The Registered Nurse (RN) Primary Care Float Pool at the Fayetteville VA Medical Center will provide nursing care to patients who present with a full range of health issues, including but not limited to; diabetes, hypertension, COPD, congestive heart failure, cancer, and psychological disorders, as well as coexisting medical/surgical conditions

Duties

Duties include, but are not limited to: Utilizes critical thinking skills and clinical decisional authority, prioritizes patient care by assessing the needs of the patient. Assesses clinical data for neurological, cardiac/vascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal, genitourinary, and skin and documents findings and reports abnormalities. Incorporates assessment findings into a patient specific treatment plan. Safely provides assessment and care for patients undergoing procedures, and treatments. Provides structure and maintains a therapeutic environment in collaboration with the client and other healthcare providers. Provides health teaching to clients, families, and groups to achieve satisfying and productive patterns of living. Coordinates care with other healthcare providers in assessing, planning, implementing, and evaluating treatment interventions. Performs medication and immunization administration safely, accurately, and per policy guidelines. Identifies patients at high risk for harm to self or others related to: mobility issues, disturbed/disruptive behavior, and/or withdrawal complications and provides them with appropriate treatment/follow-up. Assumes responsibility for telecare calls that can be handled by the RN, directing to the provider those calls that must have provider response. Serves as liaison with provider and patient and discusses concerns with the provider and calls the patient back. Reviews lab and test reports and alerts the provider of significant findings and assists the provider with appropriate follow up and treatment. Triages a rapid first assessment and documentation of the patient's condition by being sensitive to various medical symptoms that are apparent or by comprehensive, compassionate questioning to determine a history of symptoms. This would include type of symptoms, when they first appeared, intensity, any new medications or vitamins, and use of home remedies. The primary care nurse should obtain all the specifics for the provider to hasten a diagnosis. Identifies learning needs of the patient/family (diagnosis, medication, surgery, etc.) and implements teaching strategies or provides alternate methods of communication (e.g. dry erase boards, picture charts, etc.) to patients with learning difficulties. Understands the legal ethical implications of Patient Self Determination Act, Patient Bill of Rights, Advanced Directives, and Patient Abuse (protection). Serves as a resource for patients, families, and, other staff when ethical issues arise. Abides by and carefully adheres to Medical Center Policies for Ethics and Compliance. Pursues an educational plan (literature review, continuing education, in-service, certification, and formal education) to maintain/improve knowledge in up-to-date evidence-based practice. Actualizes the process of continuous learning to provide for own continuing professional growth. Demonstrates computer literacy. Provides practical solutions to patient problems/complaints. Preserves the right of others while serving as a patient advocate and promoting mutual respect among colleagues and co-workers. Uses customer feedback to improve customer service. Demonstrates leadership in safe work practices. (i.e. attention to safety standards, proper body mechanics, use of personal protective and safety equipment). Identifies potential problems involving resources and/or safety and takes action to avert or manage the situation. Adheres to all safety and health standards, regulations, and work practices and uses personal protective equipment as required. Functions as the team coordinator assuming overall responsibility of the team and ensuring optimal access to medical care. Demonstrates leadership in primary care by analyzing and utilizing primary care quality measures to improve patient outcomes. 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 through Friday, 7:30 AM - 4:00 PM Telework: May be available ad-hoc for highly-qualified candidates 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: BSN and MSN 2-3 years of acute care experience with additional preference given to those with experience in Primary Care. 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: Must be physically and mentally able to perform the following: Heavy lifting, 45 pounds and over; heavy carrying, 45 pounds and over; straight pulling one (1) hour; pushing; reaching above shoulder; use of fingers; both hands required; walking seven (7) hours; standing seven (7) hours.

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 Fayetteville AR VA Medical Center 1100 North College Avenue Fayetteville, AR 72703 US
• Name: Jason Purcell
• Email: [email protected]