This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application.

Duties

VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Nurse Total Rewards. The primary purpose of the Community Living Center, (CLC) Hospice and Palliative Care Nurse RN position is to demonstrate leadership in delivering and improving resident/person centered holistic end of life direct care through collaboration strategies with others to provide comprehensive nursing care to CLC residents assigned to the assigned unit where conditions are usually of a non-critical nature and focused on end of life direct care. The CLC Hospice and Palliative Care RN demonstrates clinical competence in performing initial history and assessment, care planning to include but not limited to discharge planning, pain management, nutrition, Bar Code Medication Administration (BCMA), and Computerized CLC residents Record System (CPRS) documentation. Other major duties include but are not limited to: CLC residents teaching and care, tube feeding, Electrocardiogram, intravenous access and pump management, verification of informed consent, use of ceiling lifts, care of the CLC residents with tracheostomies, glucometer management, wound care and management and pulse oximetry. He/she demonstrates clinical competence and leadership in delivering and improving holistic care through collaborative strategies with others such as CLC residents, their family members/significant others and members of the interdisciplinary team. He/she is self-directed in goal setting, and in the management of complex CLC residents' situations utilizing the nurse process. He/she demonstrates the ability to identify an issue, analyze it, develop and implement interventions. The CLC Hospice and Palliative Care RN completes initial assessments and reassessments of CLC residents condition and response to treatment. He/she initiates follow-up as recommended while administering the prescribed therapies using appropriate judgment; evaluation of therapies is pertinent and timely. The CLC Hospice and Palliative Care RN provides care in a non-judgmental, non-discriminatory manner that is sensitive to the adult or elderly CLC residents and family's diversity, preserving their autonomy, dignity and rights. The CLC Hospice and Palliative Care Nurse RN focuses on problems, initiates referrals to other disciplines and/or services as appropriate. He/she accurately documents in the medical records of CLC residents' findings, assessments, and care provided. He/she effectively functions independently as the Charge Nurse in an assignment managing the care of a group of CLC residents and caregivers. He/she assigns staff to provide care based on staff competencies and identifies priorities to ensure safe and effective CLC resident care. He/she demonstrates and/or verbalizes correct responses to emergencies as well as initiates effective action in emergencies. The CLC Hospice and Palliative Care RN demonstrates understanding of infection control precautions appropriate for the CLC resident population. He/she participates/ leads unit-based shared governance, performance improvement and safety initiatives. He/she pursues an education plan to maintain/improve knowledge in geriatrics and extended care nursing. He/she participates in educational activities to improve and maintain clinical knowledge and skills and enhance role performance. The CLC Hospice and Palliative Care RN leads others in the application of knowledge/skills in caring for CLC residents. He/she initiates and utilizes positive, effective communication skills and professional behaviors that promote cooperation, teamwork, effective interaction with internal and external customers. The Hospice and Palliative Care RN performs other duties as assigned. 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: 12-hour tours to include weekends and holiday rotation as scheduled. There are six (6) 12-hour shifts and one eight (8) hour shift per pay period. Compressed/Flexible: Not Available Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Contact the EDRP Coordinators [email protected] for questions/assistance. Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): 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: BSN with one year hospice experience preferred. Three years long term or rehab experience highly desirable. 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. Physical Requirements: The population of male and female Veterans served ranges from the adult, age 18, to the elderly adult, age 65 and over. DCVAMC is a major interdisciplinary teaching facility, serving medical, surgical, and neurological CLC residents. There is a large CLC resident psychiatric population with rare visits to the Emergence Department, transfers, and admissions for medical co-morbidities. 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 CLC residents and objects may be required. The incumbent may be exposed to infected CLC residents and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations or operative/invasive procedures. The incumbent may occasionally be exposed to CLC residents 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, and able to shift priorities based on the CLC residents' needs. Must complete annual Employee Health requirements, such as annual TB screening or testing, as a condition of employment.

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 Washington VA Medical Center 50 Irving Street, Northwest Washington, DC 20422 US
• Name: Melinda Mitchell
• Phone: 681-238-8176
• Email: [email protected]