Registered Nurse (Housing and Urban Development)

Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs; Worcester (MA); On-site; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

VA Central Western Massachusetts Healthcare System seeks a skilled RN for our HUD-VASH Program, combining HUD housing with VA case management to move Veterans into stable housing.

The nurse delivers community-based care to Veterans with complex health and substance use needs, supports medication management and health stabilization, and coordinates with VA providers, PHAs, and community agencies to retain housing.

Qualifications

• English proficiency mandatory (written and spoken)
• Nursing degree from ACEN/CCNE accredited program or equivalent
• State license as registered nurse upon licensure
• Experience with homeless populations preferred
• Proven ability to coordinate with VA providers, PHAs and community agencies

Responsibilities

• Deliver fundamental nursing care to Veterans in housing first programs
• Conduct home visits to assess health, safety, and housing stability
• Administer meds and manage treatment plans per provider orders
• Coordinate care across interdisciplinary teams and community partners
• Support housing stability through crisis intervention and patient education

Skills

Homeless care

Community nursing

Home-based nursing

Education

Nursing degree (ADN/ Diploma)

BSN

MSN or related master’s with BSN

Job description

Summary

VA Central Western Massachusetts Healthcare System seeks a skilled RN for our HUD-VASH Program - combining HUD housing assistance with VA case management to move homeless Veterans into stable housing. Using a Housing First approach - the incumbent provides community-based nursing care to Veterans with complex health and substance use needs - supporting medication management - health stabilization - and housing retention in coordination with VA providers - PHAs - and community agencies.

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
• Preferred Experience: Work with Homeless populations - community-based nursing - home-based nursing
• 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/13088760
• 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 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: All applicants must be physically able to satisfactorily perform the duties of the position
• A pre placement examination shall be completed prior to appointment.

Duties

• Duties Include but not limited to: Delivers fundamental knowledge-based care to assigned clients while developing technical skills - with a focus on individual growth and development in practice and increased levels of self-direction
• Assesses - plans - implements - and evaluates care based on age-specific components - using the nursing process to identify health needs - risks - and priorities relevant to housing stability and recovery
• Assumes responsibility for the coordination of care focused on patient education - self-management - and customer satisfaction throughout the continuum of care
• Follows procedures per established policies and guidelines - influencing care outcomes by collaborating with members of the interdisciplinary team
• Administers medications and treatments prescribed by a licensed provider - including filling weekly medication planners and administering injections of long-acting antipsychotic medications to Veterans in home and community settings
• Provides patient management - care coordination - and discharge/disposition planning for inpatient and outpatient settings - bridging the gap between discharge and primary care follow-up
• Assists Veterans - family members - and caregivers with receiving the most appropriate options and services to meet their complex health care needs - including but not limited to acute - chronic - multiple - complex - catastrophic - or life-threatening illnesses
• combat stress
• residuals of traumatic brain injury
• community adjustment
• addictions
• and other health problems
• Coordinates care with multiple providers across all levels and sites of care - developing a plan of care using information from the patient - family - and provider
• Identifies high-risk patient populations and transitions Veterans to the appropriate discipline (e.g. - Primary Care - Home Based Primary Care - Hospice/Palliative Care) - and is responsible for intensive monitoring - follow-up - and clinical management of high-risk patients
• Conducts home visits to assess the Veteran's physical and mental health status - safety - and overall well-being - and to identify emerging health concerns that could jeopardize housing stability
• Provides crisis intervention and suicide prevention support for Veterans experiencing psychiatric - substance use - or medical crises - coordinating rapid access to appropriate levels of care
• Collaborates with interdisciplinary team members to develop and implement the Veteran Housing Stability Plan
• Provides recovery-oriented and Housing First services - with the goal of establishing the Veteran independently in the community - at the Veteran's highest level of functioning
• Maintains timely - accurate clinical documentation of all Veteran encounters using the Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS) - Essentris - and Bar Coded Medication Administration (BCMA) software - consistent with VA policy and reporting timelines
• (Nurse II/III only) Serves as a clinical resource and mentor to less experienced nurses and team members - sharing expertise in community-based psychiatric nursing - Housing First principles - and crisis intervention techniques
• (Nurse II/III only) Provides leadership in evaluating and improving team-level care delivery - guiding staff in the application of critical thinking and evidence-based practice to improve outcomes for Veterans experiencing homelessness
• Work Schedule: Monday-Friday - 8:00 A.M
• to 4:30 P.M
• Compressed/Flexible: Not Available
• Telework: Ad-hoc as determined by agency policy
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
• Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
• 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 VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Nurse Total Rewards Notifications: This position is in the Excepted Service
• This position is covered by a special rate
• The salary is based on the grade and step approved for the selected candidate
• Veterans' preference does not apply for internal or other current permanent Federal agency employees
• Official Transcript will be required if you are selected If you are a current federal employee - you are required to attach your Most Recent non-award SF-50
• This should be a SF-50 from the current calendar year which shows your current position - grade and step
• Award SF-50's do not provide sufficient information and will not be accepted.