The Home Based Primary Care (HBPC) Nurse Practitioner (NP) is a registered nurse with advanced educational and clinical preparation for delivery of primary and comprehensive health care, incorporating selected medical services into professional nursing practice.

Duties

The NP provides comprehensive care to patients with a variety of medical, surgical, or psychiatric diagnoses. Care is provided to individuals, families and groups with an emphasis on the promotion of health and the prevention of disease. The NP manages a panel of home care patients who have complex, chronic and end-of-life problems including common diseases and human responses to disease. The NP exhibits strong clinical skills to improve patient care for an aging, adult population; as well as excellent interpersonal relationship skills in interpreting and communicating health care information to the patient, family, and the interdisciplinary health care team. The NP executes position responsibilities that demonstrate leadership, experience, and creative approaches to management of complex client care. Duties include but are not limited to: Diagnosing and treating acute and chronic health care problems, performing adult care check-ups, and prescribing medication and treatments. Performs patient interviews, physicals, psychosocial assessments, and documents findings. Initiates appropriate screening, diagnostic, and laboratory studies and treatment, analyzes results, and makes appropriate referrals or consultations. Analyzes patient data, integrates information obtained into patient database, and identifies health care requirements. Develops and evaluates a patient management plan, including patient education, within an interdisciplinary framework. Provides episodic care, which could include cardiopulmonary resuscitation and treatment of shock, hemorrhage, poisoning, burns, convulsions, trauma and emotional crisis as needed. Visits HBPC patients on wards and communicates with inpatient staff to promote optimal continuity of patient care. Prescribes medication in accordance with NP prescribing privileges. Prescribes non-pharmacological therapies and treatments including but not limited to prosthetics, colostomy supplies, dressings, etc. Serves as a patient advocate and facilitates communication with patients, families/significant others, and other home and community team members. VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Nurse Total Rewards Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm Telework: 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. 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 - Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner 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 - Master's degree in nursing (MSN) or related field with a BSN and no additional nursing practice/experience. Nurse II - 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: The physical demands required in this position include driving a vehicle to patients' residents in various weather conditions; walking to and from vehicle in various weather conditions; climbing stairs; lifting medical bag and equipment (less than 20 lbs); stooping, kneeling, crouching, or reaching to examine patient or home environment; making phone calls and typing on computer. This position requires visual acuity, keen hearing, clear distinctive speech, and 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.

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 Columbia VA Health Care System 6439 Garners Ferry Road Columbia, SC 29209 US
• Name: James Ledlow
• Email: [email protected]