Summary
The Cheyenne VAMC is seeking a qualified Registered Nurse to provide services to our veterans at our Northern Colorado Outpatient Clinic in Loveland - CO. The City of Loveland is the second most populous municipality in Larimer County - Colorado. Loveland is situated 46 miles north of the Colorado State Capitol in Denver.
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: Care management and outpatient experience is preferred
- 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/12743373
- 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
- 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 walking - standing - and sitting
- The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing
- The incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium - dementia - or psychiatric disorders
- The incumbent must be a mature - flexible - sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations - able to shift priorities based on patient needs
- Must complete annual Employee Health requirements - such as annual TB screening or testing - as a condition of employment
- In the performance of duties - the incumbent may be required to drive and/or ride in GSA-vehicles.
Duties
- The Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT) Outpatient Staff Registered Nurse (RN) is responsible for providing competent - evidence-based gender-specific care to primary care patients and oversight of licensed vocational nurses/nursing assistants - as appropriate to the setting
- This nurse provides direct Veteran care and care coordination - as it pertains - to Veterans and their care within the Primary Care Department
- Manages assigned panel(s) - utilizes registries - and ensures appropriate evaluation and access is provided to patient panels
- This nurse provides health promotion - health education and coaching on wellness - disease prevention - and chronic care management
- Duties include but are not limited to: Leads professional practice using the nursing process (assessment - diagnosis - outcome identification - planning - implementation - and evaluation) to improve evidence-based and/or data-driven outcomes for an identified patient population and/or specialized areas within immediate practice setting
- Applies clinical knowledge/judgment to lead staff involvement in planning - decision making - and evaluating outcomes within the immediate practice setting
- Improves Veteran/patient driven care by optimizing the patient experience - satisfaction and/or safety for the immediate practice setting
- Serves as an advocate for patients - families - and caregivers - improving outcomes for the immediate practice setting
- Communicates and collaborates as an effective leader of the interprofessional team - at the expert level - with improved evidence-based and/or data-driven outcomes for the immediate practice setting
- Demonstrates the ability to improve the effectiveness of communications and interactions with others - to inspire their cooperation and confidence to ensure safe and effective outcomes in the current practice setting
- Expands knowledge base and practice evaluation through mentoring - precepting - and/or teaching to improve outcomes in the immediate practice setting
- Leads the integration of evidence-based practice/research with clinical expertise to improve quality of care and resource utilization with improved outcomes for the immediate practice setting
- Meets the needs of the Veteran and as appropriate the Veteran's family - caregiver and/or significant other - the Veteran's representative - visitors to VA facilities - all VA staff and other customers while supporting VA missions
- 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: Variable 8 hour tours between 7:00 am - 5:00 pm Telework: Ad-hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position
- Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized