The Research Investigator Registered Nurse (RN) for Medical Practice is assigned to the Chief Medical Executive Directorate 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 function of the Research Investigator RN is to provide a holistic approach to the VHA research process including involvement in the following roles: clinical data coordinator, clinical research assistant, and clinical research monitor. The RN possesses the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively apply all aspects of the nursing research process within a collaborative, interdisciplinary practice setting. A broad based clinical knowledge enables the registered nurse to effectively implement all aspects of the research role. Major Duties and Responsibilities Conduct pre-study visits with sponsors to provide them with needed information to make a determination if FHCC will be selected to participate in the study. Assist with the submission to the Institutional Review Board (IRB)/Research and Development (R&D) committees for approval. Collaborate with various disciplinaries (pharmacy, radiology, laboratory) to ensure their participation in the study is understood, upon approval. Ensures to follow process of; once study is activated, screen and enroll qualified subjects, follow subjects through course of study, managing patient appointments and procedural instructions doing study related procedures (blood, urine/urine pregnancy testing, tissue sampling, Electrocardiogram, pulmonary testing, Ankle-Brachial Index (ABIs), Investigational Product (IP) dosing, Intravenous infusion, subcutaneous injections, Quantiferon or Purified Protein Derivative Testing, and biological substance shipment per IATA guidelines), follow-up and report test results to appropriate providers, and obtain records and test results from external facilities. Plans for personal growth as related to professional goals based on self-assessment, evaluation, and feedback. Assumes responsibility for acquiring knowledge and experience to meet goals. Actively participates in professional organizations. Completes annual nursing mandatory reviews as well as competencies and continuing learning requirements. Incorporates feedback regarding performance and interpersonal skills to enhance own professional development. Develops expertise in own area of practice and serves as a resource within own service. Provides leadership in developing and maintaining standards of care which contribute to safe, comprehensive, and quality services to patients receiving services. Evaluates the delivery of care using standards of care/practice, analyzes findings and various reports and recommends changes in practices. Facilitates QI processes at the unit and service level. Uses knowledge of mission, vision, and values to facilitate care and monitors quality improvements for improved outcomes. Describes and utilizes the continuous quality improvement process, roles, and responsibilities. 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, 7:00am to 3:30pm cst 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. 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: The incumbent must be a citizen of the United States; have a full, unrestricted license to practice as a Registered Nurse (RN) from any one of the 50 states or US territories; be a graduate of an ACEN (formerly NLNAC)/CCNE accredited school of Nursing; and meet VA professional and physical requirements as set forth in the Nurse Qualification Standard, VA Handbook 5005/27, Part II, Appendix G6. In addition, the Research Investigator RN preferred qualifications: Have at least a Baccalaureate Degree in Nursing (BSN) or an Associate/ Diploma in nursing with a Bachelor's degree in a healthcare related field; a Master of Science in Nursing/Master in Nursing (MSN/MN) Degree or a Master's Degree in a related healthcare field; Have at least 2 (two) years of increasingly complex RN nursing practice, experience with research programs and protocols preferred; Have an understanding of data management including the use of computer data base and spreadsheet programs; Be proficient in the written and spoken use of the English Language; Have and maintain current certification in Basic Life Support (BLS). 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 include the following: light carrying (up to 15 lbs.); use of fingers; both hands required; walking (for periods up to 2.0 hours); standing (for periods of 1 hour); prolonged sitting (up to 4 hours); and both eyes required. 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]