Nurse

Summary

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) - a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval - award amount (up to $200 -000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply.

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 before completion of the bridge program

Upon achievement of a State license - the individual may be appointed temporarily 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 than 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 the 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/13015251

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 needs

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/

Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 - Employee Occupational Health Service.

Duties

VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Nurse Total Rewards The Registered Nurse (RN) - Intensive Community Mental Health Recovery (ICMHR) is responsible for providing competent - evidence-based care to patients

They will assist in directing the provision of nursing education - orientation - and competencies - and in providing quality improvement and enhancing outcomes utilization

The ICMHR program provides clinical community-based case management services to Veterans with Severe Mental Illness (SMI) - severe functional impairment - and high Inpatient MH unit utilization - in coordination with existing community and Veterans Affairs (VA) services

Duties may include but are not limited to: Leads professional practice using the nursing process (assessment - diagnosis - outcome identification - planning - implementation - and evaluation) to improve evidence-based and/or data-driven outcomes for an identified patient population and/or specialized areas within immediate practice setting

Improves Veteran/patient driven care by optimizing the patient experience - satisfaction - and/or safety for the immediate practice setting

Communicates and collaborates as an effective leader of the interprofessional team - at the expert level - with improved evidence-based and/or data-driven outcomes for the immediate practice setting

Provide initial and ongoing psychiatric assessment of clients with timely documentation

Treatment planning - collaborating with the client and family members as appropriately coordinated with the interdisciplinary team to establish plans of care

Outpatient follow-up through office - community - and home visits with the client as often as needed and depending on program standards and policies as follows: Mental Health Intensive Case Management with a minimum of 1 visit per week or more as indicated by Veteran need

Some administrative assignments in support of accrediting entities' requirements - as applicable - that are shared by all team members (i.e. - TJC)

Utilizes the nursing process and evidence-based practice to collaborate with the MHICM team and other stakeholders (family/caregiver - internal and community-based services involved in providing care to the patient) in developing the patient-driven holistic care plan for life

Responsible for collaborating with services internal and external to VA to facilitate care transition to meet the patient's needs effectively and provide patient and family health education focusing on self-management - prevention - and wellness based on the patient's goals

Mental Health Intensive Case Management (MHICM) is a program that fully embraces and incorporates the core principles of psychosocial rehabilitation and recovery in all interactions - interventions - and program development

Based on VA's adaptation of the Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) model of care - the MHICM program provides case management services

It has primary clinical responsibility for Veterans with serious mental illness - often with co-occurring substance abuse and/or other complex psychosocial issues

These Veterans have been identified as high utilizers of acute psychiatric care wherein traditional clinic-based services are not adequate

The client caseload is complex based on the severity of the mental illness - co-morbidities - and resistance to standard treatments

Treatment interventions are innovative and highly individualized

The incumbent functions at a fully autonomous level

While working in the community - there may be limited supervision and the incumbent should be able to work independently

MHICM RN completes all required PMDB training

MHICM RN performs all duties as assigned by Supervisor

Required to maintain a valid Driver's License without restrictions to facilitate transportation of patients and complete community visits in various settings - including in the home setting

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: M-F 8:00 am - 4:30 pm or as determined by the supervisor

Compressed/Flexible: This may be authorized at the supervisor's discretion

Telework: Not Authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants are ineligible to apply for the incentive

Contact v21ccoeedrp@va.gov - the EDRP Coordinator - for questions/assistance

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