The Dermatology Cancer Navigator is a Registered Nurse who offers support and guidance to patients with skin cancer and complex skin conditions in accessing the care system and overcoming barriers to quality care. Navigation spans the period from abnormal finding from cancer detection procedure through necessary cancer diagnostic tests to completion of cancer treatment.

Duties

The Dermatology Cancer Navigator is a Registered Nurse will work mainly, although not exclusively, in the Dermatology Outpatient clinic to offer this support and guidance to patients with complex skin conditions and skin malignancies within the umbrella of the Cancer Care Coordination group under the Oncology Section, connecting to a variety of existing programs and service delivery systems. The principal goal of patient navigation is to facilitate timely access to quality cancer care and a well-informed, timely, and effective patient flow along the continuum of cancer care in culturally sensitive manner for all patients. Broad Cancer Navigation functions include: Improve our knowledge and understanding of how best to provide required medical care to abnormal cancer related findings in a more timely manner; Improve access to and navigation of the cancer care continuum. Elucidate characteristics of institutional, system, and patient-related barriers to timely, quality standard cancer care. Encourage research collaborations and partnerships across cancer care delivery systems and organizations (e.g., primary care facilities, community health centers, hospitals, and academic centers). Care Coordination and Patient Navigation will address interventions to reduce time to delivery of early diagnostic and therapeutic services through community and institutional screening programs. The Dermatology Cancer Navigator will assist patients through the cancer care continuum and those without but at high risk for skin cancer. Examples of navigation services may include the following: coordinating appointments for diagnostic or therapeutic measures, tracking completion of evaluation and management required for timely delivery of standard service, arranging various forms of financial support, arranging for transportation to and childcare during scheduled diagnosis and treatment appointments, identifying and coordinating appointments with culturally-sensitive caregivers, coordinating care among providers, arranging for translation/interpretation services, ensuring coordination of services among medical personnel, ensuring that medical records are available at each scheduled appointment, and providing other services to overcome access barriers encountered during the cancer care process. The anticipated impact of the Dermatology Cancer Navigator includes improved timeliness to diagnosis and treatment along with improved patient satisfaction and experience. The practice of the Registered Nurse is based on knowledge, experience, and research and has a direct impact on patient outcomes. The major duties of the incumbent is the implementation of an ongoing review program assuring access to care to veterans combined elements of coordination of the provision of health care services with record and care review. Part of his/her duties include the oversight of this vulnerable population during emergencies, ensuring patients are contacted and accounted for. The incumbent works collaboratively with the interdisciplinary team including Physicians, Nursing, Program Coordinator, Social Work, HAS to ensure policies are follow. Work Schedule: Monday to Friday , 0800-1630 Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 07/21/2023. Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. English Language Proficiency. Must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) and 7407(d). Graduate of a school of professional nursing approved by the appropriate State-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). In cases of graduates of foreign schools of professional nursing, possession of current, full, active and unrestricted registration will meet the requirement of graduation from an approved school of professional nursing. OR The completion of coursework equivalent to a nursing degree in a MSN Bridge Program that qualifies for professional nursing registration constitutes the completion of an approved course of study of professional nursing. Students should submit the certificate of professional nursing to sit for the NCLEX to the VA along with a copy of the MSN transcript. (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. 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. Must be proficient in written and spoken English Preferred Experience: A year of experience as a Care Coordinator, preferred. Knowledge of complex skin conditions and malignancies, preferred. Spanish proficiency preferred. Grade Determinations: The following criteria must be met in determining the grade assignment of candidates, and if appropriate, the level within a grade: Nurse I Level I - An Associate Degree (ADN) or Diploma in Nursing, with no additional nursing practice/experience required. Nurse I Level II - An ADN or Diploma in Nursing and approximately 1 year of nursing practice/experience; OR an ADN or Diploma in Nursing and a bachelor's degree in a related field with no additional nursing practice/experience; OR a Bachelor's of Science in Nursing (BSN) with no additional nursing practice/experience. Nurse I Level III - An ADN or Diploma in Nursing and approximately 2-3 years of nursing practice/experience; OR an ADN or Diploma in Nursing and a Bachelor's degree in a related field and approximately 1-2 years of nursing practice/experience; OR a BSN with approximately 1-2 years of nursing practice/experience; OR a Master's degree in nursing (MSN) or related field with a BSN and no additional nursing practice/experience. Nurse II - A BSN with approximately 2-3 years of nursing practice/experience; OR ADN or Diploma in Nursing and a Bachelor's degree in a related field and approximately 2-3 year's of nursing practice/experience; OR a Master's degree in nursing or related field with a BSN and approximately 1-2 year's of nursing practice/experience; OR a Doctoral degree in nursing or meets basic requirements for appointment and has doctoral degree in a related field with no additional nursing practice/experience required. Nurse III - Master's degree in nursing or related field with BSN and approximately 2-3 year's of nursing practice/experience; OR a Doctoral degree and approximately 2-3 year's of nursing practice/experience. Reference: VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G-6 Nurse Qualification Standard. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office. Physical Requirements: This position involves lifting, moving and transporting patients, assist with transferring patients from wheelchair to to stretcher or radiology suite table and vice versa. Also assist with transferring patients to wheelchairs and/or may need to escort a patient to other areas. This position involves exposure to blood borne pathogens, fine manipulation, standing, walking, bending, crouching and reaching patients. It requires dealing with the acutely ill, with patients who may display disturbed behaviors, and with stressful situations. Moving patients and weighing patients in excess of 50 kg. or more. Wearing of a respirator may be required at times in the performance of the duties of this position. When required to use respirator, employee cannot have facial hair or any condition that interferes with the face to face piece seal or valve function of the respirator. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Contacts

• Address San Juan VA Medical Center 10 Calle Casia San Juan, PR 00921 US
• Name: Luis Burgos-Pena
• Email: [email protected]