Registered Nurse - Case Manager/Care Coordinator

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; Lexington (KY); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is seeking a Registered Nurse for the Community Nursing Home Program. The RN provides clinical oversight, case management, care coordination, and ongoing communication for Veterans in contracted community nursing home facilities.

The role emphasizes continuity of care, access to services, and safe transitions between VA and community care settings, with responsibilities across program oversight, safety, and quality of care.

Qualifications

• Must be proficient in English for direct patient care.
• Graduate of an approved nursing program (ACEN or CCNE) and eligible for licensure.
• Current, active, and unrestricted RN license in a US state.
• Grandfathering provisions apply for current VA 0610 staff (where applicable).

Responsibilities

• Provide clinical oversight, case management, and care coordination for Veterans in contracted community nursing homes.
• Promote continuity of care, access to services, appropriate utilization, Veteran safety, and effective transitions between VA and community care.
• Ensure compliance with VA policies and quality standards in nursing home care.

Skills

English proficiency

RN knowledge

Education

ADN or Diploma in Nursing

BSN

State nursing license

Job description

The Community Nursing Home Program RN provides clinical oversight, case management, care coordination, and ongoing communication for Veterans receiving care in contracted community nursing home facilities. The RN is responsible for promoting continuity of care, access to services, appropriate utilization, Veteran safety, and effective transitions across VA and community care settings.

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

• Nurse I, Level I

  Scope: Delivers fundamental, knowledge-based care to assigned clients while developing technical competencies.

  Education: An Associate Degree (ADN) or Diploma in Nursing, with no additional professional nursing required.

• Nurse I, Level II

  Scope: Demonstrates integration of biopsychosocial concepts, cognitive skills and technically competent practice in providing care to clients with basic or complex.

  Education: 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

  Scope: Demonstrates proficiency in practice based on conscious and deliberate planning. Self-directed in goal setting for managing complex client situations.

  Education: 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

  Scope: Demonstrates leadership in delivering and improving holistic care through collaborative strategies with others.

  Education: 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

  Scope: Executes position responsibilities that demonstrate leadership, experience and creative approaches to management of complex client care beyond the immediate practice setting.

  Education: 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 Qualifications

• Experience in long-term care, geriatrics, or community nursing home settings.
• Experience coordinating care for Veterans with complex medical, behavioral health, or social needs.
• Previous experience working with the VA.

Reference

For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

Physical Requirements

Heavy lifting (45 lbs. and over); Heavy carrying (45 lbs. and over); Straight pulling (up to 8 hours); Pushing (up to 8 hours); Reaching above shoulders; Use of fingers; both hands required; walking (up to 8 hours); standing (up to 8 hours); kneeling (2 to 3 hours); repeated bending (up to 8 hours); both legs required; hearing (aid permitted).