This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application.

Duties

VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Nurse Total Rewards This PCMHI Nurse Practitioner position is located in the Mental Health Service Line at the Togus VA medical Center. This is a full-time position at 40 hours a week. Duties include, but are not limited to: Performs direct in-person or virtual face to face mental health triage, screening assessment and treatment when indicated. This assessment includes a mental status examination with appropriate documentation in the electronic medical record. Provides ongoing support to other PACT members. While the PCPs often provide routine medication initiation and management, in many instances, it may be preferable for the NP to initiate medication and either treat to target or support PCP continuation of medication, either directly or by supervision of care management. Provides psychiatric coverage for colleagues in outpatient or inpatient settings as appropriate. Provides chart based consultation, including E-consults as needed/requested. Serves as liaison between PACT providers and other mental health providers working with PACT patients who are receiving ongoing services in general and subspecialty MH clinics. Serves as an "ambassador" for integrated care within and outside VHA to promote its spread as a critical ingredient in healthcare. o Provides ongoing training, supervision and backup for care management (CM). This generally includes at least weekly meetings to discuss all patients receiving CM services. Assures that the medical workup ordered by the primary care provider is sufficient and adds to that workup if indicated. Initiates and manages medication assisted treatment (MAT) for substance use disorders (SUDs) for patients whose care can be managed in PACT with PCMHI support. May serve as the PCMHI Program or team leader. There are many other duties specific to the team leader role but they are generally independent of the leader's discipline. The leadership skills of the individual are the most critical variable. Works closely with other mental health clinics and staff to identify patients whose episode of illness has been successfully treated to plan termination from specialty care and return to PACT for long term follow-up. PCMHI NP is expected to be a contributing member of the mental health service and attend all facility general MH staff meetings. Shares on-call and other duties with other staff as assigned by the service Participates in grand rounds, teaching of medical students and participates in training and teaching of a variety of trainees in many professions. Must be familiar with medical staff bylaws and fulfill other obligations required of medical staff in the facility, such as serving on peer review committees and other tasks as assigned Review medications for clinical need, simplification and possible drug-drug interactions and adjust as indicated for PCMHI patients. Prescribe medications and evaluate patient's response to pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment regimens in consultation with physicians, clinical pharmacists and with VA Central Office policy using the VANTHCS approved formulary. Work Schedule: Full-time, 0730-1600, Monday-Friday Compressed/Flexible: Not Authorized Telework: Not Authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position EDRP Authorized: May be authorized Recruitment Incentive: May be authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Notifications: This is a Bargaining Unit Position This position is in the Excepted Service The Professional Standards Board (a peer-review group) will recommend the grade and salary for new appointments based on the candidate's education and experience. For internal selectees being promoted, the board will determine grade and HR will determine step in accordance with policy Current and former Federal employees must submit copies of their most recent SF-50 (Notice of Personnel Action). The SF-50 must identify the position title, series, grade, step, tenure and type of service (Competitive or Excepted). In some cases, more than one SF-50 may be required to show a higher grade previously held. 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

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. 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: All applicants must be physically able to satisfactorily perform the duties of the position. A pre-placement physical examination shall be completed prior to appointment.

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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Contacts

• Address Togus VA Medical Center 1 VA Center Augusta, ME 04330 US
• Name: Nicole Bulowski
• Phone: 207-623-8411 X3444
• Email: [email protected]