Summary

The Washington - DC VA Medical Center - part of the VA Washington DC Health Care System - is a tertiary care - Complexity Level 1B major interdisciplinary teaching facility providing comprehensive primary and specialty healthcare services to Veterans. The Registered Nurse (RN) is responsible for providing professional - evidence-based nursing care to Veterans in accordance with established VA policies - procedures - and clinical practice standards.

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/13106073
• 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
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Preferred Experience: BSN with 3 Years of PACT experience preferred
• Prior 5 years of Acute/Critical care experience preferred
• Physical Requirements: USE THIS STATEMENT FOR YOUR PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 - Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements

Duties

• Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT) Registered Nurse Care Manager - Nurse I - II - and III The following is a polished - consolidated VA-style position description that maintains the distinctions in responsibilities and proficiency among Nurse I - Nurse II - and Nurse III
• PACT Registered Nurse Care Manager - Nurse I (Level 1) The PACT Registered Nurse Care Manager Nurse I utilizes the nursing process and evidence-based practices to provide patient-centered - comprehensive care in collaboration with the Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT)
• The incumbent serves as an integral member of the Teamlet - consisting of the patient - Primary Care Provider (PCP) - RN Care Manager - and Clinical Support Technician
• The nurse collaborates with the broader interdisciplinary team - including family members - caregivers - and internal and community-based healthcare providers - to develop and implement individualized - patient-driven holistic care plans
• Responsibilities include coordinating patient care - promoting health education and self-management - facilitating continuity of care - and coordinating transitions between VA and non-VA healthcare services to ensure patient needs are effectively addressed
• PACT Registered Nurse Care Manager - Nurse II The PACT Registered Nurse Care Manager Nurse II demonstrates leadership - clinical competence - and progressive mastery of nursing practice in delivering efficient - comprehensive - continuous - and patient-driven holistic care
• The incumbent actively collaborates with patients - interdisciplinary team members - and internal and external healthcare providers to coordinate care - communicate treatment needs - and manage healthcare resources
• The nurse incorporates individual patient characteristics - including age - developmental stage - health status - cultural background - socioeconomic circumstances - values - and beliefs - when developing and implementing individualized care plans
• The incumbent actively participates in unit- and service-level performance improvement initiatives - quality assurance activities - and customer service programs
• The nurse promotes the medical center's mission - vision - and values while supporting Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) initiatives - partnerships - customer service standards - and compliance with VA policies - procedures - and established nursing practice standards
• PACT Registered Nurse Care Manager - Nurse III The PACT Registered Nurse Care Manager Nurse III provides advanced nursing care - clinical leadership - and professional guidance in the promotion and maintenance of health and the prevention of illness and injury
• The incumbent applies the nursing process - including systematic data collection - comprehensive assessment - clinical judgment - care planning - implementation - and evaluation of patient responses to actual or potential health problems
• Responsibilities include case management - health education - patient counseling - disease prevention - health promotion - and the provision of supportive and restorative nursing care
• The nurse executes prescribed medical regimens - including the administration of medications and treatments authorized by licensed healthcare providers
• The incumbent demonstrates accountability for clinical decision-making - patient advocacy - care coordination - and the delivery of safe - effective - evidence-based nursing services
• In accordance with the American Nurses Association (ANA) Code of Ethics - the nurse's primary professional commitment is to the patient - whether an individual - family - group - or community
• 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: TBD Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized