This Registered Nurse (RN) demonstrates advanced clinical judgment and decision-making based on expert knowledge and skill in the assessment, diagnosis, planning, and management of complex human responses to life- limiting, progressive illness. The RN promotes an interdisciplinary/ health care team approach to providing advanced hospice and palliative care nursing to the patient, family caregivers, and community.

Duties

The RN responds to or initiates referrals, answers geriatric/palliative consults [via telehealth, telephone], accesses resources, and problem-solves clinical and/or social issues related to care plan development and/or implementation. The RN interacts with healthcare providers, patients and their family members, and other community providers and agencies, to identify and coordinate services through South Texas Veterans Health Care System (STVHCS), VISN, 17, and nationally. The RN reports directly to the Program Director who in turn reports to the Senior Nurse Advisor. Additional Performance Standards: - Identifies individual patients and families in need of palliative/geriatric consultation and case management. - Assesses patients to identify needs, problems, strengths, and Veteran-centered goals of care, and facilitates accessing resources to honor the wishes of Veterans experiencing life-limiting progressive illnesses. - Analyzes initial assessment data, prioritizes nursing actions, and refers appropriately to members of the interdisciplinary healthcare team. - Educates patients and/or families on specific needs that will facilitate their participation in the plan of care. - Evaluates and revises the plan of care based on changing patient needs or wishes, barriers to care, and availability of resources. - Applies knowledge of long and short-term care management and utilization review and takes a leadership role in using safe, cost-effective measures to provide care. - Procures and coordinates healthcare resources based on patient need, eligibility and availability. - Documents observations, assessments, interventions and outcomes in the medical record (CPRS). - Provides ongoing evaluation of patient/family caregivers' outcomes. - Serves as a resource for patients, families, and staff in addressing ethical issues, and initiates action to resolve ethical/legal issues in collaboration with team members. - Identifies problem areas for monitoring and evaluation and participates in team analysis to change practice based on quality improvement findings. - Serves as an educational resource and provides consultation to VA and affiliated institutions. - Supervises interdisciplinary learners. - Demonstrates knowledge, skills, confidence and the application of adult learning principles when providing education to patients / family caregivers, health care professionals, interdisciplinary learners and the community. - Contributes to research, clinical demonstration, and system improvement projects to enhance the quality of life for patients and families experiencing life-limiting, progressive illness and facilitates the provision of comprehensive, coordinated care within and across health care settings. - Actively participates in the dissemination of results of research and clinical demonstration projects within and outside of STVHCS. - Acts in accordance with legal requirements for reporting abuse, neglect, and exploitation. - Complies with all VA and STVHCS Policies, especially those related to consult management, CPRS documentation, and confidentiality. - Effectively participates in organization's interdisciplinary approach to performance and process improvement strategies. - Communicates with consulting providers, interdisciplinary learners, scheduling clerks, patients, and families to ensure appointments are scheduled appropriately and timely. - Develops reports and tracking tools using Microsoft Excel, power point, word, and other software to monitor the measures above. 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: 0800-1630 Monday - Friday 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 Bargaining Unit: This position is part of the Bargaining unit.

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. HPTs who are on track to graduate/complete the requirements should respond as if they have met the requirements. Provide details in the narrative sections of the assessment. 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: Geriatric Nursing Certification Geriatric clinical experience Palliative Care and Hospice Recent experience Data analysis and analytical skills Problem solving and critical thinking Ability to communicate with staff at all levels Microsoft Office suite proficiency 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: The position requires moderate lifting and carrying (15-44 pounds), straight pulling (1 hour), pushing (1-3 hours), reaching above shoulder, use of fingers, both hands required, walking (4 hours), standing (2-7 hours), kneeling (2 hours), repeated bending (2 hours), climbing (use of arms and legs), both legs required, ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously, near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4, specific visual requirement (20/40 DVA; corrected), both eyes required, ability to distinguish basic colors, hearing (aid permitted), sitting (8 hours), simple grasping (2-4 hours), fine manipulation (including keyboarding 4-6 hours), twisting (2 hours), and mental and emotional stability.

Education

The Associate Degree Nursing (ADN), Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing (BSN), or Master of Science degree in Nursing (MSN) must be fully accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) or the Commission On Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Verification of accreditation may be obtained from
http://www.acenursing.us/accreditedprograms/programsearch.htm or https://directory.ccnecommunity.org/reports/accprog.asp

If your school has changed names, or is no longer in existence, you must provide this information in your application.If your school was accredited by ACEN or CCNE at the time of graduation, but is no longer listed on the websites, you must provide documentation of accreditation with your application packet.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.

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 Audie L Murphy Memorial Veterans Hospital 7400 Merton Minter Boulevard San Antonio, TX 78229 US
• Name: VISN 17 SSU USAS Group
• Email: [email protected]