Summary

The Oncology Care Navigator (OCN) Registered Nurse (RN) executes position responsibilities that demonstrate expert leadership - experience - and creative approaches in providing complex patient management. Provides patient management - care coordination - and disposition planning for cancer patients.

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/12898155
• 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: At least 2 years Oncology experience in an acute/ambulatory care setting
• At least 2 years of experience in Case Management and working with multidisciplinary teams
• Experienced collaborator with internal and external care providers specifically in medical care transition of patients
• Experience with high volumes of workload (patient census) with demonstrated flexibility and professionalism in support of patient care standards
• Experience with educating patients - families - and caregivers on the diagnostic and staging process as well as current emerging treatment options available
• Ability to communicate professionally/effectively in both written and verbal correspondence - on the phone - and/or in-person
• 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

• ***THIS IS NOT A REMOTE POSITION - YOU MUST LIVE WITHIN OR BE WILLING TO RELOCATE WITHIN A COMMUTABLE DISTANCE OF THE DUTY LOCATION*** The OCN RN assists Veterans - family members - and caregivers with receiving the most appropriate options and services to meet their complex health care needs
• Coordinates care with multiple providers across all levels and sites of care
• Coordination also includes assuring services interface within the Veterans Affairs and community programs to provide continuity of care to patients
• Provides oversight of the patient's journey through the diagnostic and treatment continuum - ensuring that all steps in the process are scheduled - timely and completed - while tracking the overall treatment plan
• OCN RN will identify and eliminates barriers to care for patients in need of oncology care and coordinates care across the continuum and through transitions in care
• OCN RN will follow certain patients from the earliest suspicion of cancer through the continuum of cancer care including diagnosis - treatment - survivorship/surveillance - or palliation/end of life
• The OCN RN is responsible and accountable for all elements of the nursing process when providing and/or supervising direct patient care
• Assesses - plans - implements - and evaluates care based on age-specific components
• The OCN RN will develop and execute appropriate multi-disciplinary oncology navigation activities in collaboration with interdisciplinary team -IDT as needed in support of the Veteran's health needs
• The OCN RN is responsible for outreach efforts to establish and maintain positive working relationships with key community stakeholders -e.g. - community hospitals and providers - etc.-
• The OCN RN will interface with outside referral agencies and ensure that their business and clinical practices are compliant with regulatory standards
• Anticipates and implements preventive patient care measures
• Possesses the ability to assess data reflective of the patient's status and interpret the appropriate information needed to identify each patient's requirements relative to their age-specific needs - providing care as considered necessary
• Provides guidance and education to patients and caregivers and collaborates with other professionals at all levels
• Addresses psychosocial - as well as nursing and medical needs of patients and their families/caregivers - through participation with the interdisciplinary care team
• Ensures the plan of care and educational requirements are individualized and tailored specifically to support each individual patient's needs
• Reports status of service needs and contributes to problem resolution and modification of processes as necessary
• Evaluates care and outcomes to ensure timely and appropriate provision of services
• Advocates for holistic care through patient/family education and provider interaction and implements an educational plan to meet the patient care needs
• The OCN provides education/training to all clinicians and services on the OCN's role and processes
• The OCN RN documents all encounters in the Electronic Medical Record (EMR)
• Additionally - the incumbent documents all Veteran interactions/encounters/communication using face-to-face - Clinical Video Telehealth (CVT) - telephonic - VA Video Connect (VVC) - or secure message (SM) in EMR
• Will appropriately code encounters/communication/historical notes using the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) - Evaluation and Management (E&M) - and DM-specific Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) codes
• Encounters will be completed and signed within 72 hours of initiation
• The incumbent conducts nursing peer reviews as assigned
• OCN RN participates in local and VISN oncology-related meetings including conferences and committees
• 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