Registered Nurse Staff - Case Manager/Care

Full Job Description

Responsible and accountable for all elements of the nursing process when providing and/or supervising direct patient care.

Assumes responsibility for the coordination of care focused on patient education, self-management, and customer satisfaction throughout the continuum of care.

Administers medications and procedures per established policies and guidelines. Influences care outcomes by collaborating with members of the interdisciplinary team.

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/12930679.

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: Case Management 2-3 years experience Discharge planning 2-3 years experience Transition of Care 2-3 years experience Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service. Major Duties:

VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Nurse Total Rewards Duties: Establishes work priorities to accomplish Utilization Management assignments timely.

Collects patient data using different modalities including interview and systematic review of records.

Completes and documents applicable Nursing Notes in the electronic health record in a timely manner and closes encounters by the end of tour of duty daily.

- Utilizes SOP 11-22-24 Procedures for Utilization Management standards or VHA approved decision support tool for LTAC (Long Term Acute Care) and IRU (Inpatient Rehab Unit) to facilitate appropriate care and ensure ideal utilization of resources.

Consults with PUMA, PM&R or designee when a veteran does not meet criteria. Initiates, provides, maintains, and analyzes accurate documentation and databases.

Notifies appropriate service when problems or issues occur.

Works collaboratively with VA Health Administration Service and refers questions about fee and eligibility to appropriate staff such as HBA, VSOs, etc.

Facilitates discharge planning in consultation with the physician, patient, family, and appropriate health care team members.

Works with the hospital/facility case managers or social worker and VHA social work to facilitate discharge planning.

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 collegial working relationship with professionals and support personnel within or outside of the service. - Promotes health promotion and risk reduction strategies.

Demonstrates knowledge of policies, procedures and standards of care to promote evidence-based patient-driven care.

Ensures completion of continued stay reviews in a timely manner (every 2-3 business days). Completes mandatory on-line in-service education programs and staff development by due date.

Improves quality of care coordination between VA and external hospitals. Addresses authorization corrections within Tri-West and HSRM. Provides excellent customer service.

- Uses the nursing process and evidence-based practice to collaborate with the Teamlet, extended Team and external members (community-based services involved in providing care to the patient) to meet patient needs.

Demonstrates advanced clinical knowledge in assessing, planning, implementing, documenting and evaluating care for a designated group of patients across the continuum of care.

Provides timely notification of hospital discharges to the High Risk Care Management team and PACT. Submits ACSC e-consults per SOP 11-22-24 Procedures for Utilization Management.

Functions as a systems coordinator, monitors progress and intervenes as necessary to ensure that patient outcomes are achieved within anticipated timeframes.

Monitors progress along clinical pathways, analyzes variations and initiates appropriate actions.

Advocates fiscal responsibility in the management of patient care through effective utilization of resources.

Maintains privacy and confidentiality of all information, including electronic, print and conversations.

Promotes use of warm hand-off communication for care coordination to other levels of care (multidisciplinary) resources.

Collects and updates database documentation on a daily, weekly and monthly timeline. Assists with staff orientation and precepting. Participates in activities for personal growth and development.

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: 0800-1630 Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized