Advance Practice Nurse- Palliative Nurse Practitioner

Full Job Description

The Advanced Practice Nurse (APN) II or III Certified Nurse Practitioner (NP) practices in the Geriatrics and Extended Care (GEC) Palliative 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. The NP practices to the full extent of their education, training, and certification.

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), 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: his 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. Transferring patients and objects may be required.

Mechanical inpatient lifts are provided.

The Registered Nurse may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations, operative/invasive procedures, or home settings.

The Registered Nurse may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium, dementia, or psychiatric disorders.

The Registered Nurse 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. Major Duties:

The Advanced Practice Nurse (APN) Geriatrics and Extended Care (GEC)/Hospice & Palliative Care Nurse Practitioner (NP) is a licensed independent practitioner with advanced education and appropriate national certification who provides evidence-based care within the Palliative program.

This is a clinical position that requires working with patients that may have communication difficulties, cognitive loss, altered mentation, as well as caregiver stress.

The GEC-Palliative NP is responsible for direct clinical practice and will demonstrate knowledge and skills necessary to provide comprehensive, person-centered care.

The GEC-Palliative NP will serve as expert hospice and palliative care consultant in all areas of the Salt Lake City HCS.

This knowledge includes understanding illness trajectories, disease-specific symptoms, total pain, evidence-based management, needs of patients with serious and life-limiting illness, VA and community resources, appropriate pharmacological therapies and non-pharmacologic interventions, and changes associated with end-of-life.

Skills include effective communication to elicit goals of care, comprehensive symptom assessment, history and physical examinations, use of standardized tools and scales, developing a resident-centered care plan, assessment of caregiver stress and burden, collaboration with the interdisciplinary team, collaboration with consultants and internal/external stakeholders, appropriate use of pharmacological and nonpharmacologic treatments, care coordination using available resources, and provision of end-of-life care.

The NP will complete these tasks independently within authorized privileges.

Major duties and responsibilities of the position: Independently manages a panel of patients with terminal illness with an emphasis on symptom management related to illness and discussion of goals of medical care.

Develops and implements an individualized plan to achieve improved quality of life. Demonstrates leadership and works collaboratively with the interdisciplinary team.

Orders and interprets labs, tests, and diagnostic studies. Prescribes pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic interventions. Initiates referrals and consults to specialty services.

Provides education to patients and their families. Assesses and adjusts the plan of care as needed to achieve optimal patient outcomes.

Exemplifies the ICARE core values of-Integrity, Commitment, Advocacy, Respect, and Excellence.

Palliative duties and responsibilities of the position: Provide goal setting with Veteran and family, by initiating, and chairing Veteran/family meetings and recording the outcome of the meeting in the veteran's record to communicate veterans/families' goals for all involved staff to understand.

These meetings may be in the inpatient or the outpatient setting. The veterans attending health care provider is encouraged to attend these family meetings.

Some issues of discussion may include code status, advanced directives, identification of resource needs.

These meetings will include the social worker, and chaplain to be in attendance as much as able. Responds to all palliative care consults within 48 hours.

Initiates Outpatient consults for Hospice care as needed. Attends palliative care /hospice team meetings. Attends palliative care memorial service, participating as requested.

Assists with evaluating requests made for inpatient palliative care admissions. Contributes to local, VISN, and National Palliative Care workgroups or QI as needed.

Participating in conference calls as scheduled. Works to strengthen and progress the overall Hospice and Palliative care service in VISN.

This activity is above and beyond normal duties and would contribute to higher level evaluations. Other duties as assigned.

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: Typically M-F; 0730-1600 or as agreed upon with the needs of the VA.

Some weekend, early and/or late shifts may be required. Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

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