The Discharge Nurse Navigator will preferably have a minimum of a master's degree in nursing or in a related field. Highly effective interpersonal, organizational skills, verbal and written communication skills are required. Incumbent works toward accomplishing objectives and standards in accordance with the VHA, VISN and Medical Center Strategic Plan and the Nursing Professional Standards Boards Performance Plan.

Duties

The Discharge Nurse Navigator is responsible and accountable for the care coordination of population groups or programs within their assigned section to optimize patient care, patient safety and operational efficiency. Incumbent possesses the knowledge and skills to effectively apply all aspects of the nursing process within a collaborative, interdisciplinary practice setting to facilitate the effective care of patients. The discharge Nurse Navigator reports directly to the Care Coordination Team, Nurse Manager or their designee and is responsible for collaboration with administrative and clinical staff in actively managing and planning for actual and potential needs of patients population groups. The Discharge Nurse Navigator is responsible for the development of strategies to actively manage patient care and follow-up as necessary. The Discharge Nurse Navigator will lead and organize delivery of care to assure continuity and peer accountability for practice, including access to care to assure continuity and peer accountability for practice, including access to care and discharge planning. Incumbent will effectively communicate to their assigned supervising and alternate supervising physicians regarding any situation requiring development and implementation of action plans for patient and program needs. The Discharge Nurse Navigator will collect and analyze data to the patient population, reporting findings, make recommendations for improvement, and follow-up actions for improved outcomes. The Discharge Nurse Navigator is expected to manage patient in an astute manner that promotes positive patient outcomes including the areas of assessment: conducts physical assessments and documents findings on initial periodic, episodic and/or annual health histories and physical assessments on patients seen in the clinical setting with exception of the admission History and Physical, that will be completed by the physicians. The Discharge Nurse Navigator may be required to perform duties with a broad scope of practice and leadership responsibility. Specific duties as they pertain to their assigned section include but are not limited to the following: Responsible for working closely with the healthcare team in coordinating discharge planning upon admission including planning for patient's discharge and completing appropriate information and data to be communicated to all disciplines, patients, and family prior to and up to 30 days after hospital discharge. Assists with all aspects of navigating the patient through the health care process assuring that continuity of care is promoted in all patient care settings. Triages and assures that all assigned section consults are appropriately processed to include both VA and non-VA care. Coordinates all pretesting required before assigned section appointments or procedures. Represent the assigned section department in administrative meetings or committees, as required. Participates in discharge planning rounds and family partnerships discussion when in conjunction with other disciplines. Documents appropriate discharge planning notes into CPRS. Proactively communicate discharge needs and plans to the responsible physician assuring mutual discharge goals. Coordinate scheduling, follow-up appointments, patient communication, lab test scheduling and result follow-up appointments, and communication. Responsible for communicating with any outside agencies in order to promote continuity of care across the continuum including those relating to DME/home care arrangements. Facilitates timely scheduling of follow-up appointments, diagnostic testing, and procedures to expedite the plan of care and to promote continuity of care. Work closely with Utilization Management to identify patients for appropriateness. Provides and reinforces education to patients, families and caregivers about diagnosis, treatments options, side effect management, including physical, psychological, spiritual and emotional wellbeing. 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: 0730-1600 with call, Subject to change based on agency needs. Telework: Not eligible for Telework Virtual: This is not a virtual position. 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: 1-3 Years of Inpatient Case Management Experience Preferred MSN Preferred Minimum overall 5 years of Nursing Experience Preferred Case Management Certification Preferred 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: 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 from stretcher to stretcher and wheelchair to exam table is often 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.

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 Ralph H Johnson Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center 109 Bee Street Charleston, SC 29401 US
• Name: Carol Czerniak
• Email: [email protected]