Registered Nurse-Inpatient SCI Case Manager

Full Job Description

The Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Registered Nurse (RN) Case Manager (CM) provides patient management, care coordination, and discharge/disposition planning for inpatient and outpatient settings.

The CM RN assists Veterans, family members, and caregivers with receiving the most appropriate options and services to meet their complex health care needs.

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.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

Physical Requirements: The 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.

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.

May occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium, dementia, or psychiatric disorders.

Must be 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 as a condition of employment. If providing care in home settings or other off-site locations may be required to drive and/or ride in GSA-vehicles.

Major Duties:

The Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Registered Nurse (RN) Case Manager (CM) assesses, plans, implements, and evaluates care based on age-specific components.

Duties of the position are, but not limited to: Responsible and accountable for all elements of the nursing process when providing and/or supervising direct patient care.

Assess, plan, implement, and evaluate care based on age-specific components.

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

Follow procedures per established policies and guidelines. Influence care outcomes by collaborating with members of the interdisciplinary team.

Perform the core elements of the grade, including knowledge and active participation in the unit/program level quality improvement process and initiatives as well as customer service programs.

Assist Veterans, family members, and caregivers with receiving the most appropriate options and services to meet their complex health care needs.

Complex needs include, but not limited to, acute, chronic, multiple, complex, catastrophic, or life-threatening illnesses; combat stress, residuals of traumatic brain injury; community adjustment; addictions and other health problems.

Coordinate care with multiple providers across all levels and sites of care.

Address psychosocial, as well as nursing and medical needs of patients and their families/caregivers, through participation in interdisciplinary patient care management practice.

Evaluate care and outcomes to ensure timely and appropriate provision of services. Demonstrate leadership in delivering and improving holistic care through collaborative strategies with others.

Evaluate practice in an ongoing process, based on best evidence. Provide peers with informal constructive feedback for improvement.

Foster a safe and supportive environment conducive to the professional development of healthcare professionals.

Contribute professional nursing perspective in discussions with the interdisciplinary team. Partner with others to effect change and produce optimal outcomes.

Support colleagues through CM knowledge sharing to provide safe, quality nursing care. Share educational findings, experiences, and ideas with peers.

Participate in activities and strategies to sustain an evidence-based-practice culture. Other duties as assigned.

Preferred Experience: Prior Nurse Case Manager experience, SCI/D or Rehab nursing experience, Certification, 5 years of clinical experience.

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: 0600-1630 Monday to Thursday Compressed/Flexible: Compressed Schedule Available.

Telework: Telework is available on an AD-HOC basis only, this position is required to report to the facility on a regular basis. Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

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