Summary

The primary purpose of this position is to provide patient care and care coordination - as it pertains - to Surgical and Medicine Specialties while assigned as a Specialty Care Clinic (SCC) Registered Nurse at the Mann-Grandstaff VA Medical Center (MGVAMC) in Spokane - Washington. The SCC RN is responsible for the care coordination - direct patient care as well as delegation of care delivered in the Specialty Care Clinic.

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: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12723585
• 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 https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Preferred Experience: Two years of experience as an RN Basic Life Support (BLS) Flexible - able to rotate through other SCC clinics as needed - and able to adjust to ever changing work environment
• Physical Requirements: Heavy Lifting (45 pounds and over)
• Moderate Lifting (15-44 pounds)
• Heaving carrying (45 pounds and over)
• Moderate carrying (15-44 pounds)
• Pushing (5 hours)
• Reaching above shoulder
• Use of fingers
• Both hands required
• Walking (5 hours)
• Standing (5 hours)
• Kneeling (5 hours)
• Repeated bending (5 hours)
• Both legs required
• Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously
• Near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4
• Specific visual requirement (good)
• Hearing (Aid may be permitted)
• Mental stability
• Emotional stability
• Environmental Factors: Constant noise
• Working around moving objects or vehicles
• Unusual fatigue factors (Patient care)
• Working closely with others
• Working alone
• Protracted or irregular hours of work.

Duties

• Duties may include but are not limited to: Uses the nursing process and evidence-based practice to collaborate with the Core Team (Patient - Specialty Care Provider - SCC NC/RN - LPN - Health Technician/Nurse Assistants - MSA and other clinics) and Expanded Team (family/caregiver - internal and community-based services involved in providing care to the patient)
• Functioning at the full extent of the team member's relevant clinical privileges - credentials - scopes of practice - elements of practice - certification - functional statement - position description - or other VHA or local facility approved documentation of competency
• Collaborates clinic needs and assignments with other specialty care coordinators to meet the needs of the Veterans seen in SCC
• Floats as need to other Specialty Care Clinics
• Executes position responsibilities that demonstrate leadership - experience - and creative approaches to the management and advocacy of complex Veteran care in a timely manner within the parameters of the Veterans Affairs regulations
• Assist with significant collaboration with community and VISN healthcare personnel in the transition of Veterans through the VA Healthcare System
• Managing communications and facilitating safe transitions of Veterans between the specialty clinic site of care and other health care settings - using informal and formal communication methods - as appropriate
• Providing health promotion - health education and health coaching on wellness - disease prevention - chronic care management - and self- management skills to Veterans and personal support persons based on the Veteran's goals
• Collaborating with informatics technology staff to develop and implement systematized - electronically supported - standardized - tools to support Specialty Care Clinic delivery processes (e.g. - pre-visit reminder calls - post- hospitalization follow-up calls - consult (referral) management - recall scheduling procedures - new Veteran orientation - outpatient care/specialty care protocol use and management)
• Incumbent will be self-directed in completing on-going education
• The Specialty Care Registered Nurse (RN) is responsible and accountable for individual nursing practice and determines the appropriate delegation of tasks consistent with the nurse's obligation to provide optimal specialty care
• The focus is on individual growth and development in practice with increased levels of self-direction
• This nurse provides direct patient care - care coordination - health promotion - health education and coaching on wellness - disease prevention - and chronic care management
• Work Schedule: Monday through Friday - 6:30am to 5:00pm (10 hour tours - variable days) Compressed/Flexible: Available Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual or remote position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized 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