This position is open for either Physician Assistant or Nurse Practitioner. Please see Physician Assistant announcement for application submission and eligibility requirements. The Nurse Practitioner will specialize in pain management at the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center.

Duties

VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Nurse Total Rewards Chronic pain management will be the focus of treatment for veterans presenting with prevalent pain conditions such as back pain, headaches, neuropathic pain, joint pain, cancer, and infectious diseases as well as psychiatric comorbidities such as anxiety, sleep disturbance, substance use, and depression. A multidisciplinary team approach assures the comprehensive assessment and treatment of patients with chronic pain conditions. Incumbent serves as a member of a multidisciplinary pain team including but not limited to pharmacy, physical therapy, psychiatry, psychology, and physician specialists. This role will provide support and clinical expertise in pain management related issues. Specific duties include, but are not limited to: Collaborate with the client/family to establish physical, mental, cultural and environmental factors that facilitate or impede realistic goals and activities. Conduct and document findings on patients seen in the clinical setting. Determine potential needs for therapeutic changes, diagnostic workups or subspecialty consultation. Order and/or interpret appropriate laboratory tests, x-rays, EKG's and reports of other diagnostic studies and procedures. Provide follow-up for evaluation of outcomes of x-rays, laboratory tests and diagnostic procedures. Detect and evaluate any significant change in patients' condition, treating as indicated with current evidence-based practice. 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 nonpharmacological treatment regimens Evaluate outpatients and manage acute and/or chronic illnesses according to the usual scope of care to include attention to maintenance of stable conditions, preventive health care and screening. Formulate diagnostic plans and therapeutic regimen, including possible hospitalizations. Plan, provide and evaluate care that promotes wellness and prevents disease/injury and disability. Assist patient to maintain or improve their current state of health when disability already exists. Assist patients to regain or improve their abilities to cope with states of health and illness. Provide education and counseling of the patient and the patient's family in preventive care, medical conditions and the use of prescribed treatments and drugs. Maintain phone contact with patients, families and home care agencies as indicated. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm. 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. 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 - Prior experience providing chronic pain evaluations and interventions 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: Compliant with the following physical standards and environmental factors; Heavy lifting, 50 pounds & over. Heavy carrying, 50 pounds & over, Straight pulling (1-2 hours), Pushing (1-2 hours), Walking (2-4 hours), Standing (2-6 hours), Use of fingers, Both hands required, Ability for rapid mental & muscular coordination simultaneously, Near Vision correctable, Far Vision correctable, Depth perception, Hearing (aide permitted), Work closely with others, as well as, protracted or irregular hours of work, Use stretchers to transfer patients and use patient lifts, if applicable.

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 Michael E DeBakey VA Medical Center 2002 Holcombe Boulevard Houston, TX 77030 US
• Name: Sonia Williams
• Phone: 318-840-6458
• Email: [email protected]