Career Center

The Registered Nurse Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT) is responsible and accountable for all elements of the nursing process when providing and/or supervising direct patient care. They assess, plan, implement, and evaluate care based on age specific components. They assume responsibility for the coordination of care focused on patient education, self-management, and customer satisfaction throughout the continuum of care. 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/12663575. 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: 1 year RN experience and Primary Care Experience Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: The position involves considerable standing, walking, stooping, bending, reaching, lifting, and turning. It requires restraining confused patients, repositioning patients, assisting with transferring patients to Wheelchairs/stretchers/cars, and transporting them to other departments or facilities. Mechanical devices available and are required to be used for heavy or difficult to lift patients. The work may involve pushing or lifting weight in excess of 50 pounds and going up and down flights of stairs. The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations or operative/invasive procedures. This position requires visual acuity, good hearing, distinctive speech and manual dexterity. The position requires the nurse to work for periods of time with arms above shoulder level with neck in a fully flexed or extended position and the ability to physically control or protect his/herself from physically abusive patients. ["Major Duties: Provides a full range of nursing care to Veteran/Patients, including complex care needs using the nursing process. Implements the PACT concept of right person, right place, right time that ensures access to care and supports staff functioning at the top of their scope. Management of Veteran chronic disease conditions through ongoing assessment of conditions and recognizing changes in condition and responding with timely and correct interventions. Establishes plan of care and goals with Veteran Patient after assessing learning needs, learning preferences, readiness to learn and modifies modalities of teaching when needed. Initiates referrals to other disciplines and services as appropriate and allowed by current Nursing Protocols. Offers preventative health measures to Veterans to include Whole Health modalities. Applies all modalities of care available to deliver best practice to panel Ensures that documentation of care is complete, accurate, consistent, concise, and timely. Encounters will be coded appropriately and timely. Documentation will be alerted to other team members as needed. Recommend use of SOAP/SBAR models for documentation. Implements appropriate notification processes for problematic events involving patient, family, and staff along with appropriate documentation as needed. Utilizes tools and reports to provide proactive management of Veterans with chronic disease or at high risk. Promotes, advocates for, and strives to protect the health, safety and rights of the patient. Demonstrates responsibility and accountability for own nursing judgments and actions. Collaboration with healthcare consumer and other key stakeholders in the conduct of nursing practice. Develops and implements a plan to meet learning needs, instructing patients and families in basic health teaching. Ensures application of institutional policy to protect information from unauthorized release, loss, alteration, or deletion. Maintains competency on PPE use/ donning and doffing. Complies with safety rules and regulations for safe job performance and fire protection. Practices safe body mechanics, uses mechanical devices, and/or requests help when needed in moving, lifting, or turning patients to prevent injury to patient, self, or others. Promptly reports all accidents to supervisor and notifies supervisor promptly of unsafe or unhealthy environmental situations/conditions. Corrects safety hazards promptly. Puts broken equipment out of service immediately, tags it as such and follows through for appropriate disposition of the broken equipment. Contributes to an environment of a High Reliability Organization with a culture of safety founded on a systems approach to developing health care solutions based on prevention, not punishment, with collective mindfulness. Responsible for environment of care (EOC) issues when on duty. Ensures, clean, safe environment. Labels All Medications Verifies medication refrigerator and nutrition refrigerator temperatures are within acceptable range, and cleaning logs are checked and recorded per policy. Confirms that emergency equipment (i.e., crash cart) is checked daily per policy and the log completed. Ensures other EOC issues, such as items on the PCS EOC Checklist, are enforced. Completes orientation, unit-based in-services, and mandatory educational activities in a self-directed manner. Participates in unit based educational activities and VA continuing education requirements to increase clinical and professional knowledge. Reads Outlook email messages daily when on duty without prompting. Reads policies and other messages as directed. Submits completed annual self-assessment to the supervisor in a timely manner by the requested deadline. Uses the proper chain of command for communication. Collaborates with peers in completing unit workload efficiently. Participates in unit-based performance improvement activities to improve patient care. Makes changes in own practice in response to performance improvement findings. Reviews and shares current literature in relation to practice with co-workers. x Participates in meeting VA Performance Measures to include AES. 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 8:00am-4:30pm Telework: Ad-Hoc"]

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