This position is open for either Physician Assistant or Nurse Practitioner. Please see Physician Assistant announcement for application submission and eligibility requirements. The Advanced Practice Professional will maintain acceptable standards of practice within the Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOC) and Medical Care Line (MCL) health care setting under the administrative direction of the CBOC Clinic Director and clinical practice direction of the designated MCL physicians.

Duties

VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Nurse Total Rewards The incumbent will be providing outpatient services for various outpatient medicine clinics including Hematology, Oncology, Gastroenterology, Pulmonary, Cardiology, Sleep Medicine and other desired CBOC needs. Duties: - Performing initial histories and physical examinations for outpatient setting; Completes medical consults - Providing ongoing outpatient care for assigned patients. - Screening outpatients to determine need for further care. - Displays clinical competency through effective and thorough clinical diagnosis; documenting of symptoms/observations and care plan. - Coordinates and directs proper care for patients in conjunction with privileged and credentialed physicians, including coordination of outside care in the community and referrals to VA tertiary care facilities. - Ordering specialty care studies, diagnostics, and patient pre/post operation requirements. - Prescribing medications within defined scope of practice. - Ordering diagnostic studies such as laboratory tests, x-rays, electrocardiograms (EKGs). - Carrying out health promotion and disease prevention activities. - Initiating and expediting requests for consultations and scheduling special tests and studies. - Dictating notes on procedures performed for which the APN/PA-C is responsible. - Providing education and counseling of patients and families in preventive care, medical conditions, and use of prescribed treatments and drugs. - Provides training to APN/PA students. - Collaborate with CBOC & MCL leadership for management of subspecialty clinics Responsibilities: - Maintain professional standards of conduct and training. - Maintain professional certification. - Work effectively and courteously with patients, families or significant others, and with CBOC, medical staff and members of other services. - Provide effective care to patients; i.e. assesses, plans, implements, documents, evaluates patient care; manages care for assigned patients; initiates effective actions in emergencies. - Uses sound judgment in assessing, planning, implementing, documenting and evaluating patient care; as assessed by ongoing peer and supervising physician review. - Accurately documents and reports care. Completes medical records on a timely basis, per staff bylaws. - Actively involved in the management of clinics, to improve efficiency of patient care in coordination with CBOC and MEDVAMC. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm 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

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. 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. In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), 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 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). The approving official may authorize a waiver of the requirement for ACEN or CCNE accreditation of any degree in nursing provided the college or university has regional accreditation from an accrediting body recognized by the Department of Education at the time of the candidate's graduation and the composite qualifications of the applicant warrant such consideration. 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. Master's or Doctoral Degree from a program accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing or the Commission (ACEN-Formerly NCLAC) or the Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). 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. Nurse Practitioners must be licensed or otherwise recognized as a nurse practitioner in a State and maintain full and current certification as a nurse practitioner from the American Nurses Association or another nationally recognized certifying body. The certification must be in the specialty to which the individual is being appointed or selected. Preferred Experience and Certifications -None 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 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. Note regarding MSN degrees: If your MSN was obtained via a Bridge Program that qualifies for professional nursing registration, a BSN is not required. 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 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. For outpatient care, patients lifts are supported by team mates. For inpatient lifts, mechanical inpatient lifts are provided. The incumbent 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. The incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium, dementia, or psychiatric disorders. The incumbent must be a 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, such as annual TB screening or testing, as a condition of employment. The incumbent who provides care in home settings or other off-site locations may be required to drive and/or ride in GSA-vehicles.

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 Michael E DeBakey VA Medical Center 2002 Holcombe Boulevard Houston, TX 77030 US
• Name: Sonia Williams
• Phone: 318-840-6458
• Email: [email protected]