Summary

The Advanced Practice Nurse (APN) Certified Nurse Practitioner (NP) practices in Medical Service to provide a full range of services emphasizing quality - timeliness - and the advancement of the Veterans Affairs (VA) mission. The NP provides advanced clinical practice - consultation - and management.

Qualifications

Advanced Practice Nurse (Nurse Practitioner)

Basic Requirements:

• Education: A post-master's certificate or master's or doctoral degree as a Nurse Practitioner
• (Applicants pending the completion of educational requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until the education requirements are met.) Must be a 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)
• NOTE: Foreign Education
• Graduates of foreign schools of professional nursing programs - the nurse practitioner degree equivalency must be validated through an Agency recognized degree equivalency evaluation agency - such as the International Consultants of Delaware (ICD)
• Candidates with equivalent nurse practitioner masters or doctorate level degrees who possess current - full - active - and unrestricted registration and certification will meet the requirement of graduation from an approved school of professional nursing to warrant appointment
• License - All APN (NPs) must possess and maintain an active - current - full - and unrestricted APN license to practice as an NP in a State - Territory or Commonwealth of the United States - or in the District of Columbia
• Basic Board Certification - All APN (NPs) must maintain full and current basic board certification in one of the following: Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) - Adult Nurse Practitioner (ANP) - Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP) - Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (ACNP) - Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) - or Gerontology Nurse Practitioner (GNP) from one of the following: the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) - American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (AANPCB) - or other nationally recognized certifying body in the area in which the Nurse Practitioner is academically prepared
• NOTE: Grandfathering Provision - All persons currently employed in VHA in 0610 series and an APN (NP) assignment that are also 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
• The following Scope - Education and Experience - and Dimension criteria must be met to qualify for Advanced Practice Nurse (Nurse Practitioner) II: Exception to Licensure for Graduate Nurse Technicians
• Candidates who otherwise meet the basic requirements - but do not possess the required licensure and/or certification - may be appointed at the entry step of the Nurse II - as a Graduate Nurse Technician - Nurse Practitioner on a temporary appointment up to any period not-to-exceed one year and a day under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 405(c)(2)(B)
• Scope: Demonstrates leadership in delivering and improving holistic care through collaborative strategies with others Education and Experience Requirement: Meets basic education requirement for APN (NP)
• Nurse II is considered the entry grade level for APN (NPs)
• no experience is required
• Dimension Requirement: APNs (NPs) at level II are expected to meet the following dimension requirements: Clinical Practice
• Delivers evidence-based health care - demonstrating proficiency in the ability to manage a patient panel - population - or program
• Outcome Focus
• Utilizes research and evidence-based practice to evaluate the patient care delivery system within a patient panel or program - presents findings and contributes to changes that enhance the quality and timeliness of veteran/patient care
• Leadership
• Works effectively as a leader within a team/unit/group and seeks interdisciplinary collaboration as appropriate to enhance patient care
• Professional Development
• Acquires knowledge and skills to develop expertise in area of practice
• Professionalism/Collegiality
• Demonstrates effective communication skills and professional behavior - promoting cooperation and teamwork
• Participates in interdisciplinary teams and processes that positively impact patient outcomes
• The following Scope - Education and Experience - and Dimension criteria must be met to qualify for Advanced Practice Nurse (Nurse Practitioner) III: Scope: Executes position responsibilities that demonstrate leadership - experience - and creative approaches to management of complex client care
• Education and Experience Requirement: Meets basic education requirement for an APN (NP) AND one year of specialized APN (NP) experience equivalent to the Nurse II grade level
• Dimension Requirement: APN (Nurse Practitioners) at grade III are expected to meet the following dimension requirements: Clinical Practice
• Influences and models the delivery of evidence- based health care - demonstrating expertise in the ability to manage a patient panel - population - or program
• Outcome Focus
• Leads and implements changes that enhance the quality and timeliness of Veteran/patient care applying research and evidence in the delivery of healthcare for patient populations
• Leadership
• Initiates and leads interdisciplinary teams informed by structured approaches and processes to improve outcomes that positively impact care for a patient panel - population - or program
• Professional Development
• Acquires knowledge and skills - then disseminates acquired information within and/or outside the medical facility
• Professionalism/Collegiality
• Initiates and leads interdisciplinary teams developing systems that positively impact outcomes at the panel - population - or program level
• Demonstrates effective communication skills and professional behavior - promoting cooperation and teamwork Physical Requirements: This position requires visual acuity - keen hearing - clear distinctive speech - and manual dexterity
• This position requires potentially long periods of continued walking - standing - stooping - sitting - bending - pulling - and pushing
• This position also requires the ability to lift 30 lbs
• Transferring patients and objects may be required
• The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to wear protective clothing in isolation situations or operative/invasive procedures
• The incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium - dementia - or psychiatric disorders
• 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 Cancer Care Coordinator/APRN Nurse Practitioner demonstrates performance and leadership that is broad enough to improve the care for a group of patients
• He/she is responsible for the documented outcomes at the program or service level
• Program or service level outcomes must be broad and complex and can be demonstrated at any organizational level within a facility - Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) - or Veterans Administration Central Office (VACO)
• Program is defined as a substantial coordinated group of activities impacting patients and/or employees
• He/she demonstrates leading and organizing delivery of care to assure continuity of care and peer accountability for practice - including access to care and discharge planning
• Use advanced clinical knowledge judgment to promote staff involvement in planning - decision-making - and evaluating outcome
• Function as an expert in clinical practice and/or areas related to the assigned roles and responsibilities
• Systematically evaluating current practice - and formulating outcomes for groups of patients and/or organizational processes within an area of expertise
• Using professional standards of care - scientific evidence - and practice to evaluate programs and/or service activities
• Utilizes core elements of performance including knowledge and active participation in unit/service/program/VISN level quality improvement processes - such as the customer service program
• Promotes the medical center mission - vision - and values
• complies with Equal Employment Opportunity programs - partnerships - customer service standards and Veterans Affairs policies and procedures
• Has advanced knowledge and skills in the assessment and management of the physical and psychosocial problems of individuals and their families
• The scope of practice includes providing expert support and guidance to persons with abnormal cancer screening or a new cancer diagnosis in accessing the cancer care system
• overcoming barriers and facilitating timely - quality care
• Addresses institutional barriers to efficient care such as long waiting times for appointments
• He/she serves as a point of contact - not only for patients and caregivers - but for their providers as well - and can act as an intermediary between them to facilitate timely care
• Is an effective communicator and develops rapport not only with patients and their caregivers - but also providers
• Well organized to keep track of numerous patients at various stages of work- up and treatment simultaneously
• Responsible for staff and patient education - community referrals and interdisciplinary coordination of patient care and program responsibility
• Prescribes - renews - and modifies therapeutic regimes - including medications in accordance with Medical Center 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 - 8:00PM - 4:30PM Telework: not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized