Registered Nurse- Specialty Care Outpatient Nurse

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Baton Rouge (LA); On-site; USD 75,000 - 105,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid Time Off

Federal retirement plan

Federal health/vision/dental insurance

Job summary

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is seeking a Specialty Care Outpatient Staff Registered Nurse (RN) to provide evidence-based, specialty care to veterans in an outpatient setting. The role includes patient assessment, care planning, education, and coordination with the healthcare team.

The RN will lead care coordination, delegate tasks as appropriate, and ensure compliance with VA standards, while supporting veterans’ goals and promoting wellness and disease management.

Qualifications

• English proficiency required for direct patient care per VA standards.
• Graduate of a nursing program approved by ACEN or CCNE at the time of completion.
• Current, full, active, and unrestricted RN license in a U.S. state or territory.
• Foreign-educated nurses may need degree equivalency validation.

Responsibilities

• Provide competent, evidence-based specialty care to assigned patients.
• Oversee licensed vocational nurses/nursing assistants as appropriate.
• Coordinate care, health promotion, education and coaching on wellness and chronic care management.
• Formulate a plan of care based on nursing assessments and veteran goals.
• Administer medications and procedures per policies and guidelines.
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary team to improve care outcomes.
• Maintain compliance with regulatory standards and SOPs.
• Establish therapeutic patient relationships to attain optimal function.

Skills

English Language Proficiency

Education

Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or Diploma in Nursing

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)

Master’s degree in Nursing (MSN) or related field

Job description

Summary

The Specialty Care Outpatient Staff Registered Nurse (RN) is responsible and accountable for individual nursing practice and determines the appropriate delegation of tasks consistent with the nurse's obligation to provide optimal specialty care. Delivers fundamental knowledge-based care to assigned clients while developing technical skills. Assesses - plans - implements - and evaluates care based on age-specific components.

Summary

The Specialty Care Outpatient Staff Registered Nurse (RN) is responsible and accountable for individual nursing practice and determines the appropriate delegation of tasks consistent with the nurse's obligation to provide optimal specialty care. Delivers fundamental knowledge-based care to assigned clients while developing technical skills. Assesses - plans - implements - and evaluates care based on age-specific components.

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/13076138


• 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 a 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:2 years RN experience - 1 year Ambulatory Care Experience Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

Duties

• The Specialty Care Outpatient Staff Registered Nurse (RN) is responsible for providing competent - evidence-based specialty care to assigned patients and oversight of licensed vocational nurses/nursing assistants - as appropriate to the clinic setting


• This nurse provides patient care - care coordination - health promotion - health education and coaching on wellness - disease prevention - and chronic care management


• Ability to formulate a plan of care based on nursing assessments and Veteran goals of care


• Administers medications and procedures per established policies and guidelines


• Influences care outcomes by collaborating with members of the interdisciplinary team


• Seeks guidance on how to improve care provided to patients and families


• Delegates elements of care to the appropriate individual based upon assessed needs - condition - and safety of the patient


• Responsible for the documented outcomes at the specialty care program or service level


• Specialty care program or service level outcomes must be broad and complex and can be demonstrated at any organizational level within a facility


• Maintains knowledge and ensures compliance with all regulatory and accreditation standards - Directives - policies - and standard operating procedures (SOP)


• Establishes a therapeutic relationship - allowing the patient to attain - maintain or regain optimal function through assessment and treatment


• The incumbent protects printed and electronic files containing sensitive data in accordance with the provisions of the Privacy Act of 1974 and other applicable laws - Federal regulations - VA statutes and policy - and VHA policy


• 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 7:30am - 4:00pm Subject to change based on the facility needs Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position


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