The Specialty Medicine Outpatient Clinic Registered Nurse (RN) for Nursing Services is assigned to the Office of Chief Nurse Executive at the Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center (FHCC) in North Chicago, Illinois. FHCC is a VA and DoD dually integrated healthcare center providing care services to Veterans, Active-Duty Military Personnel, and their beneficiaries, including outpatient pediatric services.

Duties

The Specialty Medicine RN executes position responsibilities that demonstrate leadership, experience, and creative approaches to management of complex procedural patient care. The Specialty Medicine RN provides independent nursing expertise in the assessment, data collection, and analysis of the patient. The Specialty Medicine RN provides independent nursing expertise in assessment, data collection, and analysis. Assesses the patient's clinical and psychosocial status, diagnosis and current treatment plan. Coordinates the myriad of medical treatments, referrals, and education. Assesses the needs of patient/family/significant other's related to diagnosis, treatment options, psychosocial impact, and discharge planning. Specifically, the incumbent must (1) expertly assess the medical and psychosocial needs of new patients, (2) identify the optimal range of treatments individualized to each patient, (3) assure that the highest possible quality of treatment and related health services are provided in a timely manner, and (4) develop, monitor, evaluate and revise the multiple protocols, procedures and practices as needed to successfully manage the area of specialization. Major Duties and Responsibilities Demonstrates and maintains core and position specific competencies. Contributes to the establishment and implementation of evidenced-based nursing standards of practice. Independently collects, reviews, and analyzes patient outcome data through interview, medical record review, and analysis of aggregate data. Reports the status of aggregated data and trends noted to appropriate staff. Provides nursing care to patients in the Specialty Medicine Outpatient setting, and documentation of the nursing process as stated by policy and procedure. Documents and communicates care, outcomes, and trends. Assists staff with routine and timely completion of Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Screening, identifies priority needs for patients with complex problems. Completes annual nursing mandatory reviews as well as competencies and continuing learning requirements. Presents at patient care conferences. Shares information gained from educational experiences within or across units and/or within the FHCC. Serves as a resource to other staff in meeting patient care needs (learning, discharge needs, referrals). Incorporates feedback regarding performance and interpersonal skills to enhance own professional development. Provides leadership in developing and maintaining standards of care which contribute to safe, comprehensive, and quality services to patients receiving services. Participates in Performance Evaluation and Improvement (PE & I) activities by evaluating patient care systems that may include standards, protocols, and documentation for efficiency, safety, and quality. Incorporates evaluative data in the provision of ongoing case management services. Documents patient's progress on clinical pathways/algorithms. Plans care based on patient needs and health care needs, at home and in the health care setting. Utilizes nursing interpretations to alert physicians to significant changes or abnormalities and provide medical information about the patient's condition, medical history and specialized treatment plan or protocol to other professionals. 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-Friday, 7:30am to 4:00pm 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. 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: Have a Bachelor of Science in Nursing or Bachelor's Degree in a healthcare related field; Have at least three (3) years of increasingly complex RN nursing practice; specialty clinic experienced, preferred; Have and maintain current certification in Basic Life Support (BLS); Be proficient in the written and spoken use of the English Language 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: To perform in a fully successful manner, the individual must have the physical ability to perform job-related duties which include: light lifting (under 15 pounds); light carrying (under 15 pounds); standing (up to 2 hours); repeated bending (up to 1 hour); sitting (up to 1 hour); walking (up to 2 hours); pushing or pulling without assistance (up to 1 hour); reaching above shoulder; both hands required; ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4; far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other; both eyes required; depth perception; ability to distinguish shades of colors; and hearing (aid permitted). The employee maybe exposed to the following: working closely with others, exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations; and exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium, dementia, or psychiatric disorders. The incumbent must be a mature, flexible, sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations, able to shift priorities based on patient needs. Administrative duties to include, computer key board typing, computer screen viewing, answering/placing telephone calls, and note taking. A health examination, as required by the Occupational Health Clinic policy, must be successfully completed prior to this assignment and periodically thereafter. There will be intermittent exposure to blood and body fluids.

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 Captain James A Lovell Federal Health Care Center 3001 Green Bay Road North Chicago, IL 60064 US
• Name: Antionette Sneed-Clay
• Email: [email protected]