The Nurse Practitioner Inpatient Case Manager role is crucial to identifying the medical components of discharge planning which will require planning and maneuvering VA processes. The Clinician in this role supports resident learning and navigating the VA System to assure safe and efficient discharge planning.

Duties

The Nurse Practitioner Inpatient Case Manager position is responsible for meeting the medically complex post-discharge care needs of Veterans having complex courses of treatment during their inpatient hospitalization. This position allows for essential care provision to avoid rehospitalization once discharged to community environments as many of the Veterans receiving services are vulnerable and have unique circumstances that require delicate handling and creative solutions. The position covers the bulk of admissions from the emergency room, and care is managed throughout the patient's transfer to an outpatient or community setting to ensure seamless care with safety in mind. The NP Case Manager plays a crucial role in assuring that "Length of Stay" is kept to a minimum through collaboration with the residents caring for the inpatient to assure that medical treatment referrals are processed with efficiency. Referrals made for services assure success and can be attributed to many of the successes in maintaining a balance between consideration of safe plans for discharge and assuring that plans for discharge are consistent with the needs of the Veteran to reduce recidivism of admissions unnecessarily. NP Functions and Duties: The NP is a professional, independent practitioner with advanced education and appropriate experience who provides evidence-based care for a specific population of patients. The NP is a expert clinician who uses advanced assessment, planning and evaluating competencies, as well as approved standardized procedures, to provide family centered, preventive and illness management healthcare incorporating the patient's age, gender, culture and learning abilities in the treatment plan. The NP works collaboratively with many disciplines to provide care, including physicians, pharmacists, registered nurses, licensed vocational nurses, dietitians, social workers, clerical and administrative staff, community agencies and others as appropriate. The NP executes position responsibilities that demonstrate leadership, experience, and creative approaches to management of complex patient care. The NP demonstrates performance and leadership that is broad enough to improve care for the panel, program, or service. The NP is responsible for documented outcomes at the program or service level. Program or service level outcomes must be broad and complex and can be demonstrated at any organizational level within a facility, VISN, or VACO. Program is defined as a substantial coordinated group of activities impacting patients and/or employees. The NP demonstrates (a) Leading and organizing delivery of care to assure continuity of care and peer accountability for practice, including access to care and discharge planning; (b) Using advanced clinical knowledge/judgment to promote staff involvement in planning, decision-making, and evaluating outcomes, (c) Functioning as an expert in clinical practice and/or areas related to the assigned roles and responsibilities, (d) Systematically evaluating current practice, and formulating outcomes for groups of patients and/or organizational processes within an area of expertise, (e) Guiding, developing, and supporting staff from a leadership perspective, and (f) Using professional standards of care, scientific evidence, and practice to evaluate programs and/or service activities. NP Customer Service: The NP meets the needs of the Veteran and as appropriate the Veteran's family, caregiver and/or significant other, the Veteran's representative, visitors to VA facilities, all VA staff and other customers while supporting VA missions. The NP consistently communicates and treats the Veteran and as appropriate the Veteran's family, caregiver and/or significant other, the Veteran representatives, visitors to VA facilities, all VA staff and other customers in a courteous, tactful, and respectful manner. The NP provides the Veteran's family, caregiver and/or significant other, the Veteran's representative, visitors to VA facilities, all VA staff and other customers with consistent information according to establish policies and procedures. The NP handles conflict and problems in dealing with any consumer group appropriately and in a constructive manner. VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Nurse Total Rewards Work Schedule: M-F 0800-1630 Telework: Available - Per agency policy Virtual: This is not a virtual position. 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: Experience with case management in an inpatient setting. Discharge planning experience. Case management certification. 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: This position requires visual acuity, keen hearing, clear distinctive speech, and manual dexterity. This position requires mostly 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. The incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patients/residents 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 stakeholder needs.

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 Durham VA Medical Center 508 Fulton Street Durham, NC 27705 US
• Name: Brian Watt
• Phone: (906) 396-7485
• Email: [email protected]