Summary

The VA Texas Valley Coastal Bend Health Care System is currently recruiting for a Specialty Clinics Registered Nurse position.

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.) HPTs who are on track to graduate/complete the requirements should respond as if they have met the requirements
• Provide details in the narrative sections of the assessment
• 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/13101840
• 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: Case Management experience within last 5 years
• Direct patient care within last 5 years
• Ambulatory Clinic experience within the last 5 years
• 1-3 years experience with Electronic Medical Records and other applications
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: Lifting up to 35·pounds for 8-12 hours - intermittently - moderate carrying (15-35 pounds) for 8 to 12 hours - intermittently - lifting over 35 pounds with assistive devices in accordance with the Safe Patient Handling Policy except in emergent situations requiring prompt patient care - pulling for 8 to 12 hours intermittently - pushing for 8-12 hours - intermittently - reaching above the shoulders for 8-12 hours - intermittently - both hands required - walking 8-12 hours - intermittently - standing 8-12 hours intermittently - kneeling 8 to 12 hours - intermittently - repeated bending for 8-12 hours - intermittently - climbing and use of both legs and arms for 8-12 hours - intermittently - both legs required - near vision at 13 to 16"" Jaeger 1 to 4 - far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other eye - ability to distinguish basic colors - hearing aid permitted - twisting - simple grasp and fine manipulation.

Duties

• - Uses the nursing process and evidence-based practice to collaborate with the Teamlet and larger Team to meet patient care needs
• - Provides patient and family health education with a focus on self-management - prevention - wellness - and Whole Health - based on the patient's goals
• - Demonstrates advanced clinical knowledge in assessing planning - implementing - documenting - and evaluating care for a designated group of patients
• - Educates patients regarding clinic procedures and what to expect during the procedure
• - Assists with clinic procedures and monitors patient for any adverse effect
• - Triages and applies a collaborative team approach in identifying - analyzing - and resolving patient care problems
• documents own interventions
• - Monitors progress using clinical standing orders - analyzes variations - and initiates appropriate actions
• - Maintains current knowledge of multidisciplinary resources - programs - and services
• Refers patients for community resources as deemed necessary
• - Reviews options with patients and families - alternatives - risks/benefits - and services
• - Educates the patient and family on disease processes - resources - plan of care - treatments - and /or procedures
• - Screens patients for social service - home care - and other community care needs
• and coordinates or makes referrals as appropriate
• and seeks consultation when indicated
• - Ensures the patient's provider is aware of patient progress - issues - and/or problems
• - Evaluates needs and facilitates the patient's ability to learn the principles of self-care
• utilizes appropriate resources if the patient is unable to grasp the knowledge/skills needed for self-care through the use of motivational interviewing
• - Utilizes approved Standing Orders and Guidelines to facilitate autonomy in providing care
• - Promotes cost effective use of resources and effective strategies including non-face-to-face approaches (including telehealth)
• - Maintains privacy and confidentiality of all patient information - including electronic - print - and conversations
• - Applies skills - such as motivational interviewing to promote patient self-management
• - Adheres to policies - procedures - and standards to promote evidence-based patient-driven care
• - Timely compliance of required web-based educational modules (Talent Management System TMS)
• - Completes and documents secure messaging within 72 hours
• Surrogate is always identified
• Escalation of secure messaging must be maintained at 10% or less
• Routes messages to appropriate care lines as needed
• - Performs other tasks as requested by providers or supervising nursing personnel within the scope of training and abilities
• - Demonstrates flexibility and adapts to work demands or adjustment of assignments
• - Performs as a role model in the provision of excellent customer service - Reviews Message Manager and assists Team to address/complete pending alerts communicated throughout tour of duty to facilitate care and address needs of the caller within 48 hours or before being cognizant of the Veteran awaiting response
• - Completes and documents Nursing Notes in CPRS - as applicable - in a timely manner and closes the Encounter Notes for patients not seen by a provider
• Notes will be closed by the end of tour of duty daily
• Areas to be addressed include: Encounters: reasons for visit- Service Connection
• Primary Assignment-Service connected conditions under the Diagnosis tab
• Procedures - ACSC conditions - etc
• - Provides Care Management to patients with Ambulatory Care Sensitive Conditions (ACSCs) including review of the patient record - deciding if the patient needs more in-depth education (formal and/or informal) - nursing visits - and/or telephone calls between provider visits to assist in care management
• Collaborates with the High-Risk Care Coordinators - Home Telehealth - social work - and/or dieticians for referrals and care management
• Other duties as assigned
• 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
• 08:00am-04:30pm Telework: Available ad hoc only Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized