Registered Nurse - Nurse Informaticist

Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs; Harlingen (TX); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, seeks an Informatics Nurse Specialist to lead clinical informatics initiatives and education for nursing staff. The role focuses on optimizing EHR workflows, improving patient education, and supporting interprofessional collaboration to enhance care delivery.

The incumbent will coordinate with training teams, assess learning needs, and implement informatics strategies across departments to improve patient outcomes and satisfaction.

Qualifications

• Graduate of a school of professional nursing approved by the appropriate accrediting agency.
• Current, full, active, and unrestricted RN license in the United States.
• Experience or certification in nursing informatics preferred.

Responsibilities

• Serves as clinical informatics resource and educator for staff.
• Directs and supports clinical staff with structured learning activities.
• Collaborates to optimize health informatics tools and EHR practices.

Skills

Informatics

Nursing care

Education

RN license

BSN/ADN

Nursing informatics degree/certification

Job description

Summary

Incumbent is responsible and accountable for all elements of the nursing process when providing and/or supervising direct 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/13099146
• 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
• Applicants pending completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met
• Preferred Experience: 2-3 years of Nursing Informatics experience Master's Nursing Informatics certification Understanding of Clinical Workflows Continued from Duties Section: Promotes health promotion and risk reduction strategies.Actively participates in policies - procedures - and standards to promote evidence-based patient-driven care
• Develops recommendations and strategies to address and resolve complex issues and problems - providing direction for all key stakeholders
• Establishes formal and informal consultative relationships that can also provide professional development and mentorship opportunities
• Utilizes clinical - financial - technical - and community resources and systems to implement the plan
• Incorporates new knowledge and strategies to initiate change in clinical health informatics and nursing practices if desired outcomes are not achieved
• Leads and/or supports the use of clinical guidelines - such as but not limited to the integration of clinical guidelines into practice - information system and informatics solutions - and knowledge bases
• Provides leadership in the coordination of interprofessional informatics activities
• Coordinates system and community resources that enhance delivery of care across continuums
• Functions as an expert in clinical informatics practice and/or areas related to the assigned roles and responsibilities
• Uses professional standards of care - scientific evidence - and informatics practice to evaluate programs and/or services activities
• Provides leadership at program or service level by enabling healthcare capabilities and the evolution of technology adjoined to the EHR to deliver quality care by developing - implementing - monitoring - maintaining - and optimizing informatics tools and access to them
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

Duties

• Major Duties: Serves as clinical resource and role model - functions as an Informatics resource expert and educator for staff by identifying Informatics related learning needs
• Makes recommendations to the Chief Health Informatics Officer and Leadership regarding changes to Clinical Reminders and other Informatics Programs
• Is responsible for assuring that approved recommendations are implemented
• Directs and supports the clinical staff with structured learning activities
• Reviews - analyzes - and conducts follow-up to identify learning needs of staff with regard to the electronic health record
• Establishes priorities according to timely achievement of program/service goals and objectives
• Partners with Quality & Safety on performance improvement projects impacted by the use of clinical reminders
• Promotes and provides educational instruction in the use of standards of care and practice
• Promotes education and adherence to all policy and procedures
• Continually monitors and evaluates the achievement of program/service goals and objectives
• Encourages participation of staff in problem solving activities by eliciting ideas to gain support for projects
• Demonstrates the ability to communicate through role modeling and instruction of positive communication skills to promote an environment of acceptance - openness - and feedback
• Actively participates in decision-making and interdisciplinary local and regional workgroups/committees
• Evaluates and documents staff education - provides feedback - counsels as needed and makes recommendations for improvement
• Evaluates and documents staff response to teaching activities - provides feedback and makes recommendations for follow up activities
• Assesses the abilities and limitations of personnel and assists them to develop and strengthen their information management skills to improve performance
• Establishes and maintains necessary reporting and tracking mechanisms online to assure timely retrieval of data
• Transmits information clearly and accurately in both verbal and written forms
• Accurately interprets policies or standards of care and practice
• Provides colleagues/staff with clinical and administrative support when appropriate
• Promotes performance measures and meets customer service standards
• Collaborate with QM clinicians to optimize HEDIS measure performance
• Identifies self and co-workers learning needs and seeks out the appropriate educational programs
• Uses adult learning principles to enhance the practice of nursing - education - information and various related programs
• Develops and utilizes appropriate evaluation tools for educational activities
• Identifies educational needs of staff and provides opportunities for staff development through staff projects - assignments and/or in-services and workshops
• Documents attendance and participation in individual educational tracking and training records
• identifies changing concepts of care and technological advances - plans and participates in service-wide educational programs for staff
• Assumes responsibility for maintaining education records - i.e - in-service training - CEU offerings and clinical competency checklists
• Collaborates and participates with staff educators in providing New Employee Orientation - New Provider Academy - and staff development
• Documents time and attendance for training
• Revises educational programs based on compiled evaluative data
• Keeps self and staff equipped with current knowledge and skills to meet changing program and service needs
• Recommends valuable programs to colleagues and staff
• Maintains current knowledge of education/training and Informatics concepts and expertise through participation in appropriate educational activities and professional organizations
• Works collaboratively with other professionals in identifying quality and performance improvement opportunities and in developing programs and activities to support those activities
• Maintains effective working relationship with professionals and support personnel within or outside of the Informatics Service
• Major Duties Continued in Qualification Section 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 - 8:00am - 4:30pm Telework: Adhoc Eligible Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized