The Eastern Colorado VA Health Care System (ECHCS) is recruiting for a Nurse Practitioner for the Emergency Department. NP will primarily provide care for the Emergency Department patients assigned to Emergency Severity Index (ESI) level 4 and 5. The NP assesses, plans, implements, and evaluates care based on age-specific components and assumes responsibility for the coordination of care focused on patient transition through the continuum of care.

Duties

The Nurse Practitioner (NP) must have a minimum of a master's degree in nursing/nurse practitioner major, and board certification as an NP from a VA-approved certifying body required. A Scope of Practice will guide advanced practice beyond basic education and is renewed every two years. As an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN), has prescriptive authority with a panel of patients. Core functions include diagnosing and treating acute and chronic health care problems, performing adult care check-ups, and prescribing medication and treatments. Diagnoses and manages minor trauma including suturing. Teaches health promotion and disease prevention to patients. Responsibilities include, but not limited to: The nurse is responsible and accountable for individual nursing practice and determines the appropriate delegation of tasks consistent with the nurse's obligation to provide optimal care (ANA Code of Ethics for Nurses). Leads and organizes delivery of care to assure continuity of care and peer accountability for practice, including access to care and discharge planning. Uses sound clinical judgment in assessing, planning, implementing, documenting, and evaluating nursing care, based on the ANA Standards of Nursing Practice. Guides staff in the application of critical thinking and process improvement to improve patient care. Anticipates and recognizes medical/surgical/psychiatric emergencies and initiates or leads others to implement appropriate and timely actions. Uses advanced clinical knowledge/judgment to promote staff involvement in planning, decision-making, and evaluating outcomes. Functions as an expert in clinical practice and/or areas related to the assigned roles and responsibilities. Initiates and/or leads interdisciplinary committees, task forces, groups to improve patient care at the program or medical center level. Develops and evaluates clinical guidelines or customer service initiatives at the unit, program, or medical center level. Administers medications and procedures per established policies and guidelines. Performs ongoing assessment of patient condition and response to treatment. Initiates referrals to other disciplines and/or services as appropriate. Accurately documents in the medical record patient findings, assessments, and care provided. Effectively functions as the charge nurse, team leader, or in other leadership role that guides and directs others who provide patient care. Provides direction to staff for unit activities in meeting patient care needs. 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: Full time, including nights and weekends Compressed/Flexible: May be available Telework: Not a telework position Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: May be available for highly qualified candidates 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. Experience Required: Must have a minimum of a master's degree in nursing/nurse practitioner major, and a board certification as an NPfrom a VA approved certifying body required. 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: Potentially long periods of continued walking, standing, and sitting. May be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing. May occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium, dementia, or psychiatric disorders. 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. In the performance of duties, 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 Eastern Colorado HCS Denver 13611 E. Colfax Ave Aurora, CO 80045 US
• Name: Melissa Tatom
• Phone: (720) 723-4879
• Email: [email protected]