and staff.
• Models high reliability principles and VA "I CARE" values.
• Promotes consistent information and courteous communication to all customers.
• Handles conflict constructively and appropriately with patients and staff.
• Provides care/services appropriate to patients' age and developmental needs.
• Assesses and interprets patient information to meet age-specific requirements.
• Demonstrates knowledge of changes related to aging and provides age-appropriate care.
• Ensures staff training in age, development, and lifestyle categories.
• Recognizes and assists with lifestyle adjustments, risk factors, and strengths in all age groups.
• Assists late maturity patients to stay active and maintain independence.
• Protects printed and electronic files containing sensitive data.
• Complies with Privacy Act and VA regulations regarding data security.
• Follows procedures for electronic file access and security.
• Performs duties with flexibility to accommodate PACT and facility needs.
• Leads educational initiatives for staff and professional growth.
• Guides and mentors other nursing professionals formally and informally.
• Initiates and leads interdisciplinary teams using critical thinking.
• Integrates evidence-based practice/research with clinical expertise for quality care improvement

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, 8am to 430pm

Compressed/Flexible: Not Authorized

Telework: Not Authorized

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized

Permanent Change of Station (PCS) : Not Authorized

PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO) : Not Authorized

Requirements

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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 evaluation.
• 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.

*Preferred Experience: :

• Minimum of 1 year RN experience in an inpatient hospital setting.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit

Physical Requirements: Functional requirements include ability to climb stairs; frequent walking, standing, kneeling, repeated bending, and squatting. Transferring patients and objects may be required. The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations, invasive procedures, or home settings. The incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium, dementia, or psychiatric disorders. The incumbent must be a mature, flexible, sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations, able to shift priorities based on patient needs. Must complete annual Employee Health requirements as a condition of employment.

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.

Whole Health is an approach to health care that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their life to the fullest. The VA is committed to Whole Health and values Veteran and Employee health and wellbeing. As a VA employee, you will practice Whole Health in an environment that supports personalized and proactive care.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.