The Harm Reduction Coordinator (HRC) RN is responsible for providing leadership, direction, organization, planning, implementation, and evaluation of harm reduction efforts at the Syracuse VAMC, including but not limited to overdose education and naloxone distribution, syringe services program (SSP), and fentanyl test strip distribution initiatives. This individual has in-depth knowledge and extensive experience in harm reduction, OEND, SSP, and fentanyl test strip program implementation.

Duties

The RN Harm Reduction Coordinator is a full-time position assigned to the Substance Treatment Services (STS) Team, aligned under Behavioral Health and based in the Behavioral Health Outpatient Clinic (BHOC) in Syracuse, NY. The Syracuse VAMC is a large social/nursing service located in a highly complex (complexity level 1) VA facility, covering thirteen (13) counties and including seven (7) CBOCs. It provides diverse services to Veterans, families and caregivers, and is an affiliated tertiary care health care system. Services include multiple specialty care programs that are highly technical and complex across the continuum of care, including an SCI Center, Level II Polytrauma Center for VISN 2, and an Amputee Center of Care. Syracuse VAMC partners with three (3) Vet Centers and has a VA/DOD Sharing agreement with Fort Drum, located in our catchment area. The Syracuse VA Substance Treatment Services (STS) Program provides a full range of outpatient SUD services including ambulatory detoxification services through Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT), various outpatient SUD services (Impaired Driver assessments, relapse prevention, Co-Occurring disorder etc.) and an Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP). The SUD Program serves Veterans in various stages of readiness and recovery who frequently have mental health co-morbidities and exhibit difficulty coping with psychosocial problems including frequent crises and lack of social support systems. The individual is skilled at staying abreast of evidence-based research and initiatives relevant to harm reduction, monitoring the literature and developing programs and processes that incorporate information obtained through the literature. The HRC RN will function at the highest level of clinical practice and licensure. The HRC RN will participate in quality improvement, process improvement, and/or research activities. The HRC RN will identify opportunities to partner and coordinate with community providers and agencies that Veterans may access where harm reduction services are being provided. Candidate may have certification or other post-master's degree training from a nationally recognized professional organization or university that includes a defined curriculum/course of study and internship, or equivalent supervised professional experience. For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity (difficulty), and variety and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. HRC RN Duties: - Ensuring that harm reduction services include offers of linkage to treatment. - Developing a facility syringe services program (SSP) and system(s) to increase Veteran access. - Developing a facility fentanyl test strip distribution system. - Consulting with Offices of Chief Counsel to determine if any SSP services/supplies are legally prohibited. - Identifying community SSP referral options for Veterans who decline or are unable to receive VA SSP services. - Identifying sources to obtain harm reduction supplies. - Serving as a local point of contact to educate Veterans and staff about the SSP. - Collaborating with the national VA HIV/SSP Affinity Group to develop new SSP resources, including veteran and staff education resources, standardized harm reduction kits, and a standardized note template. - Collaborating with local and national community harm reduction organizations for program improvement. - Evaluating SSP outcomes, implementation strategies, and lessons learned for further program improvement. Sharing results with the HIV/SSP Affinity Group for nationwide dissemination. - Using dashboards to identify harm reduction opportunities. - Outreach to Veterans about HIV PrEP. - Partnering with key facility services, such as HUD-VASH, Infectious Disease Clinic, Addiction Recovery Treatment Services, Mental Health Service, Pharmacy Service, Nursing Service, and Logistics Service. - Supporting implementation of low barrier buprenorphine initiation and infectious disease testing. - Working with local colleagues to improve sexual and drug use history taking and linkage to appropriate harm reduction services. 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 0800 - 1630 Telework: Yes - as determined by the 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. 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: Experience with substance use disorder treatment and/or mental health. Also, any experience with program development, coordinating new rollouts with multiple stakeholders and providing education to stakeholders. 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: See VA Handbook 5019

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: Bryant Tyler
• Phone: 315-552-0021
• Email: [email protected]