Registered Nurse - Patient Aligned Care Team - Outpatient Staff

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Baltimore (MD); On-site; USD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is seeking a Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT) Outpatient Staff Registered Nurse (RN) to provide evidence-based, sex-specific care for primary care patients.

The role includes oversight of licensed vocational nurses and nursing assistants as appropriate to the setting. The position emphasizes direct patient care, care coordination, health promotion, and chronic disease management within a multidisciplinary primary care team.

Qualifications

• Must demonstrate English language proficiency for direct patient care.
• Graduate of nursing program approved by ACEN or CCNE at time of completion.
• State licensure required; bridge program options may apply for temporary/transition roles.
• Foreign nursing graduates require official degree equivalency validation.
• Current, full, active, unrestricted nursing registration in US is required.
• GNT exception allows temporary appointment while pursuing licensure in some cases.

Responsibilities

• Provides direct Veteran care within the PACT outpatient setting.
• Coordinates care, manages panel assignments, and uses registries to ensure access.
• Delivers health promotion, education, and chronic disease management coaching.
• Supports nursing education, orientation, competencies, and quality improvement efforts.
• Demonstrates leadership and critical thinking in prioritizing care and balancing priorities.

Skills

English proficiency

Nursing organization

Ambulatory/outpatient experience

Organizational skills

Education

ACEN/CCNE accredited nursing program

Bridge program in nursing (MSN pathway)

Active RN license in US state

Foreign degree equivalency evaluation

Job description

Summary

The Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT) Outpatient Staff Registered Nurse (RN) is responsible for providing competent - evidence-based sex-specific care to primary care patients with oversight of licensed vocational nurses/nursing assistants as appropriate to the setting.

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/13073001


• 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 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 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: Demonstrates strong organizational skills and the ability to prioritize multiple clinical responsibilities


• Experience working effectively as a member of a multidisciplinary healthcare team within the past five (5) years


• Two (2) years of ambulatory/outpatient clinic experience within the past five (5) years


• One (1) year of Medical-Surgical experience within the past five (5) years


• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/


• Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 - Employee Occupational Health Service.

Duties

• The Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT) Outpatient Staff Registered Nurse (RN) provides direct Veteran care and care coordination - as it pertains - to Veterans and their care within the Primary Care Department


• He/she 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


• The nurse will assist in directing the provision of nursing education - orientation - competencies and providing quality improvement and enhance outcomes utilization


• This nurse integrates outpatient nursing knowledge - skills - abilities - and judgment and is self-directed in goal setting for managing complex PACT situations


• He/she validates understanding of the rationale for care processes and decisions


• The incumbent questions clinical practices for the purpose of providing evidence-based care


• The nurse will demonstrate the ability to cope with and manage competing priorities


• He/she demonstrates competence in primary care practice and decision-making - deliberate planning - and critical thinking skills


• 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 to 4:30pm) Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position


• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized