The Nurse Practitioner is directly responsible to the Clinic Medical Director. In the clinic, assignments evolve from the flow of work and the Nurse Practitioner provides care without detailed instructions. The Nurse Practitioner will work collaboratively and under the direction of clinicians and administrative leadership of the Ambulatory Care Service. Work is reviewed for timely delivery of health evaluative services and high quality exams consistent with standardized practices.

Duties

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00-4:30pm Compressed/Flexible: Not Authorized Telework: Per Agency policy Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required The NP is responsible for a panel of patients including evaluation of acute and chronic illnesses and health promotion. The NP practices in accordance with a written scope of practice established for the specific practice area. The scope of practice for the NP includes diagnosis and treatment of health conditions and prescribing privileges for medications and devices, and ordering tests and procedures, as well as referral authority. The NP functions as an advocate for patients in meeting their unique physical and psychological needs. Role responsibilities and accountabilities also include demonstration of knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age related needs of patients served in the assigned area of practice. Functions or Scope of Practice: Clinical Duties: 1. Primary focus of practice is the independent clinical evaluation of Veterans to include panel management, and/or panel coverage for providers out on leave, and/or GAP coverage for Veterans with acute or chronic complaints. Clinical evaluation will include evaluation and management of acute and chronic conditions, prevention, and patient self-management. Comprehensive primary care will be provided to male and female Veterans. 2. Care may be provided in many modalities, from direct face to face care, virtual care (including telephonic, video, secured messaging and others) 3. Promotes, directs, evaluates and is responsible for referral to management of clinical concerns that are found. 4. Functions as a member of a Patient Aligned Care Team, collaborating with clinical and administrative support to provide timely, quality, coordinated care for Veterans. 5. Utilizes and promotes approved standards of care, procedures, methods and techniques, safety precautions and protocols. 6. Collaborates with other health care resources to ensure continuity of care. 7. Keeps abreast of latest trends, skills, procedures, and protocols. 8. May provide coverage in primary care clinics. 9. May be asked to see same day or 'urgent' patients if needed. These may or may not be on the provider's 'panel' of patients Administrative: 1. Assists with arranging continuity of care across the VHA system as needed. 2. Participates in Quality Improvement activities. 3. Participates and attends medical center committees as assigned by the service. Education/Research: 1. Assures self-development responsibilities and maintains current knowledge of trends in clinical care. 2. Participates in clinical research programs when appropriate. 3. If involved in a research project, abides by all VA regulations governing research. 4. Participates in clinical education when appropriate. Customer Service: Meets the needs of all customers while supporting the Health Care System and Service missions. Consistently communicates and treats customers (patients, visitors, volunteers, and all Medical Center staff) in a courteous, and respectful manner. Provides the customers with consistent information according to established policies and procedures. In addition, the Nurse Practitioner is accountable and responsible for possessing the knowledge and skills to: 1. Ability to clinically facilitate the delivery of patient care in collaboration with health professionals, health managers, and other health care personnel. 2. Ability to implement and initiate clinical changes to established treatment protocols based upon new medical literature research findings to enhance patient delivery care for improved patient outcomes. 3. Ability to participate clinically in the development of the NP patient care audit processes.

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: Three years or more of outpatient primary care provider clinical experience, 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: his 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]