The Cardiology Nurse Practitioner (NP) is a professional nurse with advanced clinical knowledge and competence to provide professional assessment, coordination, and planning of multiple health care services, emphasizing quality, timeliness, and the advancement of the VA mission. The NP is a licensed independent provider, holds clinical privileges, and practices in collaboration with other health care professionals to provide direct and indirect care.

Duties

The Cardiology Nurse Practitioner (NP) is expected to work collaboratively in an academic medical environment, communicating effectively with students, residents, fellows and attending physicians, as the situation requires. The Cardiology NP is a professional nurse with advanced clinical knowledge and competence to provide professional assessment, coordination, and planning of multiple health care services, emphasizing quality, timeliness, and the advancement of the VA mission. The NP is a licensed independent provider, holds clinical privileges, and practices in collaboration with other health care professionals to provide direct and indirect care. Clinical core privileges of the Cardiology NP include the management, treatment, and ordering, performing, and interpreting labs, radiography, and other diagnostic tests for acute and chronic cardiovascular disorders of the adult population. The NP is responsible for providing new and ongoing care of cardiac patients, acting on behalf of the patients to assure that necessary clinical services are received and that progress is being made toward Cardiology team care goals. The Cardiology NP will report directly to the Clinical Director of Cardiology under the Medicine Service Line. As we are seeking to bolster our electrophysiology service, a significant portion of time will be spent in support of provision of electrophysiology care. This will include both inpatient and outpatient care. Experience with electrophysiology care, pacemakers and defibrillators will be an asset. Some general cardiology care will be incorporated into duties. The NP may act as a consultant to hospitalized, non-emergent, non-critical, stable cardiac patients who do not require acute intervention or intensive care support. The Cardiology NP is accountable for adhering to various cardiovascular and cardiopulmonary disease management guidelines, as provided by the Cardiology team and the American College of Cardiology. Telemedicine technology may be used to provide evaluation and treatment as needed. The scope of the coordination of care will be throughout the continuum of care to assure that care is timely, appropriate, of high quality, and cost effective. The NP will assume accountability as an NP by accepting responsibility as Cardiology provider, recognizing own abilities and limitations, and consistently seeks guidance and learning experiences that provide professional and personal growth. Additional Cardiology NP functions will include: 1. Collaborate with Cardiology team to meet SAVAHCS Veterans' needs. 2. Educate patients and family members on appropriate disease-modifying cardiac techniques. 3. Provide a leadership role in the department that includes innovation, consultation, advocacy, accountability, and responsibility for improved SAVAHCS cardiovascular services. 4. Participate in the development, implementation, and evaluation of quality improvement in the Cardiology division. 5. Make appropriate recommendations or changes in practice based on feedback and data collected on patients. 6. Maintain mandatory and clinical educational requirements of the position. 7. Attend Cardiology/TAVR care management conferences. The Tucson VA is a tertiary care facility providing a full range of clinical services including complex coronary angioplasty, electrophysiology, cardiac surgery and neurosurgery. It has been a flagship quality provider within the VA and was a 2012 winner of the prestigious Robert W. Carey Performance Excellence Award. We are in a growth area for the VA. Consequently, the VA is open to major capital investment in our facility; we expect to start construction on a new bed tower in early 2024. SAVACHS is the principal teaching affiliate of the University of Arizona Colleges of Medicine, Nursing, and Pharmacy. The successful candidate will enjoy the security of VA salary funding, the generous federal benefits package, our lovely southwestern climate, the professional advantages of an academic practice environment, and a medium size city with the cultural enrichments of a major university. VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Nurse Total Rewards 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) Work Schedule:08:00 AM 4:30PM Monday-Friday 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 -Acute Care Nursing Practitioner (ACNP) with Emphases in Adult Gerontology. Grade Determinations: The following criteria must be met in determining the grade assignment of candidates, and if appropriate, the level within a grade:. Nurse II - A BSN with approximately 2-3 years of nursing practice/experience a Master's degree in nursing or related field with a BSN and approximately 1-2 years 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 years of nursing practice/experience; OR a Doctoral degree and approximately 2-3 years 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:Heavy lifting (45 lbs and over); Heavy carrying (45 lbs and over); Straight pulling and pushing; reaching above shoulder; use of fingers; both hands required; walking and standing up to 8 hours; repeated bending; Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; hearing aid permitted.

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 Tucson VA Medical Center 3601 South Sixth Avenue Tucson, AZ 85723 US
• Name: Elena Gonzalez
• Phone: 858-623-1850
• Email: [email protected]