Informaticist Registered Nurse

Summary

The Informaticist Registered Nurse (RN) exercises leadership in the assessment - planning - implementation and evaluation of hardware and software applications integrated with the electronic health record (EHR) and associated programs/applications.

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: Registered Nurse Informaticist with hands-on CAC experience and a proven record leading the education - implementation - testing - optimization - and modernization of SLVHCS clinical information systems (VistA/CPRS and related platforms)
• Demonstrates leadership - systems analysis - and creative approaches to design - delivery - and maintenance of informatics solutions that advance safe - effective - and compliant patient care
• Expert in EHR training and competency - workflow transformation - template/reminder builds - system upgrades - and cross functional collaboration with OI&T - HIMS - Clinical Engineering - AOs/ADPACs - and clinical leadership
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit
• Physical Requirements: Light lifting - under 15 pounds - Light carrying - under 15 pounds - Straight pulling (0.5hrs) - Reaching above shoulder - Use of fingers - Both hand required - Walking(1hrs) - Standing(1hrs) - Repeated bending(0.5hrs) - Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously - Specific visual requirement( one eye required) - Hearing(aid may be permitted)
• Environmental Factors: Excessive noise - intermittent - working closely with others - working alone.

Duties

• The Informaticist Registered Nurse collaborates with interdisciplinary team members - including other program and service leaders at the facility and network
• They work closely to establish and maintain effective relationships with all levels of Veteran Affairs (VA) staff nationwide
• The focus is on individual growth and development in practice with increased levels of self-direction
• The Informaticist Registered Nurse (RN) exercises leadership in the assessment - planning - implementation and evaluation of hardware and software applications integrated with the electronic health record (EHR) and associated programs/applications
• They work closely to establish and maintain effective relationships with all levels of Veteran Affairs (VA) staff nationwide
• The Informaticist will assist in directing the provision of education - orientation - competencies and providing quality improvement and outcomes utilization
• Responsible and accountable for all elements of the nursing process - influences outcomes by collaborating with members of the interdisciplinary team and executes position responsibilities that demonstrates proficiency and self-directed goal setting for managing complex situations
• The Informaticist Registered Nurse is responsible for the documented outcomes at the program or service level
• Program or service level outcomes must be broad and complex and can be demonstrated at any organizational level within a facility - Veterans Integrated Services Network (VISN) - or Veterans Affairs Central Office (VACO) - illustrating performance and leadership that benefit the facility
• Serve as a Clinical Application Coordinator (CAC) with responsibility for EHR configuration - template builds - clinical reminders - consults - menu/order set builds - iMed Consent - and VistA/CPRS upgrades
• Coordinate testing - installation - and training for EHR components and related health information systems
• validating functionality and resolving issues in collaboration with OI&T and clinical stakeholders
• Design implementing - and evaluating education and training programs for clinical information systems - including development of curricula - competency assessments - and course improvement strategies
• Mange in-person and virtual training sessions for Electronic Health Record(EHR) workflows - new employee orientation - trainee onboarding - and ad-hoc sessions for system upgrades and third-party applications
• Tracking training completion and competency through VA Talent Management System (TMS) and other tools
• ensuring compliance with VHA directives - accreditation standards - and local policies
• Develops and maintain SharePoint Online resources for hosting educational materials - tracking attendance - and collecting feedback
• Perform systems analysis and evaluation - hardware/software assessments - and recommending procurement to support clinical and administrative workflows
• Collaborate with VHA Office of Health Informatics - Clinical Informatics and Data Management Office - and Associate Chief of Staff for Clinical Informatics on EHR modernization initiatives and integration of new informatics tools
• Coordinate with OI&T - HIMS - Clinical Engineering - and other services on testing and installation of Vista/CPRS components supporting programs such as Telehealth - COVID-19 - MISSION Act - and Community Care
• Provide secondary ADPAC support and troubleshooting daily operating problems across relevant software modules
• Maintain continuous accreditation readiness
• ensuring proper medical record documentation - coding/billing practices - and safe - effective use of technology
• Plans and prioritizing work assignments
• providing advice and instruction to staff on informatics and administrative matters
• Develops collaborative partnerships and physicians - nurses - and administrative officers to improve clinical workflows and informatics outcomes
• Utilizing SQL - MUMPS - and other tools for data validation - query design - and troubleshooting EHR data/reporting pipelines
• 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 07:30am to 04:00pm
• Subject to change based on the facility needs Telework: Ad-Hoc Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): 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.