Advanced Practice Nurse - Community Living Center

Full Job Description

St. Cloud VA Health Care System is seeking an Advanced Practice Nurse (APN) to care for Veterans in St. Cloud, MN.

The incumbent practices in Community Living Center (CLC), Rehabilitation and Extended Care (REC) Integrated Clinical Community (ICC) Service to provide a full range of services emphasizing quality, timeliness, and the advancement of the VA mission.

The APN provides advanced clinical practice, consultation, and management.

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 Preferred Experience: Minimum of 3 years APRN with Geriatric experience Strong Communication Skills Ability to work collaboratively with an interdisciplinary team Physical Requirements: This position includes a level of physicality normally associated with direct patient care duties performed by nurses such as heavy lifting (45# or more), moderate carrying (up to 45#), reaching above shoulders, use of both hands and legs, use of fingers, prolonged walking and standing, intermittent crawling, kneeling and bending, ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously, near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4, far binocular correctable to 20/40, vision, hearing (aide permitted), mental and emotional stability.

Major Duties:

The Community Living Center (CLC) Advanced Practice Nurse (APN) is a licensed independent practitioner with advanced education and national certification who provides evidence-based care for a population of patients.

The APN is responsible for the planning, integrating, implementing, modifying and evaluating the effectiveness of the Veteran's care.

The APN is the lead of the integrated care team established by the St. Cloud VA Health Care System.

The APN will serve as a liaison to both internal and external providers and will be responsible for managing the care of the Veteran and the seamless transition to and from the community.

He/she possesses the knowledge related to VHA guidelines, utilization review criteria, current evidence-based standards of care, compliance guidelines and local policy related to Delegation of Authority as established by the facility Chief of Staff.

Core elements of performance include knowledge and active participation in unit/program level quality improvement processes and initiatives as well as customer service programs.

Duties include, but are not limited to: Executes position responsibilities that demonstrate leadership, experience, and creative approaches to management of complex Veteran care.

Functions within a defined scope of practice as a direct care provider and/or expert clinician. The APN provides specialty and/or primary health care within the Rehabilitation and Extended Care ICC.

Identifies CLC residents with challenging dementia-related and non-dementia related behaviors.

Utilizes the use of evidence-based behavioral and non-pharmacological interventions to reduce the frequency and severity of challenging behaviors.

Supports development of the interdisciplinary plan of care with interdisciplinary team. Serves to facilitate the optimal level of functioning of the Veteran in a less restrictive level of care.

Develops collaborative partnerships with a variety of community settings. Provides inpatient clinical management at the unit level.

Provides leadership in the application of the nursing process to client care, organizational processes and/or systems, improving outcomes at the program or service level.

Manages program resources (financial, human, material, or informational) to facilitate safe, effective efficient care.

Implements an educational plan to meet changing program or service needs for self and others. Completes assessment and documentation of medical history, diagnosis, and plan of care.

Initiates, orders, and evaluates plans of care for the Community Living Center Veterans.

Provides H&P's, medical screenings, and medical follow-up for all newly admitted and established Veterans on the Community Living Center.

Provides patient/family education regarding disease process, rick factors, symptom control, treatment (including use of medications).

Orders laboratory, imaging, and other diagnostic tests as applicable. Consults with other providers in a multidisciplinary team. Place referrals to other services/specialists as needed.

Promotes a practice environment that supports professional responsibility, accountability, and professional development.

Must be proficient and demonstrate competency and the ability to either set up or reprocess Reusable Medical Equipment as applicable for all equipment for which they have been trained.

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, 8:00am - 4:30pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

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