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

The VA Midwest Health Care Network advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers. This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest. As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care, you will operate in a model with three core elements, seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran. This is done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran's community. This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being. The Nurse Practitioner's main responsibility will be to function as a Mental Health provider for Outpatient and Inpatient Psychiatry patients and be a member of the mental health consultation team at the Iowa City VA Health Care System's main campus. Responsibilities will include initial evaluation of a broad range of patient complaints, including Psychiatric Disorder Assessments and ongoing treatment for appropriate psychiatric disorders. The NP will consult with a collaborating physician as needed. Make practice decisions autonomously and/or in consultation with psychiatrist(s) and health care professional( s ), in a collegial relationship for mutual consultation and referral. The PA is responsible and accountable for own actions. Collaborate with the patient/family to establish physical, mental, cultural and environmental factors that facilitate or impede realistic goals and activities. Conduct and document findings on initial, periodic, episodic, and/or psychiatric examinations on patients seen in the clinical setting. Determine potential needs for therapeutic changes, diagnostic workups or subspecialty consultation and so order. Order and/or interpret appropriate laboratory tests. Provide follow-up for evaluation of outcomes of laboratory tests. Detect and evaluate any significant change in patients' psychiatric condition, treating as indicated. Review medications for clinical need, simplification and possible drug-drug interactions and adjust as indicated. Prescribe, administer and review/evaluate patient's response to pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment. Determine appropriate diagnosis and formulate diagnostic plans and therapeutic regimen, including possible hospitalizations. Collaborate with collaborating physician or other allied health care professionals as needed. Plan, provide and evaluate care that promotes wellness and prevents disease/injury and disability. Assist patient to maintain their current state of health when psychiatric disability already exists. Assist patients to regain or improve their abilities to cope with states of health and illness. Serve as a mentor, consultant and coordinator for nurses and other health care professionals. Provide education and counseling of the patient and the patient's family in preventive care, psychiatric conditions and the use of prescribed treatments and drugs. Maintain phone contact with patients, families and home care agencies as indicated. Maintain updated Problem List and current health status for each patient visit as evidenced by interim progress notes and summaries in patient's medical record. Coordinate health care serviced; participate on clinic committees and professional groups in the community ( consultation). Provide therapeutic counseling services for veterans. Evaluate practice procedures/programs; identify areas of need of improvement for MH treatment programming and advocate changes to address these issues. VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Nurse Total Rewards Work Schedule: The tour of duty for this position is 1930-0800, 1530-0800, combination of 12 and 8 hour shifts. Additional information may be provided during the interview process. EDRP Authorized: The EDRP Coordinator(s) can be reached at [email protected]. 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 Mental Health Certification 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: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position. Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination.

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 Iowa City VA Health Care System 601 Highway 6 West Iowa City, IA 52246 US
• Name: Courtney McDaniel
• Phone: (605) 336-3230 X7710
• Email: [email protected]