Registered Nurse (Outpatient PACT)

Colorado Psychiatric; Colorado Springs, Northern (CO, KY); Hybrid; USD 75,000 - 105,000; Full time

Job summary

Veterans Affairs is seeking an Outpatient PACT Registered Nurse to lead patient care coordination and provide sex-specific direct Veteran care within the Primary Care Department. The role emphasizes leadership, complex care management, and adherence to VA standards.

The RN will promote health, educate patients, and collaborate on policy development while supporting colleagues and improving outcomes across the primary care program.

Qualifications

• Graduate of an approved nursing program and licensed to practice as an RN in the US.
• Proficiency in English for direct patient care per policy.
• Experience with primary care, care coordination and leadership in clinical settings.
• Ability to meet VA qualification standards for registered nurses.

Responsibilities

• Manage patient panels, utilize registries, and ensure access to care.
• Provide health promotion, education and coaching on chronic disease management.
• Collaborate to develop and revise policies, procedures and guidelines.
• Demonstrate leadership to improve care in the Primary Care Department.
• Support colleagues with health care knowledge sharing and quality improvement.

Skills

Leadership

Care coordination

Communication

Patient care

Problem solving

Veterans health care

Education

Nursing degree (RN)

Nursing license (US)

Job description

Summary

The Outpatient PACT Registered Nurse executes position responsibilities that demonstrate leadership - experience - and creative approaches to management of complex primary care. The Registered Nurse provides sex-specific direct Veteran Care and care coordination - as it pertains - to Veterans and their care within the Primary Care Department.

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/13066994
• 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 Experience: One (1) year of Primary Care
• PACT or PCMH preferred Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: The Registered Nurse (RN) must be able to perform all activities of the position without restriction
• This position involves considerable standing - walking - stooping - bending - reaching - lifting and turning
• It requires repositioning patients and assisting with transferring patients to wheelchairs/stretchers
• Mechanical devices when available are required to be used for heavy or difficult to lift patients
• The work may involve pushing or lifting in excess of 50 pounds and going up and down flights of stairs
• The position requires visual and auditory acuity at a level to provide safe and effective nursing care
• The position requires the nurse to work for periods of time with arms above shoulder level or with the neck in a fully flexed or extended position and the ability to physically control or protect him/herself from physically abusive patients
• The RN may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations - operative/invasive procedures
• The RN may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium - dementia - or psychiatric disorders
• The RN must be mature - flexible - sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations - able to shift priorities - based on patient needs.

Duties

• https://youtu.be/EGW4PMZvJto?si=_f7pNchVqoK1KZal Major Duties: Duties and responsibilities include - but are not limited to - the following: Manage assigned panel(s) - utilize registries - and ensure appropriate evaluation and access is provided to patient panels
• Provide health promotion - health education and coaching on wellness - disease prevention - and chronic care management
• Collaborate in the development - implementation - evaluation - and revision of policies - procedures - and/or guidelines
• Demonstrate performance and leadership that is broad enough to improve the care for the Primary Care Department and facility
• Provide peers with formal and informal constructive feedback for improvement
• Support colleagues and other nurses through primary care knowledge sharing to provide safe - quality nursing care
• Foster a safe and supportive environment conducive to the professional development of health care professionals
• Evaluate outpatient outcomes of evidence-based decisions and practice changes for primary care individuals - groups - and populations
• Responsible for the documented PACT outcomes at the program or service level
• PACT program or service level outcomes must be broad and complex and can be demonstrated at any organizational level within a facility
• 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
• 8:00 AM-4:30 PM Telework: Available (Ad-Hoc) (NOTE: The Veterans Health Administration - including the VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System - will fully comply with the intention and instructions contained in the \"Return to Office\" Executive Order
• This position will likely be eligible to telework on a limited Ad-Hoc basis only) Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized