Career Center

Serve as nurse practitioner (NP) utilizing core functions include performing history and physical examinations, diagnosing, treating, and managing acute and chronic health care problems, ordering appropriate testing and consults, performing adult care check-ups, prescribing medication and treatments, and teaching health promotion and disease prevention to patients. Responsible for all elements of the nursing process when providing and/or supervising direct patient care. 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. English Language Proficiency. In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), 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 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). The approving official may authorize a waiver of the requirement for ACEN or CCNE accreditation of any degree in nursing provided the college or university has regional accreditation from an accrediting body recognized by the Department of Education at the time of the candidate's graduation and the composite qualifications of the applicant warrant such consideration. OR 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. Students should submit the certificate of professional nursing to sit for the NCLEX to the VA along with a copy of the MSN transcript. (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. Master's or Doctoral Degree from a program accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing or the Commission (ACEN-Formerly NCLAC) or the Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). 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. Nurse Practitioners must be licensed or otherwise recognized as a nurse practitioner in a State and maintain full and current certification as a nurse practitioner from the American Nurses Association or another nationally recognized certifying body. The certification must be in the specialty to which the individual is being appointed or selected. Grade Determinations: The following criteria must be met in determining the grade assignment of candidates, and if appropriate, the level within a grade: Nurse I Level III - An ADN or Diploma in Nursing and approximately 2-3 years of nursing practice/experience; OR an ADN or Diploma in Nursing and a Bachelor's degree in a related field and approximately 1-2 years of nursing practice/experience; OR a BSN with approximately 1-2 years of nursing practice/experience; OR a Master's degree in nursing (MSN) or related field with a BSN and no additional nursing practice/experience. 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 and approximately 2-3 year's of nursing practice/experience. Note regarding MSN degrees: If your MSN was obtained via a Bridge Program that qualifies for professional nursing registration, a BSN is not required. Reference: VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G-6 Nurse Qualification Standard. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office. 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, simply grasp and fine manipulation. 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. The incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium, dementia, or psychiatric disorders. The incumbent must be a mature, flexible, sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations, able to shift priorities based on patient needs. The incumbent must complete annual Employee Health requirements, such as annual TB screening or testing, as a condition of employment. ["Functions/Duties: The NP is a professional, independent practitioner with advanced education and appropriate experience who provides evidence-based care for a specific population of patients. The NP is an expert clinician who uses advanced assessment, planning and evaluating competencies, as well as approved standardized procedures, to provide family centered, preventive and illness management healthcare incorporating the patient's age, gender, culture and learning abilities in the treatment plan. The NP works collaboratively with many disciplines to provide care, including physicians, pharmacists, registered nurses, licensed vocational nurses, dietitians, social workers, clerical and administrative staff, community agencies and others as appropriate. The NP executes position responsibilities that demonstrate leadership, experience, and creative approaches to management of complex patient care. The APRN Nurse III is an expert, \"with an enormous background of experience, who now has an intuitive grasp of each. situation and zeros in on the accurate region of the problem without wasteful consideration of a large range of unfruitful, alternative diagnoses and solutions\" (Benner). The NP demonstrates performance and leadership that is broad enough to improve care for the panel, program, or service. The NP is responsible for documented outcomes at the program or service level. Program or service level outcomes must be broad and complex and can be demonstrated at any organizational level within a facility, VISN, or VACO. Program is defined as a substantial coordinated group of activities impacting patients and/or employees. The NP demonstrates (a) Leading and organizing delivery of care to assure continuity of care and peer accountability for practice, including access to care and discharge planning; (b) Using advanced clinical knowledge/judgment to promote staff involvement in planning, decision-making, and evaluating outcomes, (c) Functioning as an expert in clinical practice and/or areas related to the assigned roles and responsibilities, (d) Systematically evaluating current practice, and formulating outcomes for groups of patients and/or organizational processes within an area of expertise, (e) Guiding, developing, and supporting staff from a leadership perspective, and (f) Using professional standards of care, scientific evidence, and practice to evaluate programs and/or service activities. Clinical Administrative duties (50%): Administration of clinical care that requires psychiatric oversight Participation in mental health medical staff position hires Shared oversight of outpatient clinical performance measures Outpatient MH prescriber Professional Practice Evaluation review Complex case reviews Interface with other clinical services Interface with rest of outpatient, residential, and inpatient psychiatric services Back-up and cross coverage for the Psychiatry Section Chief Other requirements that are still considered clinical administrative time. (Where applicable and with various accommodations in caseload volume) Assists the Psychiatry Section Chief in the design, development, and implementation of clinical programs for a team of treatment Personnel Management: (50%) The incumbent is directly responsible for the clinical oversight of the mental health APRN's, and Physician Assistants that are under them. Will also coordinate with any Clinical Pharmacists in their areas. Mental Health Executive Board member Work with Associate Residency Training Directors for VA on MHC, PES, BHL resident training programs including VA Chief Resident and expansion of evidence-based psychotherapies training. Work with teaching attendings for medical student rotations Membership in Department of Psychiatry residency and medical student committees as agreed upon. Direct supervision and training of psychiatry residents and medical students as agreed upon. Mentoring of junior faculty as agreed upon. System wide committees as agreed upon. VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Nurse Total Rewards Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: May be offered to highly qualified candidates. EDRP Authorized: This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application. Contact Jeffrey Young, at Jeffrey.Young9@va.gov the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more. Work Schedule: 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday Financial Disclosure Report: Not required."]

Return to Search Results