Summary

Responsible and accountable for all elements of the nursing process when providing and/or supervising patient care. Assumes responsibility for the coordination of care focused on patient education - self­ management - and customer satisfaction throughout the continuum of care. Administers medications and procedures per established policies and guidelines. Influences care outcomes by collaborating with members of the interdisciplinary team.

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.) 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/12813850
• 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
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: This position requires potentially long periods of continued walking - standing - and sitting.

Duties

• The Specialty Nurse Case Manager works with the Specialty Services to develop and implement comprehensive patient care for the adult/geriatric patient population assessing - planning - implementing and evaluating activities and programs
• The RN/Case Manager: Takes responsibility for Outpatient clinic coordination and patient flow management - including appointment management - triage of patients - patient education - monitoring of patient progress toward predetermined goals and timely follow-up
• Participates in clinic for setting patient goals of care as part of the interdisciplinary team
• Utilizes the nursing process in managing - developing - implementing and evaluating each patient's individual plan in collaboration with the interdisciplinary care team to attain specific clinical outcomes in the outpatient specialty clinic settings
• Ensures documentation is completed timely and thoroughly for patient care
• Provides support to providers daily
• coordinates dual care with community and other VA facilities
• ensuring all needed records - tests and other information is available to provider at time of consultation to allow provider to focus on treatment plan and Veteran's questions in an appropriate and timely manner
• Collaborates with care team to ensure consults are received - reviewed and dispositions are provided with either scheduling instructions - econsult completed or discontinued
• Communicates with Veterans regarding their health care options including local VA - other VA Medical Centers and the community based on eligibility criteria for community care per the National Directives (ex
• MISSION Act)
• Works closely with other VA Medical Centers - contracted facilities and community facilities to remove obstacles that would impede the Veteran from utilizing the services of other VA medical centers or community not available at our facility
• Participates in activities which meet the local and national performance standards for the Medical Center
• Participates in the development and implementation of recommended policies and procedures as related to Case Management and/or designated clinical area
• Provides education to meet the needs of the health care team regarding Case Management and/or topics specific to designated clinical care
• Maintains and upgrades own knowledge base and skills regarding Case Management and/or specific clinical areas and applies this knowledge to nursing practice
• Participates in clinical research/EBP within designated area and/or related to Case Management
• Establishes effective networking relationships with peers and professionals within the organization and community to improve the care of Veterans
• Collaborates with clinic staff to ensure patients are given timely appointments and expedite appointments as medically indicated
• Monitors patients adherence to treatment plans and intervenes in accordance with prescribed clinical guidelines
• completes medical documentation and reports findings to care team
• Provides clinical care and case management to Veterans in the Specialty Clinics via face to face interaction - Virtual modalities and telephone
• Triages and applies a collaborative team approach in identifying - analyzing - and resolving patient care problems
• Communicates and collaborates with the interdisciplinary team to develop and coordinate the treatment plan for Veterans in the outpatient setting
• Serves as a resource for other team members and participates in planning for program improvements at the local level
• Each Specialty Service is set up independently based on volume/size and interdisciplinary team members assigned within the service
• The above scope is included within but not limited to each service
• Expectations and Scopes change continually based on specialty service - service volume - team members - National Directives/Mandates - etc
• to meet the needs of the Veteran
• Preferred Experience BSN preferred 3-5 years nursing experience Case management experience Rheumatology experience Outpatient clinic experience 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 - 0730-1600 Telework: Not available
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized
• Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized.