Registered Nurse (Surgical Case Manager)

Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs; Loma Linda (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs seeks a registered nurse responsible for coordinating care across the surgical and medical spectrum, including pre-procedure education and anesthesia preparation.

The RN will assess, plan, implement, and evaluate care, working with multidisciplinary teams to ensure optimal patient outcomes and satisfaction in a demanding clinical setting.

Qualifications

• RN must be able to assess, plan, implement, coordinate and evaluate care across surgical and medical settings.
• Ability to follow VA qualifications and licensure requirements.
• Licensure in good standing with applicable state board.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate patient education, self-management and customer satisfaction across care continuum.
• Follow established policies; collaborate with interdisciplinary team to influence outcomes.
• Document care plans and pre/post-op procedures; manage scheduling and referrals.
• Participate in unit/clinic quality improvement and patient service initiatives.

Skills

English language proficiency

Education

BSN or higher

Graduate of accredited nursing program (ACEN/CCNE)

State nursing license

GNT bridge/foreign educated path option

Job description

Summary

The RN is responsible and accountable for all elements of the nursing process when providing and/or supervising direct patient care. Assesses - plans - implements - coordinates - and evaluates care based on specific surgical and age components. Provides comprehensive - professional - and personalized preparation of patients prior to surgical and/or medical procedures - to include patients scheduled to receive sedation and anesthesia care in the surgical 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
• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy 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/13088291
• 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 and no 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: Moderate Carrying (15-44 pounds)
• Straight Pulling
• Pushing
• Reaching above Shoulder
• Walking
• Standing
• Repeated bending
• Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously
• Near vision correctable at 13"" to 16"" to Jaeger 1 to 4
• Hearing aid (permitted)
• Ability to distinguish basic colors
• Ability to distinguish shades of colors
• Depth perception
• Both eyes required
• Both legs required
• Use of fingers and both hands required
• For more information on these qualification standards - please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at http://www.opm.gov/qualifications

Duties

• The RN assumes responsibility for the coordination of care focused on patient education - self-management - and customer satisfaction throughout the continuum of care
• Follows procedures per established policies and guidelines
• Influences care outcomes by collaborating with members of the interdisciplinary team
• Core elements of performance include knowledge and active participation in the unit/program level quality improvement process and initiatives as well as customer service programs
• Case Manager Responsibilities Clinic: - Remains available in clinic setting with (Unit) NPs - Residents - Attending - and Technicians - Schedules patients based on the Clinically Indicated Date (CID) vs
• Patient Preferred Date (PPD) - Overbooks appointments as appropriate per provider order - Involves patient/family in care decisions and provides education based on identified needs - Triages non-scheduled patients- Submits orders for consults - Ensure appropriate pre-appointment labs/studies completed prior to appointment and reschedules accordingly Consults: - Manages consults to (Unit) within 2 days as follows using service agreement criteria: - Ensures studies and labs are ordered and completed per service agreement - Receives and/or schedule patients based on consults and determine appropriate clinic to schedule into - Discontinues consults with rationale Documentation/Correspondence: - Tracks and manages patient's paperwork such as SDI - FMLA - etc..
• - Documents in CPRS as appropriate - Secure Messaging and saves to CPRS as appropriate - Places inter-facility and NVCC consults for radiation therapy - Communicates with non-VA and Inter-facility personnel as appropriate including: - Fax sending and receiving patient information
• - Secure email conversations regarding patient progress with consult - Orders and facilitates labs - studies - and medications requested by non-VA healthcare provider Scheduling: - Manages clinics and scheduling of patients as follows: - Coordinates with clinicians to create schedules and collaborates with clinic manager to open clinics accordingly - Changes clinic grid according to provider availability ensuring appropriate provider to patient ratio and appropriate acuity for provider ability - Schedules patients based on the Clinically Indicated Date (CID) vs
• Patient Preferred Date (PPD) - Responds to ancillary staff questions and concerns regarding patient care issues with scheduling - Schedules Pre-Op and Post-Op appointments per operation date and provider CID follow up date - Ensures follow up care is provided for after patient completes radiation/chemotherapy treatment
• Other: - Participates in development of unit goals - standards - protocols - policies - and standard scheduling pattern - Retrieves phone message from voicemail and returns phone calls daily as appropriate
• - Makes sure all appropriate pre-appointment paperwork is received by patient - Ensures (unit) as the appropriate educational material for patients and develops new educational material as needed - Create and maintain clinical & surgical provider coverage calendar - Enters appropriate medications - labs - testing - supplies needed for appointments - Troubleshoots with MSAs for patient scheduling and complaint issues
• - Participates in responding to Congressional issues - Advises/assists patients on interdisciplinary contact information such as: Social Worker - Oncology - Radiology - etc..
• - Reviews incomplete encounters and notes and assist is its completion process
• Preferred Experience: BSN minimum of 1 year Surgical or Clinical experience
• Work Schedule: Mon-Fri - 7:00am-3:30pm
• Hours could change due to the needs of the facility
• Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position.