The Clinical Nurse Specialist Scientist position is located under Nursing Professional Services within the VA Portland Health Care System (VAPORHCS). The APRN Scientist maintains a hands-on clinical practice, allowing for a deeper understanding of clinical issues important to the care of a specific cohort of patients.

Duties

Portland is a port city in the Pacific Northwest and the most populous city in the U.S. state of Oregon. Situated in the northwestern area of the state at the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers. Portland is known for having the amenities of a major city (such as an international airport, an efficient public transit system, major league sports teams and many museums and art galleries) and the charms of a small city (such as plentiful arts and crafts fairs, independent bookstores and local traditions like the annual Rose Festival Parade). Rain or shine, you can take advantage of the city's proximity to nature by playing in the Willamette River, wandering through lush public parks and gardens, biking the city's 162 miles (261 km) of bike lanes and hiking trails both within city limits and in the nearby Columbia River Gorge. 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 The Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) Scientist practices within Nursing Professional Services at all sites within the VA Portland Health Care System (VAPORHCS) by supporting, conducting, educating, and disseminating nursing research. Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) Scientist works directly and indirectly with staff, patients, families, and groups, contributing to clinical interventions and leadership by influencing factors that impact care delivery. The Nurse Scientist advances nursing practice and improves patient outcomes by improving care delivery through evidence based plans that meet individual, family, and population needs. The Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) Scientist articulates the value of nursing care at the organizational, decision-making level, and influences system changes that facilitate the improvement of quality cost-effective patient outcomes. The incumbent works collaboratively with other interdisciplinary team members throughout the healthcare system and serves as an expert clinician and consultant to other nurses, medical staff, and other health care providers to integrate the needs, preferences, and strengths of the patient and family into the plan of care to optimize health outcomes. The incumbent facilitates change in response to organizational needs in a dynamic healthcare environment and evaluates outcomes based on the analysis of information from relevant sources. The incumbent serves on or leads designated committees and task forces and participates in the research/promotion of evidence-based practices. The Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) Scientist participates in all activities related to nursing research and EBP, facilitating the attainment and sustainment of research and EBP projects. These activities include designing and conducting original clinical research, keeping abreast of best practices in nursing and health care, and participating in or leading in practice improvement initiatives that address strategic priorities (e.g., underperforming nurse-sensitive, patient experience or nurse satisfaction indicators) and other key nursing excellence initiatives that support Magnet designation. In addition, the Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) Scientist is an expert consultant mentoring nursing staff by: Fostering a culture of inquiry Consulting with staff on topics/areas of interest Assisting with the development of research proposals and grants Facilitating research study design or EBP project plans Assisting with critical appraisal and synthesis Guiding the collection and analysis of data Assisting with conclusions and their applicability to practice Disseminating findings to internal and external audiences (e.g., poster and podium presentations, scholarly publications in refereed journals) to build nursing knowledge Translating applicable findings into practice to improve clinical outcomes and the spread of best practices across the organization Functioning as an active member of research and EBP committees in VAPORHCS and broader VA Serving as faculty on nursing research and EBP in various professional development programs. Work Schedule: Monday- Friday, 0730- 1600 Compressed/Flexible: Available Telework: 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. Clinical Nurse Specialists: A clinical nurse specialist must possess a Masters degree from an academic program accredited by the NLNAC or CCNE and maintain full and current certification as a clinical nurse specialist 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: Masters Degree Doctorate degree Excellent Communication Skills Grant writing Published author Performance Improvement Experience Data Management Experience 2-3 years experience in EBP or research 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 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: Moderate lifting and carrying (15-44 pounds); Straight pulling (1 hours); Pushing 1-2 hours; Reaching above shoulder; Use of fingers; Both hands required; Walking (3 hours); Standing (4-6 hours); Repeated bending (2 hours); Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination; Depth perception; Ability to distinguish basic colors; Hearing (aid may be permitted); mental and emotional stability required; Able to walk without assistive devices (e.g. walker, cane, crutches, wheelchair). Environmental Factors: Working closely with others, working alone.

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 VA Portland Health Care System 3710 Southwest US Veterans Hospital Road Portland, OR 97239 US
• Name: Mary Smith
• Phone: 202-745-8000 X55169
• Email: [email protected]