The Referral Coordination Initiative (RCI) Registered Nurse (RN) for Medicine Services is assigned to the Office of the Chief Nurse Executive at the Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center (FHCC) in North Chicago, Illinois. FHCC is a VA and DoD dually integrated healthcare center providing care services to Veterans, Active-Duty Military Personnel, and their beneficiaries, including outpatient pediatric services.

Duties

The Referral Coordination Initiative (RCI) nurse is a registered nurse responsible for the planning, integrating, implementing and modifying the effectiveness of the Veteran's care. RN possesses intimate knowledge of Fee federal regulations, VHA guidelines, medical review criteria, utilization management processes, clinical documentation requirements, current standards of care, and compliance guidelines. RN uses nursing knowledge and systems theory to assess, organize and facilitate appropriate clinical services to patients. RN will serve as a liaison to both internal and external providers and will be responsible for managing the care of the Veteran throughout the consult process. Clinical oversight of the non-VA care approval process is provided by the medical center Chief of Staff and nursing professional practice oversight by the Associate Director, Patient Care Services. RN supports FHCC mission by possessing and exemplifying the Four Core Competencies of the High- Performance Model. Major Duties and Responsibilities Demonstrates and maintains core and position specific competencies. Provides leadership in the application of the nursing process to patient care, organizational processes and/or systems improving outcomes at the program or service level. Integrates surveillance findings into area of responsibility plan for improvement of practice and patient outcomes. Executes position responsibilities that demonstrate leadership, experience, and creative approaches to management of complex client care within VHA and the non-VA care program. Responsible for organizing and coordinating the clinical components for the consult determination in response to individual healthcare needs along the illness and care continuum and in multiple settings. Conducts clinical reviews to interpret and evaluate complex data directly related to diagnosis, condition, and treatment to assure appropriate medical necessity, appropriate care coordination and timely utilization of non-VA health care services Reviews, analyzes, and applies existing regulations, standards, and/or guidelines of applicable professional organizations and government agencies Completes annual nursing mandatory reviews as well as competencies and continuing learning requirements. Shares information gained from educational experiences across units and within FHCC, with individuals, workgroups, the VISN and National level. Develops expertise in own area of practice and serves as a resource within own service. Implements an educational plan to meet changing program or service needs for self and others. Incorporates feedback regarding performance and interpersonal skills to enhance own professional development. Improves current knowledge base to evaluate programs or activities. Maintains knowledge of current evidenced based techniques, trends and professional issues. Initiates and facilitates interdisciplinary projects to improve organizational performance. Provides input in developing and revising policies, procedures, guidelines, and protocols based on research findings. Implement programs resulting from these projects. Serves as a role model in interacting with patients, families and significant others in a professional manner and utilizing effective communication skills. Participates in performance improvement activities by evaluating patient care systems that may include standards, protocols, and documentation for efficiency, safety, and quality. Incorporates evaluative data in ongoing performance improvement initiatives. 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: Monday-Friday, 7:30am-4:00pm cst Telework: 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. 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. Preferred Experience: Have at least a Baccalaureate Degree in Nursing (BSN); MSN/MS or Master's degree in a related healthcare field is preferred; Have at least two (2) to three (3) years of increasingly RN nursing practice; Have/maintain current certification in Basic Life Support (BLS); Be proficient in the written and spoken use of the English Language; 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 years of nursing practice/experience; OR 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. Working Conditions: To perform in a fully successful manner, the individual must have the physical ability to perform job-related duties which require light lifting (under 15 pounds), light carrying (under 15 pounds), standing (up to 2 hours), walking (up to 2 hours), sitting (up to 3 hours). bending (less than 10 minutes), transferring, stooping (less than 10 minutes), pushing or pulling without assistance (less than 10 minutes) without assistance, reaching above shoulder, use of fingers, both hands required, depth perception, ability to distinguish basic colors and shades of color, and hearing (aid permitted). In addition, the ability to perform the following administrative duties is required: word processing, computer key board typing, computer screen viewing, answering/placing telephone calls, filing and note taking. The employee may encounter the following environmental factors: working closely with others; exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations; 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. A health examination must be successfully completed prior to this assignment and periodically thereafter as required by the Occupational Health Clinic policy. There will be intermittent exposure to blood and body fluids.

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/.

IMPORTANT: 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.

IMPORTANT: For foreign education equivalency the only certifying body the VA recognizes is CGFNS and its' subsidiary, International Consultants of Delaware (ICD). Without certification of BSN-equivalency, the VA can only consider the degree at the associates level and pay will be determined accordingly.

Contacts

• Address Captain James A Lovell Federal Health Care Center 3001 Green Bay Road North Chicago, IL 60064 US
• Name: Antionette Sneed-Clay
• Email: [email protected]