Registered Nurse (Referral Coordination Initiative-Care in the Community)

Full Job Description

The VA Texas Valley Coastal Bend Health Care System (VCBHCS) is seeking two Registered Nurses (Referral in Coordination - Care in the Comunity) for the Harlingen VA Clinic.

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/12879259.

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: 2-3 Years Case Management 2-3 Years Medical-Surgical experience preferred Candidates must have the ability to coordinate care with internal and external providers and facilities Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

Physical Requirements: The position requires light to moderate lifting and carrying (up to 44 pounds), pulling hand over hand, pushing, reaching above shoulder, use of fingers, both hands required, walking (8-12 hours), standing (8-12 hours), kneeling, repeated bending (8-12 hours), climbing (legs only 8-12 hours), climbing (use of legs and arms), both legs required, Major Duties:

The Registered Nurses (Referral Coordination Initiative - Care in the Community) will be responsible for the consult coordination and patient flow management, including appointment management, triage of patients, patient education, monitoring of patient progress toward predetermined goals and timely follow-up.

Additional duties include the following: Participates in clinic for setting patients' goals of care as part of the interdisciplinary team.

Utilizes the nursing process in managing, developing, implementing, and evaluating each patient's individual plan in collaboration with the interdisciplinary care team to attain specific clinical outcomes in the outpatient specialty clinic settings.

Communicates with Veterans: health care options including local VA, other VA Medical Centers, and the community based on eligibility criteria for community care per National Directives (i.e.

MISSION Act).

Works closely with other VA Medical Centers, contracted facilities, and community facilities to remove obstacles that would impede the Veteran from utilizing the services of other VA Medical Centers or community not available at our facility Participates in the development and implementation of recommended policies and procedures as related to Consult Referral Coordination and/or designated clinical area.

Maintains and upgrades own knowledge base and skills regarding Consult Referral Coordination and/or specific clinical areas and applies this knowledge to nursing practice.

Receives alerts for consults, assists with ordering and coordinating appropriate tests, obtaining reports and communications with the referring provider, private institutions, and physicians, to expedite patient appointments.

Collaborates with clinic staff to ensure patients are given timely appointments and expedites consults.

Assists in the coordination of Care in the Community (CITC) between the VA and outside facilities and physician offices.

Provides documentation to HIMS staff for scanning into the patient's medical record. Assists in reviewing and approving consults based on established criteria and service agreements.

Communicates with patients and other staff as needed to confirm consult status and care received, triages and applies a collaborative team approach in identifying, analyzing, and resolving patient care problems.

Collects patient data by interview, examination, and review of records systematically; completes data collection forms as required and documents in the electronic health record as needed.

Establishes work priorities to accomplish assignments timely, achieve program and system goals, and meet established criteria.

Demonstrates proficiency in advanced and highly technical skills necessary for the CITC Program specifically related to consults review and approval, appointment verification and obtaining appropriate documentation if needed.

Completes assignment and evaluates data in relation to the health system's goals and objectives. Initiates, provides, maintains, and analyzes accurate documentation and databases.

Works collaboratively with other services and refers questions about eligibility to appropriate staff, notifies appropriate service when problems or issues occur.

Demonstrates the ability to communicate through role modeling and instruction of positive communication skills to promote an environment of acceptance, openness,and feedback.

Recognizes the need for assistance, clinical and administrative, and requests assistance as appropriate.

Maintains effective working relationship with professionals and support personnel within or outside of the service.

Serves as a resource for other team members and participates in planning for program improvements at the local level.

Consults with provider with questions regarding consults and for quality of care issues.

Creates consults from Secondary Authorization Requests from Community Providers by transcribing requests to an electronic health record for VA PCP to sign and authorize care.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday (8:00 a.m.

- 4:30 p.m.) 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