The SCI/D Home Care RN will provide home-based primary care, and PACT team coverage, identifying problems and areas of concern, developing and initiating a plan of action, documentation of findings and recommendations, and evaluating the effectiveness of action. The nurse will confer with members of the team, as well as other healthcare professionals in planning and initiating appropriate care, and will establish methods to monitor patients' progress and maintain appropriate documentation.

Duties

The SCI/D Home Care RN is a professional nurse who evaluates and analyzes care provided to geriatric patients to assure it is timely, appropriate, of high quality and cost effective. He/she assesses, evaluates, plans, implements, and coordinates care, and confers with SCI/D Leadership, as well as other care providers to evaluate and initiate changes to ensure quality care. Duties include, but are not limited to: Demonstrates and maintains core and position specific competencies 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 SCI/D patients in the home setting, outpatient hospital setting and documentation of the nursing process as stated by policy and procedure. Documents and communicates care, outcomes, and trends to SCI/D leadership. Evaluates delivery of patient care in the SCI/D program with other health professionals, community agencies, etc Applies the nursing process to patient care, organizational processes and/or systems, improving outcomes at the program/service level. Initiates and leads the systematic data collection, analysis, and evaluation to move toward improved outcomes/changes for geriatric patients. Uses problem-solving methodologies to resolve problems that impact on patient care. Administers and documents medications and treatments according to policy Follows policy for forwarding ethical issues to the Ethics Consultation Committee. Ensures all actions and interactions support VHA and Medical directives regarding cultural diversity, prevention of sexual harassment and EEO affirmative action programs by executing duties and responsibilities in a professional manner Ensures all actions and interactions support VHA and Medical directives regarding cultural diversity, prevention of sexual harassment and EEO affirmative action programs by executing duties and responsibilities in a professional manner Practices in a manner that preserves and protects patient autonomy, dignity, and rights. Demonstrates knowledge of geriatrics and home-based care, including signs and symptoms of elder abuse and the appropriate reporting mechanism Advocates patient self-determination. Serves as a resource and consultant in addressing ethical issues. 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. Serves as a resource to other staff in meeting patient care needs (learning, discharge needs, referrals). Improves current knowledge base to evaluate programs or activities. Develops expertise in own area of practice and serves as a resource within own service Role models use of group processes in interdisciplinary care planning and decision making, resulting in improvement and/or resolution of care problems Coordinates and participates in community related activities to disseminate information and interpret the mission of the program and the VA. Collaborates with other disciplines and caregivers, using the group process for decision-making in interdisciplinary problem solving for patients in the SCI/D home care program Communicates with SCI/D patients, and the interdisciplinary team regarding the quality of care, interventions and goals for home care patients. Provides leadership in developing and maintaining standards of care which contribute to safe, comprehensive and quality services to patients receiving services through the home care program. Evaluates the delivery of home care patient care using standards of care/practice, analyzes findings and various reports and recommends changes in practices. Facilitates QI processes at the unit and service level. Uses knowledge of mission, vision, and values to facilitate care of patients in the SCI/D home care program and monitors quality improvements for improved outcomes. Describes and utilizes the continuous quality improvement process, roles, and responsibilities. Interprets relevant research and assists in application of findings Other duties as assigned. 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: 0700-1530 or 0730-1600 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 the appropriate State-accrediting agency and accredited 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). 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. 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. 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: The population of male and female veterans served ranges from the adult age 18, to the elderly adult age 65 and over. Syracuse VA Medical Center has in-patient medical settings, outpatient settings, Community Living Center and a Domiciliary Program. The Syracuse VAMC and Community Based Outpatient Clinics provide primary care, specialty care, mental healthcare, alcohol and drug rehabilitation, routine lab work, immunizations and wellness and disease management programs. There is a large outpatient population, with visits to the Emergency Department and admissions for medical co-morbidities. This position requires visual acuity, keen hearing, clear distinctive speech, and manual dexterity. This position requires potentially long periods of continued walking, standing, stooping, sitting, bending, pulling, and pushing. Transferring patients and objects may be required. The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations or operative/invasive procedures. The incumbent may occasionally be 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. Must complete annual employee health requirements such as annual TB screening or testing, as a condition of employment.

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 Syracuse VA Medical Center 800 Irving Ave Syracuse, NY 13210 US
• Name: Darci Cook
• Phone: 315-425-4400
• Email: [email protected]