Registered Nurse Discharge Planner

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

The US Department of Veterans Affairs seeks a Registered Nurse discharge planner to coordinate safe, timely discharge by assessing patient needs and developing detailed discharge plans. The role includes coordinating follow-up services and ensuring a smooth return home or to a community setting.

Requirements include English proficiency, graduation from an approved nursing program, and active RN licensure in the United States, with eligibility to pursue licensure under VA guidelines.

Qualifications

• English language proficiency as required by VA.
• Graduate of a school of professional nursing with active RN licensure in the United States.
• Current, full, active, and unrestricted RN registration in a U.S. state/territory or D.C.
• Bridge programs/foreign grads may pursue licensure through state boards under applicable VA rules.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate the discharge process for patients leaving the hospital.
• Assess patients’ needs and develop comprehensive discharge plans.
• Coordinate follow-up care and services for patients.
• Ensure a smooth transition back to home or community settings.

Skills

English language proficiency

Discharge planning

Patient education

Education

Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or Diploma in Nursing

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)

Master's degree in nursing (MSN) or related field with BSN

Job description

The Registered Nurse discharge planner is responsible for coordinating the discharge process for patients leaving the hospital. Discharge Planners must facilitate the safe and timely discharge of patients by assessing their individual needs, developing comprehensive discharge plans, coordinating follow-up care and services, and ensuring a smooth transition back to their home or community setting.

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:

• 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.

Preferred Experiences:

• Education: Prefer MSN
• Minimum recent 3 years acute clinical care experience; critical care experience preferred.
• BLS certification required.
• Strong knowledge of relevant healthcare and clinical operations including information technology (preparing reports, MS Office Suite and computer knowledge), patient care workflows and processes.
• Demonstrate organizational and project management skills, with the ability to lead a team, prioritize tasks, and see projects through from inception to completion.

Flexibility and ability to work in a rapidly changing environment. - Self-starter with good time-management skills

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 sitting, walking to and from meetings and some traveling to and from community providers/hospitals and community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs). The incumbent must be able to climb stairs as well as mature, flexible, sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations, able to shift priorities based on patient needs and workload.