Career Center

The Utilization Management (UM) RN demonstrates a high level of clinical practice, knowledge, and leadership skills to improve patient access, flow, and positively impact the facility utilization of services. The UM RN will be aligned within Patient Business Service and must work independently in accomplishing assignments and program goals. Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. Education: Graduate of a school of professional nursing approved by the appropriate State-accrediting agency and accredited by one of the following accrediting bodies at the time the program was completed by the applicant. [NOTE: See exception in subparagraph (b) below for candidates who are enrolled in a MSN Bridge Program.] The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), previously known as the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC) OR The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). The completion of coursework equivalent to a nursing degree in a MSN Bridge Program that qualifies for professional nursing registration constitutes the completion of an approved course of study of professional nursing. In these programs, students are given a certificate of professional nursing to sit for the NCLEX and should submit this certification to VA prior to appointment. Students do not earn a BSN, but receive a MSN degree upon completion of course work. A copy of the MSN transcript must be provided to VA. Bridge programs that confer a master's degree also fully meet the education requirement, even though a Bachelor's Degree is not awarded. OR In cases of graduates of foreign schools of professional nursing, possession of current, full, active, and unrestricted registration will meet the requirement of graduation from an approved school of professional nursing. Registration: A registered nurse (RN) will have a current, full, active and unrestricted registration as a graduate professional nurse in a State, Territory, or Commonwealth (i.e., Puerto Rico) of the U.S. or in the District of Columbia. The appointing official may waive this registration if the RN is to serve in a country other than the U.S. and the RN has registration in that country (e.g., Philippines). The RN must maintain a current, full, active and unrestricted registration to continue employment with VA. English Language Proficiency: RNs appointed to direct patient care positions must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) and 7407(d). Grade Determinations: The following criteria must be met in determining the grade assignment of candidates, and if appropriate, the level within a grade: Nurse II A BSN with approximately 2-3 years of nursing practice/experience; OR ADN or Diploma in Nursing and a Bachelor's degree in a related field and approximately 2-3 year's of nursing practice/experience; OR A Master's degree in nursing or related field with a BSN and approximately 1-2 year's of nursing practice/experience; OR A Doctoral degree in nursing or meets basic requirements for appointment and has doctoral degree in a related field with no additional nursing practice/experience required. Nurse III Master's degree in nursing or related field with BSN and approximately 2-3 year's of nursing practice/experience; OR A Doctoral degree in nursing or related field and approximately 2-3 year's of nursing practice/experience. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Physical Requirements: This position requires visual acuity, keen hearing, clear distinctive speech, and manual dexterity. This position requires the nurse to read printed material and distinguish colors, such as reading doctor's orders and visualizing the hue of a patient's skin, wounds, etc., and conduct visual inspections during patient assessment, including the ability to accurately perceive depth so as to move around work space safely and to appropriately make contact with Veterans. This position requires potentially long periods of continued walking, standing, stooping, sitting, bending, pulling, and pushing. Transferring patients and objects may be required, exerting up to 35 pounds of force occasionally and/or up to 15 pounds of force to frequently move objects. Mechanical inpatient lifts are provided. The nurse may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations, operative/invasive procedures, or home settings. The nurse may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium, dementia, or psychiatric disorders. The nurse must be a mature, flexible, sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations, able to shift priorities based on patient needs. This includes but is not limited to the ability to work independently, ability to recognize situations beyond function/knowledge/training and request appropriate assistance. Must complete annual Employee Health requirements, such as annual TB screening or testing, as a condition of employment. The nurse who provides care in home settings or other off-site locations may be required to drive and/or ride in GSA-vehicles. Reference: VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G-6 Nurse Qualification Standard. ["VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Nurse Total Rewards Nurse 2 Duties Utilizes sound clinical knowledge for the interpretation of clinical data to determine compliance with Interqual criteria.\n- Conducts clinical reviews and accurately applies Interqual criteria. When necessary, initiates contact with providers and facility staff related to admission, continued stay, and discharge information.\n- Utilizes applicable technical skills in the use of National Utilization Management Database, VISTA, CPRS and Windows based programs\nDemonstrates knowledge of complex automated data processing systems and their application for communication and data management. (e.g., VISTA, CPRS, VHA Intranet, VSSC, Microsoft Word, Excel and Outlook).\n- Collects, analyzes, and interprets outcome data systematically to identify problem areas and assess need for improvement and/or to support changes in work system processes in collaboration with leadership.\n- Ensures continuity of the utilization review activities coordination with medical center policy.\n- Communicates effectively both orally and in writing with professional, administrative and technical staff within the medical center and non-VA organizations and/or providers as needed to coordinate non-VA services.\n- Demonstrates leadership by ensuring continuity of the utilization review activities coordination with medical center policy, and in resolving problems to maximize reimbursement efforts.\n- Promotes excellence in customer service, internally/externally by incorporating the VHA Core Values (Trust, Respect, Commitment, Compassion, and Excellence) into daily practice and performance.\n- Consistently models professional conduct in routine and stressful situations.\n- Demonstrates knowledge and/or required safety skills in area of assignment and, when appropriate, in the following: emergency preparedness plan, hazardous materials, fire plan, equipment failure emergency plans, and utility outage response procedures for their area. Nurse 3 Duties Evaluates educational needs of self and others: Develops expertise in areas of practice to maintain personal mastery and enhance knowledge of current health care trends and professional standards.\n- Maintains accountability for professional growth, establishes effective collegial relationships with other health care professionals through literature and periodical review, workshop attendance, and/or the use of sound bench marking practices.\n- Develops expertise in own area of practice to maintain personal mastery and enhance knowledge of current trends and professional standards.\n- Collaborates with appropriate resources, internal/external, to obtain and share information related to utilization review functions.\n- Participates in diverse educational programs/activities and mandatory training, internal or external to improve clinical knowledge and enhance role performance.\n- Shares responsibility to present data identified trends and introduce appropriate analysis of utilization management data at UM Committee meetings.\n- Completes all mandatory yearly VA training topics. Pay: Competitive salary, annual performance bonus, regular salary increases\nPaid 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)\nRetirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA\nInsurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement)\nLicensure: 1 full and unrestricted license from any US State or territory Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 6:30am to 3:00pm Telework: Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]