Summary

The Registered Nurse is organizationally aligned under Ambulatory Care Services - where he/she will work as part of - and in collaboration with - a larger clinical team to provide Women's Health services to the Central Virginia VA Healthcare System Veteran patient population.

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/12940661
• 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: 2-5 years of Women's Health and/or PACT Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019
• This position requires potentially long periods of continued walking - standing - and sitting - lifting - carrying - pushing - reaching above shoulder - use of fingers - both hands - both legs and repeated bending
• Heavy lifting (45 lbs
• and over)
• Heavy Carrying (45 lbs
• and over)
• Straight Pulling (up to 4 hours)
• Pushing (up to 4 hours)
• Reaching above shoulder
• Use of fingers
• Both hands required
• Walking (up to 8 hours)
• Standing (up to 8 hours)
• Repeated bending (up to 8 hours)
• Both legs required
• Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously
• Specific visual requirement: Read typed Chapters
• Correctable vision :20/40 in one eye
• Ability to distinguish basic colors and shades of colors
• Hearing (aid permitted)
• The incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium - dementia - or psychiatric disorders
• Emotional and Mental Stability: 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.

Duties

• The Women's Health RN will assume routine clinical care delivery and administrative roles consistent with this specialty clinic
• This is for Women's Health Clinic
• The RN is directly responsible to the Primary Care Nurse Manager in charge of this clinic
• Duties include - but are not limited to: -Proficient using VA EMR and nursing specific documentation - care coordination - phone triage - walk-in triage and physical assessments
• Proficient in administering medications (All routes and 5 rights) - enter laboratory orders and/or draw laboratory specimens per protocol and correctly and safely performs all nursing procedures
• Able to perform other staff member's roles as needed
• Recognizes abnormal signs and symptoms and/or changes in patients' condition and responds appropriately - notifies the provider - and document in the medical record
• -Assisting with initial VA consult referrals for mammography - gynecology - and/or other care - assisting with VA or community services for the patient with an appropriate provider - to include coordinating any subsequent appointments or follow-up - as needed
• -Educating patients on a variety of OB/Gyn topics - to include importance of routine medical screenings - and authorized VA and community-based resources for OB/Gyn needs
• -Assisting veterans who have presented to VA or non-VA emergency department for OB/Gyn emergencies to secure appropriate follow-up care such as lab - ultrasound - emotional support - and/or other care as needed
• Coordinating care with the Veterans PACT
• -Documenting patient care interactions accurately - succinctly - and timely - using appropriate notes - templates - and clinical reminders - in the electronic medical record
• -Understanding and responding to mammography reports - BIRADS - Pap - and other OB/Gyn screening/diagnostic test results.-Contacting patients who fail to keep mammogram appointments - or who are delinquent in obtaining recommended breast cancer - Cervical Cancer Screening - and other diagnostic screenings - to determine and resolve obstacles the veteran may have with keeping appointments and educating women on these screenings
• -Maintaining professional skills in the application of professional bodies of knowledge and accepted clinical practices that will facilitate oversight of service delivery for female patient care.-Participating in quality improvement programs and initiatives including system redesign - to improve access - quality - efficiency - and patient satisfaction
• Data tracking - formulating - continual evaluation of quality measures - and identification and implementation of best practices for the Women's Health Program
• -Clinical outreach coordination - education - and mentoring for local and rural areas that include VA Video Connect (VVC) - phone - and in-person visits with female veterans.-Cross-training and surrogate coverage for the OB-GYN Nurse and PACT RN Care Manager duties
• -Collaboration with other healthcare members to identify common social issues of gynecological patients like Intimate Partner Assault - Gender Dysphoria etc
• -Other duties as assigned including but not limited to outside application of Depo Provera shots
• 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 to 4:00pm (No weekends & Holidays at this time.
• Small amount of overtime may be necessary based on patient care needs)
• Weekends May be required as the WHC determines based on patient care needs
• Will be rotated among all assigned staff
• Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized