Registered Nurse - PACT

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; State College (Centre County); On-site; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is seeking an Outpatient Staff Registered Nurse to provide care in multiple clinics including HBPC, infusion, and primary care within a Veterans Affairs medical center and network of clinics.

The RN will coordinate patient transitions, deliver education, and work with a multidisciplinary team to ensure high-quality outpatient care across settings. VA offers a broad total rewards package and regular salary progression for experienced professionals.

Qualifications

• English language proficiency is required for direct patient care.
• Graduate of an accredited nursing program (ACEN or CCNE) and licensed as an RN.
• State licensure or bridge program pathway described for temporary appointment.
• Foreign educated nurses must have current unrestricted registration or degree equivalency evaluation.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate care across the continuum and educate patients and families.
• Provide nursing education, orientation, competencies, and support quality improvement.
• Collaborate with patient, family, and interdisciplinary team for safe transitions of care.
• Demonstrate outpatient practice competence, planning, and critical thinking.

Skills

English Language Proficiency

Outpatient nursing

Education

Nursing degree (ADN/ diploma)

RN licensure

Job description

Summary

The Outpatient Registered Nurse provides care in a variety of clinics to include: All Specialty Clinics - Home Based Primary Care (HBPC) - Infusion Clinics - and Primary Care in a Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT). This care will be provided in the hospital setting at James E. Van Zandt Medical Center - the patients home through Home Based Primary Care - and/or at one of the five Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOC) as assigned.

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/13064709
• 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: Outpatient experience and at least one year as an RN - but will train the right candidate Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position
• Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination.

Duties

• Duties include but are not limited to the following: The Outpatient Staff Registered Nurse (RN) is responsible and accountable for individual nursing practice and determines the appropriate delegation of task consistent with the nurse's obligation to provide optimal outpatient care
• Assumes responsibility for the coordination of care focused on patient transition through the continuum of patient care - patient and family education - patient self-management after discharge - and supporting factors that impact customer satisfaction
• The nurse will assist in directing the provision of nursing education - orientation - competencies and providing quality improvement and outcomes utilization
• Partners with the patient - family - and interdisciplinary team to promote effective and safe transitions across the health care continuum
• Integrates outpatient knowledge - skills - abilities - and judgement
• Validates understanding of the rationale for care processes and decisions
• Demonstrate the ability to cope with and manage competing priorities
• Demonstrates competence in outpatient practice and decision making - deliberate planning - and critical thinking skills
• The Outpatient Registered Nurse requires collaboration - adaptability - and resourcefulness to meet not only patient needs - but the needs of the medical center
• 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: M-F 8:00AM- 4:30PM Compressed/Flexible: Not Authorized Telework: Not Authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized